Which M1 Carbine?

[Japedo]

I'm sure it has been asked before, but here it is.
My collection is missing an M1 Carbine. There are so many variants I'm not sure if I there are certain ones I should stay away from. I'm looking for a good shooter, not a pristine collectible.

Thanks for all input.

[David13]

I looked at a Universal last week. 3rd gen. I would say avoid Universal. Particularly 3rd gen.
But others like them.
I really don't know if I will ever get one.
dc

[SVT-40]

Anything US GI..They all will shoot as good as another...

A "Universal" is not a real M1 carbine... It's a commercial copy. Some parts do swap with the GI carbine, but not all. Avoid them like the plague.

[Enfield47]

Check the CMP auction site, there have been quite a few M1 carbines posted lately.

[TANK1135]

Check the gun auctions for a USGI but now a shooter is up to about 800 or more.A collectable are about 1300 and up depending on the manufacture.Inland is going to be the cheapest [GI] cause they made them the most.

[Lone_Gunman]

Like everyone else says... Buy USGI.

[Quiet]

Get a USGI M-1 Carbine.

• Commercial Controls Corporation (COMMERICAL CONTROLS)
• Inland Division General Motors (INLAND DIV)
• International Business Machines (IBM CORP)
• Irwin-Pederson (IRWIN-PEDERSON)
• National Postal Meter (NATIONAL POSTAL METER)
• Quality Hardware Manufacturing Corporation (QUALITY HMC)
• Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation (ROCK-OLA)
• Saginaw Steering Gear Division General Motors (SAGINAW SG)
• Standard Products (STD PRO)
• Underwood Eliot Fisher (UNDERWOOD)
• Winchester Repeating Arms (WINCHESTER)

If you go with a commercial one...
... IAI and Auto-Ordnance are not too bad.
... Iver Johnson and Universal are the suck.

[Japedo]

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad I asked. I almost purchased a Universal.

[bruce381]

GI only clones will not go up in value.

look for a tighter one and if you can get a GI marked stock always adds value.

Most all you will see are mixmasters in that they have been through aresenal rebuilds and have had many parts updated or replcaed over the years.

They are fun shooters with really no kick like shooting a 357 in a rifle.

[xxINKxx]

Get a USGI M-1 Carbine.[LIST][*]Commercial Controls Corporation (COMMERICAL CONTROLS)
.

Lol. Ya go buy one of these at the next gun show!

[TMB 1]

The early Universals are good shooters.

[aghauler]

Thanks for the replies, I'm glad I asked. I almost purchased a Universal.

Wow close one good thing you didn't buy it! You wouldn't want to admit buying one around here you'd get a spanking you'd never fer get

Seriously though go with the good advice of what the other guys have said Go USGI for a shooter grade.
Caution though once bitten you MAY start looking for more! I know a guy that has an entire bedroom full of them been collecting them since they were $50 (or less).

[mls343]

As for most of these posts and especially SVT-40, go USGI. Anything else is a compromise.

[SVT-40]

. Caution though once bitten you MAY start looking for more! I know a guy that has an entire bedroom full of them been collecting them since they were $50 (or less).

Tell me about it.....

A few of mine...


Then you start collecting the M-1 carbine magazines so you get all the different markings..

I really don't have any idea how many carbine mags I have... but it's at least four .50 cal ammo boxes full

[Japedo]

If there is one of those that you despise more than the others send me a PM.