Inland M1 buying advice

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Carl,

A 28X,XXX Inland would have been built around 4- 1943, so the 2-43 barrel appears to go with the receiver. That is pretty early. Sounds like it's a normal import with rebuild upgrades. The W in the sling cut sounds like it could be Winchester. You mention a few other Winchester marked parts. If they are, you can surely trade them for Inland parts. It would be costly to try and restore to original with stock, rear sight, type 1 band, mag catch, safety, etc. But if it shoots good, does the shop owner have a range?
As Charlie mentioned, check for a rewelded receiver. But I don't see many of those. Pictures would help to see condition if you can get some.
I think for $600 it would be a good milsurps addition and would pick it up. They $700/800 in my area.
But it's easy for me to say, I'm a carbine junkie and it wouldn't put me on the couch.

Good luck,

Jim

[ismith]

Carl,
Id study up on carbines first in your situation. There are some exellent books on carbines out there, the best being Larry Ruths books. No point in sleeping on the couch when you can remain in marital bliss! I recently picked up a hand stamped Inland that was sold by the NRA to a WWII vet police chief in Maine. I didnt pay much more than your looking to spend, and I got it off gunbroker of all places. There are good deals out there if you know what your looking for.

[Carl in CT]

Thanks painter777 for the e-mail, I will use that checklist and look for the books and other resources you and others have mentioned.

Jim, you rock! Thanks to everyone for the advice so far, you all make a newbie feel welcome!

I think that gun will sit for a little while at that price. It doesn't knock your socks off right away visually and I don't see many milsurp collectors at his shop, mostly just good ole boy hunters and young guys looking for black rifles (Saigas, ARs, etc.). So I think I have some time to research and think about it. Maybe when the owner gets back from his trip I can hit him up with the info I have and see if he will let me field strip it, take pics, and maybe fire it. He doesn't have a range, he used to shoot out in the back but someone put a daycare next door so they get a little uptight with too much shooting. I think if I go Sunday the daycare is closed so maybe then I can shoot it. I'm not sure he will let me take it home though, maybe with some sort of deposit, I dunno. I still would love to find one at $500 or less which may not be easy but might not be impossible either. Honestly it's something I have always wanted but never been in a rush for, especially now that prices have gotten so high so I'm ok it this one gets away.

[tenOC]

Any import stamp is not good for a collector pricing. I've bought several imports though. $550 for a Winchester spring tube Blue Sky on GB to a $699 Bavarian INTRAC Inland in a repro paratrooper stock.
Arl Ord is not as bad as Blue Sky, but worse than Sherwood and INTRAC as far as noticeable stampings.

[DaveHH]

They are superb examples of American industrial art that could only have been built in this country. My youngest son, who graduated from Cal a couple of years ago, likes to shoot. But when I told him about the story of how nine companies, only one of them in the gun business, managed to build over 6 million of these things in about three years, he started to see what he was holding in his hands. There is nothing ordinary about these rifles at all. Consider that they never built another after 1945 and ALL parts interchange. Almost 70 years later we are still fascinated with the beauty and utility of these little rifles.

I urge you to get a copy of "War Baby" and read the whole story of what this country used to be able to do when necessity demanded results.

The carbine that you eventually buy will be unique and will have its own story and history. A rebuilt mixmaster is just as good or better than some put together corrected carbine. I would suggest that you try and find a carbine that is tight and as fresh as possible. They are out there and some of the later Inlands will be in like new condition.

[Carl in CT]

Hi Dave, I am a bit of a history buff although I don't have much time to really read up on it etc. I think it's the history that draws me to milsurp guns in the first place and the M1 carbine is special because of the things you describe. I don't know that much about it yet but it seems to represent American ingenuity and ability to knuckle down and get things done on a level other countries had no prayer of duplicating. I fear most people and companies in America have lost that ability or at least the willingnes to do it unless they are getting paid some absorbanent price for their goods and services.

Anyway, it looks like I am going to pass on the M1 I have been talking about. After a realistic financial review It's just not in the budget so I have to let it go. Thanks everyone for your advice and input. I will keep reading up on the M1 carbine so if/when I get a shot at one when I have the money I will be ready.

Thanks again!

- Carl