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My grand mother gave me my grand dads old M1 Inland when he passed. I used to shoot it a lot when I was a child and it has sat in my gun cabinet for years. I know nothing about these guns and I was just curious what it would be worth or how to tell if it is original. Any help would be appreciated. The serial number on the back part of the upper receiver is #1254. Here is a picture of it. Thank you for your help.
M1 Carbine pictures by roadrunner_19_va - Photobucket
About a 100 dollars, I'll send it your way and if you can send it to me asap, cool. And don't get a second opinion.
Teasing. I would just google, "USGI M-1 Carbine for sale" and you can see what some people are asking for them. Some are out of their minds and some are fair. But you'd get an idea. Plus the guys that really know might want some more info to help you.
Cool sling. Carbines that have the equipment yours has are getting harder and harder to find, because it appears to be a WWII style without an arsenal rebuild. Original configuration.
Did you know your Grandfather well?
There are a few books that tell you about the markings and such on all the parts and if they might be originally outfitted on a particular weapon. One is called: A Complete Guide to the M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbine by Bruce N. Canfield. I just starting reading it. My brother in law borrowed it to me. There are others and I don't know which is the most accurate.
That fact that your carbine has a Rear Flip sight, no bayonet lug, and a "high wood", "I" cut stock, to me, indicates a carbine that was as issued in WWII. But I am no expert. I'm not sure how your Grandpa got it. Maybe it was from the DCM or maybe some other way, but it is a fine example. From what I can tell so far. But I am no expert. Others hopefully will chime in.
Lol. I wouldn't sell his M1. I grew up shooting it and I killed my first deer with it. I did know my grand dad pretty good. I googled M1 and I read some articles about them but most of it was foreign. lol. What does "highwood" and "I" cut stock mean? What does DCM mean??? lol. Sorry for the hundred questions. Just curious. I will take more pictures of it tonight and post them up here. I hope I can gain more knowledge about this gun from here.
The high wood means that slit in the right side where you can see the forward part of the op slide, well on the older ones, it's higher than the arsenal rebuilds. If you look at mine, you can see where there is a recess or "dip" in mine and is further down and exposes more of the op slide:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...3E2523EW-1.jpg
The I cut is the shape of the cut where your oiler goes. It's pretty evident on the right side it looks like a capitol "I". You'll see it.
The DCM is like the CMP is now. It was an agency that sold Govt' surplus guns to people that met the requirements. I think. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. But I was just reading about it Canfield's book last night. It was how the first Carbines made it to the market. I guess.
Took your first deer with it eh? Now you're going to start some controversy with that. Hehehehehe. I don't know why people dog on it, as it's just as powerful as a .357 mag. Although on the light side of the bullets. I was thinking it would be sweet one day to use it. Although I have other calibers and guns that probably work better. But the Carbine is so darned handy.
Glad you're not wanting to sell it. I would treasure it as part of your heritage. My Grandpa died in WWII in France. He was a Sgt. in the 2nd ID, 23rd IR, E company. I'm always wishing I knew him. So glad you got to have memories with him and a weapon to remind you now that he is passed.
You have a treasure there, hang on to it. That is a very early Inland
Thanks for your help. I see the "I" now. and I see the Highwood. Here are more pictures of mine. I was wrong on my serial number up top. but it is still low. Does this look all original? Does anyone know what the markings on the stock and the bottom of the grip mean?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270386-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270380-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270377-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270376-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270375-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270374-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270373-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270366-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270363-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270362-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270355-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270337-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270386-1.jpg
he ask about value IMO 600-700. however being grandpas = priceless
Travis 1203,
Welcome to the Carbine forum.
First off, what a gift to receive from your grandfather. Just the memories alone will make you want to keep it and hand it down to your children or grandchildren. There are also some things on it that are going to make mouths drool here. A four digit serial number.The LA marked highwood stock. Leaf rear sight. Type one band. Early dated barrel. Just to name a few. And a few that are inconsistant with your early serial number. The bolt and slide may have been exchanged at some point. I would love to see the internal parts. Are you familiar with taking it apart? If not I see you are around Fredericksburg, Virgina. Maybe someone in you area will post and be able to assist you.
If it were mine, I would find the proper sling and oiler for it. And consider a zipper case, pouch and a couple mags for the pouch.
Second we have a search section. You can input into that and it will bring up thread related to you search.
You have a very nice carbine.
Jim
Thanks for the info Jim. Yeah this gun is going to my son one day. I am pretty mechanically inclined so I will take it apart and take some pictures. Anything specific to take pictures of? I probably won't change any parts on it because it was my grand dads. Thanks again for the info.
travis ,do not sell that gun,with that four didgit ser# you have a real treasure.
