m1 carbine question

[TeckLancer]

went to the local gun shop where they know me pretty good. bought a few gun from the already. they know there stuff. they took a good look at the m1 and said the barrel is crisp and the rifling is real good. he took a look at all the mecanical and said everything was in good shape. then he said just at least put the sights on it and go have fun.

[slagusmc]

I have a blue sky import carbine, it is in excellent condition, import stamping is so light, I could barely see it, with a little steel wool it would come right off

[campperrykid]

FWIW:
" The M1 Carbine Owner's Guide " by Larry Ruth and Scott Duff is the best single ( or only ) book for anyone who owns or wants to own an M1 Carbine.
Lots of info on everything from history , to checking one over prior to a sale , to fixing , to reloading , and more.

[Geodetic]

I would get a new front site but leave the rear site alone. If you get an adjustable rear site it will have to be staked. If I'm not mistaken that modifies the receiver... if someone can correct confirm that or correct me please do so. I know the majority of the last carbines sold by the CMP all had bayonet lugs and adjustable sites, so yours is closer to being original manufacture configuration as these were all add-ons after WWII. Just my humble opinion.

[Milsurp Collector]

I would get a new front site but leave the rear site alone.

There is currently no rear sight. Hard to shoot straight without one.

If you get an adjustable rear site it will have to be staked. If I'm not mistaken that modifies the receiver... if someone can correct confirm that or correct me please do so.

The adjustable rear sight doesn't have to be staked.

I know the majority of the last carbines sold by the CMP all had bayonet lugs and adjustable sites, so yours is closer to being original manufacture configuration as these were all add-ons after WWII. Just my humble opinion.

The current barrel band most likely had a bayonet lug that has been removed. It also currently has a hardware store screw instead of a USGI screw. It is easy to replace the barrel band while the front sight is off.

Many late-World War II production carbines were originally fitted with the (superior) adjustable rear sight beginning in 1944. I have one.



Also, some late-war production Inland and Winchester (the last two carbine manufacturers at the end of World War II) carbines were originally fitted with the Type 3 (bayonet lug) barrel band. Some of those carbines were used before the end of the war.



So the adjustable rear sight and bayonet lug barrel band are not strictly post-World War II upgrades.

[Geodetic]

Thanks Milsurp Collector... good to learn something.

[Milsurp Collector]

Thanks Milsurp Collector... good to learn something.

You're welcome. But it is true that the majority of carbines made and used during World War II originally had the flip rear sight and a barrel band that lacked a bayonet lug. Some had their flip rear sights upgraded in the field to the adjustable type.

It is also true that World War II was only a small percentage of the time that M1/M2 Carbines were used by the US military. They were used well into the 1960s



US Navy personnel attached to Commander Naval Forces Vietnam, keep their guns ready as they watch during Viet Cong attacks on Saigon. Photo taken in February 1968. The sailor in the middle has a carbine.

So for the vast majority of the time that M1/M2 Carbines were used by the US military they had the upgraded rear sight and barrel band.

[TeckLancer]

the bayonet lug looks to be cut off.

[Dr.Mauser]

How does one go about cutting that annoying thing off without hurting the rifle?

[Spiggy]

two methods:

1. careful application of cutting wheel

2. removal, cutting, reinstallation

[Dr.Mauser]

would one have to re-blue the rifle? I wouldnt ever want my barrel to be a mixed color

[Spiggy]

well, if you reblue the gun, chances are the finish would definitely be mixed color.

a good amount of carbines are parkerized or phosphate finished

[Dr.Mauser]

IYO what looks better? I had my 2 from the CMP not sure what finish they had on them, but I really liked that look

[Spiggy]

Dunno, my beater is like the OP's gun. Except it was a salvage jobbie I threw together for reenacting. The finish has a lightly green tint.

On the other hand, my shooter is a nice grey parkerizing. hard to pick, I like them both. It's like choosing which child to save from a fire.


Either way, it's parkerizing, just using different compounds

[TeckLancer]

Well I went to the ontario gun show yesterday and I got a new sights a bayo lug and a clip foe 100 bucks. Put it back together and its gtg now. I think that's how the cut the bayo lug off is by removing the front sight. I also removed the stock and the barrel had what appeared to be an m or a w. Couldn't tell