Help with a M1 Carbine

[Ferrum]

Thanks in advance for everyone's help with this. I recently acquired a M1Carbine and have some questions about it... A couple of things I am skeptical of and a couple of things I want to confirm. Here we go!

To the best of my research this is a November 1943 National Postage Meter. All in all, it seems to be in good working order!



I understand that NPM didn't make a lot of there own parts, so I expected to find a mixed bag. And did I! Additionally, it appears to have been re-arsenaled in March of 1954. The kicker to this is, I don't see any arsenal marks on the stock? My guess is that maybe it's been replaced since then? With that said, the stock is beat up! Looks as if it has been in every major conflict, a couple of domestic disputes and perhaps drill practice for a girl scout troop...



One of the things that is really throwing me off about this is the action and barrel have one of the most deep blue, beautiful bluing that I have seen on a C&R piece. It is very consistent from the action to the barrel. I have done some google-fu and read a mixed mess of information regarding the bluing. This leads me to one of my biggest concerns, is this most likely done when it left the arsenal or when it entered private circulation? On top of that, I can only find one, very faint, barrel marking on it that says CII? I did read that a handful of arsenals did blue barrels prior to recirculation?



Everything is consistent with re-arsenal with this in regards to the parts. It has the lugged barrel band, modified magazine catch, rotary safety, Underwood trigger housing, Rockola front sight, Winchester hammer and so on...





Thoughts? I am really curious to get a consensus on the barrel issue.

Thanks again!

[Rock6.3]

That bluing job on the rear sight makes me think this is somehow special. Perhaps the rifle was an award? Or a presentation piece? Perhaps a manufacturers display model?

[jben]

Ferrum,
You may want to hit these guys up:

http://m1carbineforum.forumco.com/

[David13]

That's a very good M1 forum. There are also a few other forums with some solid M1 expertise.
There are also some rather knowledgeable people here about M1s.
All I can say is it looks like a nice gun. As to the details, I don't know.
dc

[GunDog]

Your carbine looks like it's sporting an Italian "fat belly" stock. Was this perhaps a CMP purchase from a few years ago? The polished blued finish is unusual and doubtful that it was an arsenal refinish.

Here's another "go to" forum where you can get some excellent advice on your carbine....

http://www.jouster.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?7-M1-Carbine-Forum

[SVT-40]

If it's buffed and blued, Bubba got his hands on it and ruined any collector value. It's still a good shooter though. The stocks looks original, as do the slide and trigger housing...

[Ferrum]

Ferrum,
You may want to hit these guys up:
http://m1carbineforum.forumco.com/

Your carbine looks like it's sporting an Italian "fat belly" stock. Was this perhaps a CMP purchase from a few years ago? The polished blued finish is unusual and doubtful that it was an arsenal refinish.

Here's another "go to" forum where you can get some excellent advice on your carbine....

http://www.jouster.com/forums/forumd...-Carbine-Forum

Thank you both. I will do some trolling and see what I can find there.

If it's buffed and blued, Bubba got his hands on it and ruined any collector value. It's still a good shooter though. The stocks looks original, as do the slide and trigger housing...

I'm kind of thinking the same thing.

I was a little irritated with this thing so I tore the thing down at work today. I would venture to say that most of the parts are as they should be (given age and re-arsenal). Only one little anomaly (besides the barrel) with the bolt. The bolt appears to be a Vietnam era Drillmation. Not sure what to think about that...

I have a new (unissued, unfired) '44 Winchester barrel that I am thinking of putting on it. That would probably bring it closer to a closer representation of what it should be. Decisions, decisions...

[SVT-40]

Why waste a original barrel by putting it on a buffed and blued receiver? The original Winchester barrel is worth more by it's self than the entire rifle alone..

I would keep it as a shooter, as is. Heck since it's already been butt raped (blued), you could have it blasted and re-parkerized and there would be no harm done. It would be much better than that ugly shiny bluing........... The stock is nice as is too. I would leave it alone.

[ccandgc]

Help with a M1 Carbine

Get it reparkerized. shuffs parkerizing does great work.

[mtykim]

the buttstock is definitely a replacement as it is for an M2. the bolt is also for an M2. the buffed and blued finish is definitely post-surplus release. there was alot of that going on back in the day when surplus WWII guns weren't really considered anything special. there are tons of 1911A1 pistols out there that went through the same high polish bluing to pretty it up, now considered to be atrocious.

[HalfFast]

Is the CII barrel marking underneath the barrel? Are you sure it isn't CAI? Century arms international. I have seen a carbine lightly stamped as such.

[71MUSTY]

I'll take it

[onewheelwes]

Nice rifle.