Confused on new inland......blued....

hey guys, not to sure exactly what I bought. a friend of mines dad was a old SF guy and gave him a M1 carbine...this is my second M1 and I wasn't going to buy it because the stock is carved into more of a grip style but not cut off, and the hand guard has been drilled much like the metal ones....the crazier thing is its blued, receiver, barrel marked 5-44, barrel band are all blued....the thing was nasty so I took it apart and every part I see has the right markings for that M1....because of the price I got it for I was just going to modernize it, but figured I wasn't messing anything up.....sn# on this M1 is in the mid 5 millions thanks guys in advance.....

Sounds like it's been heavily modified for beauty or personalizing. You should take a few decent pics and let us see. They weren't blued for starters. The wood hand guards didn't have holes...

that's what I was thinking also...forgot to say it has a knock off flip rear peep sight on it... was just making sure it didn't start as one of the presentation rifles I have heard of that were blued....and the modifications for beauty are defiantly in the eye of the beholder...its ugly and in rough shape, but he needed money and I had a extra $200...lol

If it functions and shoots then it's worth the $200. I seriously doubt it would be a presentation. They were numbered differently anywayzzz, Pics would help though...

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01829-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01828-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01827-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01826-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 10:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 PM ----------

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01821-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01820-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01818-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01816-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01815-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 10:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:37 PM ----------

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01814-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01810-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01809-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01808-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01807-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 10:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:39 PM ----------

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01806-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 10:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 PM ----------

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01805-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01804-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01803-1.jpg

Definitely been through the mill. You could resurrect it by getting replacement wood, bead blast and Parkerizing and then it would look about like it should. Providing the barrel is good inside. Or just shoot it like it is.

Does that front band have a bayonet lug on it? If not, it may have some value to it. - Bob

barrel band is with bayonet lug......anyone ever seen a llower with the red color before? the rifling is in great shape so I thing I will refinish and rebuild......

The 'red' color is called 'plum', and it reflects a bad bluing job when it's that red.

That's a fact. Too cold temperature if I recall. Or too weak of a solution...but a re-parkerize would make all that go away. Bead blast the blue off and re-park...

It is a rare serial number range.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Too cold temperature if I recall. Or too weak of a solution

---

Wouldn't that have likely affected more than just one part? Assuming they were all blued together at the same time, that it. IIRC parts with a higher nickel content will come out this color when blued in the wrong solution. It's been 20+ years since I fooled with blueing guns so my memory could be a bit off.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vintage hunter

Wouldn't that have likely affected more than just one part

---

No, you're right. We used to see it in Winchester new "Smokeless" BBLs more than anything. And assuming the whole thing was done together...nickel content did seem to have an effect.

Used to see similar happenings with Winchester made 1894's. I never have been able to find out for sure and certain but I have read on several occasions the receivers were made of nodular iron rather than steel until around 1979-80 when Winchester contracted with USRAC to produce them. Those would turn more of a reddish color than nickel steel and wore off fairly quick.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Bubba-7

It is a rare serial number range.

---

Please tell us a little more about this s/n range. Thanks! - Bob

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by vintage hunter

Used to see similar happenings with Winchester made 1894's.

---

Exactly what I was referring to. Didn't make myself too clear with "Winchesters"...sometimes we did them as stainless and that worked, sometimes a real strong solution and sometimes over the top hot...which would have rusted milder stuff. We determined it must be nickel content. (?)

yes please explain the serial number thing. and also going to get a gi rear sight for it, what would be correct, stamped or milled? also on these late models what is the proper Parkerizing....grey or black? my arsenal rebuid one is grey thanks
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01782-1.jpg

This carbine will never be anything more than a shooter. That being said, your early IBM rear sight is worth about 75% of what you paid for the whole carbine. Sell it and buy a nice milled adjustable USGI rear sight for about $40, a better sight for shooting, and you will still recover more than 50% of your original cost. Replacement USGI stocks are cheap but re-parkerizing the metal is not. However, if you replace the sight, re-stock & re-park you should still end up with a very nice looking refinished shooter for probably not more than 50% of the market re-sale value of the finished project. If it were mine I would lose the bayonet lug before rep-parking to make it look more WWII vintage, but that's just matter of personal taste. Good buy. Congrats.

Added: Sorry. I failed to read your statemet that the rear sight was a "knock-off". Do you know this to be fact. We only have one view but that IBM flip sight looks original to me and if so it is worth perhaps $150. My post was based upon the sight being the real deal. Ether way, still appears to be a good buy. ChipS

so bayonet lugs were only post ww2? and I didn't realize it was a real rear sight, thought it was a cheap knock off.....think I will sell it.....and I think I will try to find a correct band also as you suggested ....thanks

I've been wondering about the "IBM" rear sight, too. It looks like it's marked on the left side, unless it's installed backwards. Couldn't tell for sure about that either. I've got a 5.4M and it came with the stamped rear sight, barrel is marked 8-44. - Bob

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by USGI

unless it's installed backwards

---

Yes, the sight is definitely installed backwards in the receiver. I really hadn't considered damage to the sight (or the receiver) as a result of this when I posted. It would be nice to see the opposite side of the sight to determine if it is badly marred by a drift, which would reduce value. I suspect the dovetail can be peened to properly secure a staked adjustable replacement sight just fine. Whatever, at this point I think that flip sight is real and worth something. JMHO

ok here it is, I was only assuming it was a knock off sight, im starting to think its not. you guys said it was on backwards, and also from what ive seen it was put on from the wrong side. it wasn't even, even with the left side of the receiver. so I removed it the same way I suspect it was installed. I see no damage to either part....here is more pics...thanks
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01831-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01834-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01838-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01839-1.jpg

---------- Post added at 07:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:49 AM ----------

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01840-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01841-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01837-1.jpg

oh yea....I know a guy that has a GI early IBM flip sight for sale or trade for a correct barrel band ( AI, KI, Triangled PI ) and correct rear sight (PI, HI) .....lol