Early Inland M1 Carbine

[TI-Tick]

On vacation at the east coast and ran across an Inland GM carbine on consignment for 1800. The salesman said the owner said it's 1943 vintage. I don't have the SN but reckon it's right.

The price tag kept me away but from what I recall it appeared to be a correct M1 Carbine as follows:

No bayonet lug or marks from a lug that I could see on the barrel
Button safety
Flipper rear sight with no windage adjustment
No stake marks at the rear sight area
A proof mark on the rear stock sling area; P if I recall correctly, none that I recall on the left side of the stock thumb area. There may have been another proof on the stock forward of the mag but it was faint
Dark wood, not red brown but dark brown and strong throughout
Green parkerizing on the metal from what I recall

And that's what's got me thinking I may be able to get this for 1400 or so but that's a lot of money for a carbine and my Inland collection is full. Plus I'm headed to another shop tomorrow and I'm not made out of money. But then again I've seen higher on the CMP auction.

I'll see if I can get some photos tomorrow.

So CalGuns, give me some advice on this. Regarding the firearm, things to look for that I've not observed, etc.

I've already researched the basics. I'm looking for pro tips.

Thanks

[newbutold]

Have you looked here: http://m1carbineforum.forumco.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=9

[TRICKSTER]

The market is flooded with supposed correct carbines. There is a huge market out there of counterfeit parts. Unless you know exactly what to look for, you will most likely get taken.

[SVT-40]

That's just way over priced....

[AR22]

Trickster is correct. I got out of M1 Carbines mostly because of all the phony crap out there. Price at 1400.00 if truly as it left the factory for a Inland would not be a bad price. But I would say there is a 99.9% chance it is not as it was the Day it was made. Yes there a few, and I mean a few that are out there as made..

[bbodybill]

WE thank you for the "Heads Up" :-)

[dfletcher]

I'm hardly an expert but also have an early Inland, Oct 1943. I would look for a flat, not round bolt and single rivets on the upper handguard. And no import stamp at that price. Import stamps are usually found on the barrel and while not exactly hidden can be easy to miss.

I'm not quite recalling it all, but a difference in the magazine release between early and later is coming to mind.

[TI-Tick]

I'm headed to another shop in the morning and will check out the carbine later in the day.

There is also a IH M1 plane Jane, Universial carbine, and a 32/? pos winchester at the shop.

99.9 makes me turtle but tomorrow's another day.

[eeeeman]

Here is a example of a real Inland Original M1 Carbine that's not fake.https://www.gunauction.com/buy/14935853

[SVT-40]

Here is a example of a real Inland Original M1 Carbine that's not fake.https://www.gunauction.com/buy/14935853

That could also be a "perts" gun. There is no sure way to tell. So buying one as all "original " is just not sound collecting.

[sigstroker]

No cartouches on that one either or there would be pics of them.

[dfletcher]

No cartouches on that one either or there would be pics of them.

If you scroll down below the description there are an additional 25 to 30 close ups showing crossed cannon and "P" stamping on stock, and pretty much every part from the disassembled rifle showing parts stamp. I don't know enough to interpret but there's lots of stamps shown.

"Jack the Dog" has been on that site for years, usually has very good quality stuff with excellent photo documentation.

[TRICKSTER]

All the parts may have the correct markings for the issue date. The problem is that there is a huge market for counterfeit parts out there. Just because they are correctly marked does not mean they are correct or even USGI. It has come to the point that one must be an expert to determine if carbine parts are genuine or not and have known correct genuine parts to compare them with.

[TI-Tick]

I took a pass on this gun for this trip.
But I did pick up some others that I'll report on in another thread.

Thanks everyone for the input.

[bruce381]

FYI Jack the dog is honest 100% as far as M1 carbines he knows his stuff.