Travis does your stock have the crossed cannons on the butt?
It looks like the pic attached.
Yours wouldnt have the box around it or the initials next to it.
Here are the pictures of everything disassembled. I am not going to sell it. It is going to be my sons one day. Let me know if everything looks good if you do not mind.
The slide has the numbers - 7161843
The Bolt has a 10 with a 3 turned sideways
Trigger housing says Inland in a little box
The Hammer says H.I.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270349-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270346-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270345-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270344-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270348-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...P9270347-1.jpg
---------- Post added at 09:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 PM ----------
No it does not have the crossed cannons on the but but I believe it has the crossed cannons on the bottom of the grip. It is really faint. You can kind of see it in one of my pictures.
Travis, that's a nice one! I agree with Jim about seeing some later upgrades on it, but I think I would leave it alone. That cut-out area on the stock (left side of the receiver) shouldn't be there. Do you ever remember your Grandpa having a scope mounted on it? - Bob
Just now saw the pictures of the insides and see some other upgrades that the others will probably comment on - it may have seen some "full auto" action at sometime in the past.
You also have an M2 full auto hammer and disconnector block. I would remove the full auto disconnector and replace the hammer with an M1 hammer. While it is not illegal unless the other M2 parts are installed, it isn't worth a chance. At some point it was changed to full auto.
also see the holes on the left side of the receiver from when a scope was mounted, thus the modified stock.
The bolt and slide hinted that there might have been some changes. The hammer, disconector block, and trigger housing show a few more. The housing pin doesn't appear spring loaded. Things like that.
But even with those parts inside, the stock has not been cut for a selector switch, big plus there. Maybe at one time there was a second stock used and a bag of goodies to go with it. Who knows, hard to say.
Bottom line is there are enough of the hard to find good items, that locating the others will not cost you an arm and a leg. If you even choose to do it. An M-1 Inland type 3 hammer will only cost you $15/20, dogleg would be much more. But you can get rid of the disconnector block and M-2 hammer, which you can sell, to pay for the new hammer and have a little cash left over for possibly other items. Unless you are a collector wanting original parts, I'd only change the hammer and keep the rest the way grandpa had it and you shot it.
You have a lot of options.
Jim
Thanks for the info on this M1. I really appreciate it. This stock has a varnish of some kind on it and I am assuming my grand dad put that on there at sometime. Is there a safe way to remove it with out messing the wood up or the cartouche stamps? I know not to sand it and I do not want to mess anything up with a chemical stripper. Plus once I get the varnish off, what can I put on the wood to bring out the cartouche stamps? Thanks again every body.
You have a nice gun ther for sure. It does look like it saw some full auto action at one time. Even the trigger housing is the type VI Inland used for it's M2's. I wouldn't worry too much about trying to make it original either. The cost of the parts and even trying to find them will or should convince you not to try. I would cherish it for a long time to come.
My goodness what an interesting carbine!!!!
Now I don't feel so bad that mine is drilled and tapped either. Thank you!!!
I can't believe how low that number is. That's astonishing.
I would leave it alone, and just think of your Grandpa when you look at it and shoot it. So cool.
Although the suggestion of making sure it doesn't have any M2 parts is probably a good one. I wouldn't want to take any chances. Man, what an interesting carbine. Wow.
Thanks guys. Yeah It does suck that it is drilled and tapped, but I am assuming my grand dad did it so it doesn't bother me. The stock being shaved a little sucks but oh well it is what it is. lol. It sure is a fun gun to shoot so that is all that matters to me.
Travis Id say Grampa probably sanded and refinished that stock. Its too bad with an I cut high wood. That would cost some to find a replacement for it.
Everyone else chimed in on the parts you have. Heck of an interesting rifle.
Hi: from what has been said, In my opinion you have a great piece of family/miltary history and a great aditude to go with it! ENJOY! GK
I think you have an awesome piece of history, both US and family. NONE of the items pointed out detracts in any way from its REAL value to you. The only thing I would do is to remove the full auto sear block, and either use a washer to take its place next to the M2 hammer, or replace it with an M1 hammer. Other than that, I would not change a thing!
One of the very first run (except for #1 - #5) of the M1 Carbine from Inland, probably the first week of production, and it amazingly still has the original barrel. Don't forget, war was not declared until Dec. 7, 1941, and the new 'light rifle' basically did not yet exist. I would say the barreled receiver with flip sight and stock together would fetch about $1500, and the other parts would be extra to that. So for insurance purposes, you would want to value it around $2000, although my guesses could be quite a bit low. The stock unfortunately has been rather heavily sanded, but it still has value.