M1 Carbine help

first off i just found this site and let me tell ya it seems like a cool place :clap:

but i need a bit of help trying to figure out what my Carbine is worth (it is on my list of will never sell)

from what i have found out (my guessing) it is made by underwood but the SN is that of an Inland #480-XXX but it has Underwood stamped on the reciver and BBL most all marks i have found have a "U" other than right below the Underwood and the SN it has a "T" marked on it.

the BBL has 1943 stamped on it but the wood has no markings. the guy i got it from said his grandfather brought it back from the war and stuck it under his bed. here are some pics i hope they help :confused:

thanks for your help guys. oh i will post what i bought it for after i get a few replys of what people think its worth. (it was WAY under what i think i should have paid)


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fd5ae314-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...b8378929-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0de37f06-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ffae2f66-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...75c0019e-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1f4df252-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8986a45c-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2570ce1f-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...563569af-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...85578bd1-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bd8512cc-1.jpg

Interesting find. The round bolt and barrel band with bayonet lug are later upgrades added sometime after it left the factory. The stock appears well sanded, so that would explain the lack of markings on it. Check in the sling well on the left side and see if there are any markings in there. A photo of the receiver markings would be helpful, too.

Just curious ....with it having the upgraded barrel band/lug why would it still have the flip sight? Why wouldn't they have changed that as well?

mash man,

Welcome to the carbine forum. There are many knowledgeable and helpful guys here. We also have a search feature up in the tool bar that lets someone look up past posts on different subjects.

Nice looking carbine. Could you have missed a digit in the serial number? Underwood did make carbines in the 4 million range. And they could have the pressed trigger housing. A 400,000 Inland should not.

The RP marked base on the leaf sight is interesting. Is the leaf marked RP as well? That could be a big dollar item all by itself. Have you taken it all the way apart? Markings on the other parts? You need a bolt tool to check the firing pin and extractor.

If you don't already have one, a book would be a big help to you. A lot of new carbine owners start out with the Craig Riesch book, about $20 on Amazon or Ebay.

Nice pictures of everything but the serial number on the receiver close up. It could be an Inland receiver. Put tape over the last two numbers.

i will for sure when i get home. i am stuck at work right now :(

Depending on when the upgrade was done and what parts they had available at the time, a rear sight might not have gotten replaced. It isn't unusual to find a carbine without ALL of the possible upgrades done.

i will do what ever it takes to find out what little gem I may have found :sos:


so what does the RP stand for anyway? how much is that worth?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1f062e07-1.jpg

at 100YDS

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...4c6d7b09-1.jpg


I want to shoot this little thing I have fallen in love with it but also if its a great piece of history I don't know I want to take a chance of messing it up :surrender:

Shoot it and enjoy it! You will not mess it up. These were serious weapons in their day (and still are), made to stand up to many thousands of rounds and combat conditions. I have a excellent "as it left the factory in 8-44" Winchester, and I shoot it every chance I get. I even carried it as a patrol carbine in a high country security contract. The 30 carbine round is superior to any of today PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) rounds, and excels under 100 to 150 yards as a CQB weapon. Read the thread on the Korean War Medal of Honor winner. He used it well.

My dad carried an M1 Carbine on Iwo Jima, and every time I shoot mine I feel I am shooting and experiencing History...

Is that target with the sight on the short (100/150) leg, or the long leg.

It looks like somewhere along the line the serial number has been removed and replaced with the one shown. You can see grind or file marks.

Underwoods T code (Intertype Corp) serial number range is 2,355,000-2,400,000

The Irwin Pedersen rear sight is worth a couple hundred dollars on it's own.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

It looks like somewhere along the line the serial number has been removed and replaced with the one shown. You can see grind or file marks.

Underwoods T code (Intertype Corp) serial number range is 2,355,000-2,400,000

The Irwin Pedersen rear sight is worth a couple hundred dollars on it's own.

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I was thinking about that too but I think it's just a mark if it had been filed it would have another mark either on the top or the side.

I was using the short sight it was the first time I shot it and I was as gitty as a school girl lol

So does anyone have an idea how much it is worth?

That's a tough one. As another member said, the IP rear sight is worth a couple hundred by itself. The carbine as a whole, however, is difficult. Intertype contract Underwoods are scarce, but without knowing who ground off the serial number, or why, value is iffy. I am by no means an expert, but the serial number being an odd hand-stamp moves it towards just a shooter. If that flip sight is not original to it, I would remove it and sell it, and put a milled adjustable type II and use it as a shooter. The true experts may have a better handle on it, though.

Non-collectable factors obvious to me:
Round bolt a replacement,
stock sanded,
rear sight replaced (?????) someone with more knowledge than me can comment on this one.
Type III barrel band not original
ground off serial number

Positives:
piece of history
sweet looking carbine with a lot of original parts with good finish
Its an M1 Carbine, that says it all.....

Well I got it for $420. It came with 140 rounds of M1 garand ammo of those 90 were black tip 6 red tip and 15 Orange tip. I think it was a good deal :)

I would say yes, a good deal ;)

I'm not a lawyer but the serial number has been changed, period, and that might be a problem. I won't advise you what to do but I think if it were mine I would seek legal advice and/or try to determine if the serial number change was legal, or turn the receiver in to the cops. If it's hot it just isn't worth it. Just my opinion and I welcome confirming and dissenting opinions from the forum.

Correction: First thing I would do is try to return it and get my money back from the seller!!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ChipS

I'm not a lawyer but the serial number has been changed, period, and that might be a problem. I won't advise you what to do but I think if it were mine I would seek legal advice and/or try to determine if the serial number change was legal, or turn the receiver in to the cops. If it's hot it just isn't worth it. Just my opinion and I welcome confirming and dissenting opinions from the forum.

Correction: First thing I would do is try to return it and get my money back from the seller!!!!

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This......... what ChipS said, and the old saying if it sounds too good too be true. I would be concerned.

The US Military is known to have restamped serial numbers inadvertently removed during refinishing. ATF has been helpful by approving the civilian ownership of such guns. If it were me, I'd send a copy of your excellent photo to ATF headquarters (NOT a field office, NOT local police) & request their approval. Worst case: an agent will visit you & seize the carbine. Best case: they will give you an approval letter that will improve the resale value.

Neal

All may not be lost. There is a member here who back in July 2009 showed a ground off serial number. Only showing an S on the left and G on the right. (SAGINAW S.G.) After working with them they, ATF, stamped a new number on the left side of the receiver.