M1 carbine experts chime in. Im a newb

So a few years ago I picked up a M1 carbine from the LGS and I just dug it out of the back of my safe last week when I was reorganizing everything.
Im really debating whether to sell it and buy something else that I might actually shoot.
I don't have a clue on the value or even how to determine the value.
I know it has markings all over the rifle.
Can anyone give me a list of spots to look and take pictures of markings on this rifle so some of the experts on her may look them over and might be able to give me a ballpark value.

Im at work right now but If my memory serves me right this Is what I can tell you about it.

Quality Hardware receiver
IBM barrel
I-cut stock
I believe its a rock-ola stock and upper handguard.
No import markings
I know its not much to go on but these things are confusing.

First off: you are in the wrong forum. Please post your query in the "Appraisals..." forum.

I had planned to list the gun in appraisals later on once I have gathered all the correct info. But I thought it would be ok to ask in here what kind of specifics I should be looking for on the rifle so I may list them in the appraisals forum.

If you still feel I should I should move it, please say so and It will be done

From what you've told us so far, the carbine sounds interesting and your thread should be OK in this forum. Others have made similar inquiries. I'm probably not the only one who wants to see some pictures. :thup: Welcome to the forum. - Bob

Hawk,

Welcome to the carbine forum.

We would like to see pictures of your gun. Guys all the time show them and ask, "what do I have"? Receiver markings, barrel markings, sights, barrel band, rt rear of stock, sling well of stock, bolt, top rails and side of the trigger housing, hammer. That will be enough to get a general idea of the condition and originality of the parts. And maybe if guys have found similar items they might say what they paid. No big secrets here. Just a friendly community.

Condition is a big factor. Original parts verses mixed parts. Finish wear. Things like that can raise or lower the value.

Patrick is correct that a better appraisal would be found on that forum, but the guys here can tell you what they are finding. Different parts of the country could make a difference as well. What one finds in Ohio can be different then Washington.

So, let's see those pictures.

Welcome aboard.

Jim

Ok sounds good. I'll get going on the pictures when I get home.
I guess what I meant in my initial post was. is there any specific spots on the gun I should take pictures of or look for markings on to aid me in identifying my rifles origins.
I can worry about what its worth later, I guess I should be asking more along the lines of......what do I have here?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

Receiver markings, barrel markings, sights, barrel band, rt rear of stock, sling well of stock, bolt, top rails and side of the trigger housing, hammer. That will be enough to get a general idea of the condition and originality of the parts.

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These areas from Jim's post above will be a good starting point. - Bob

Biohawk1, welcome to the site. I'm glad you made it and you were able to straighten out the registration issue. This carbine forum will give you an abundance of great information. We have the most knowledgeable guys here to help.

Pictures buddy or it never happened ;)

Sorry for the delay gents
Here are some pictures
Hope you can tell me about what i have here.
Thanks!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._zpsyzzu-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._zpsgc6j-1.jpg
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Neat little carbine, lots of features I haven't seem for years like the removable spring housing. Would that I cut stock have been a high wood to begin? Undoubtedly it's been through the mill but the fact remains it's a nice carbine. Some very nice features.

I like it, and wouldn't mind having it. Probably the main thing to know now would be the condition of the bore and muzzle. If those are in nice condition, the carbine would be worth $750 to $850 where I live (assuming it's not import marked on the bottom of the barrel). If it's import marked, probably about $100 less. Other parts of the country may value it differently. Oh, yeah: all Quality Hardware carbines have the recoil spring tube feature, so it's not a value adding feature for that carbine.

Well, it's a mixmaster. I am not a carbine expert, but know just about enough to say that the I-cut stock (early) does not go with the later style of stamped-frame backsight and the front barrel band for fitting a bayonet. You can see the very different levels of wear on the various components. In fact, the best advice I can give you is to get "US M1 Carbines, Wartime Production" by Graig Riesch, which is quite comprehensive enough to enable you to make your own evaluation, and spend an interesting evening discovering just how many different manufacturers provide the parts for this carbine.

As the configuration of parts varied over time, the most important item of information that you have not supplied is the receiver number. This, plus the book, will help you to sort out the parts that could have been on that rifle when it left the factory and those that must have been manufactured at a later date. And since not all manufacturers made all parts, but were supplied with some parts from other sources, it could be said that a great number of carbines left the factory as "mixmasters"! Personally, it wouldn't bother me much as a shooter, but collectors are very picky about such matters.

Don't forget, the parts were supposed to be interchangeable between manufacturers, and, realistically, any armorer servicing a carbine would not have cared which manufacturer made any replacement parts. His responsibility was to make sure that the carbine worked, not to waste time matching up manufacturers parts for the delight of collectors 70 years later!

As Southfork wrote: "Probably the main thing to know now would be the condition of the bore and muzzle."
That is the essential question - does it work?

It looks like his receiver number is 4.7M which is very very late for QHMC. OP, screw the sight windage all the way over to the left and take a picture straight down onto the sight to show the staking pattern. Your IRCO sight might be original as they began to be used at the time QHMC made that receiver (and QHMC participated in the design of the stamped sight)

One neat thing about Quality Hardware is they made none of the carbine's parts except (in most cases) the receiver

IS THAT ROCKOLA BUTT PLATE EARLY OR LATE?

Looks alittle like a Saginaw butt plate? But is a match to the Riesch book pg 114 for Rock Ola.

Where's that "painter" guy when we need him? :dunno: He's knows his Rockola butt plates. :thup: - Bob

Bob,
I believe the OP has the Mid-Late RMC Buttplate.
Can't see it very well.

Like this one........

Cheers,
Charlie-Painter777


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC04760-1.jpg

That's the one I was thinking about. :D - Bob

biohawk1 I would not be put off because of the multiple manufacturers, These contracts were issued to a primary contractor and due to the rush to service need there were many subcontractors involved in manufacture of especially the early issue models. I have a early first issue Winchester with Inland, Rock/ola, IBM, and a couple of others all original manufacturer parts. Go to The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines with your manufacturer and serial no. there is a wealth of info there.

Also a wealth of info here...don't steer him to believe this is an original piece. It's been messed with.

"Messed with" sounds harsh. It is a rebuilt carbine with the improved performance parts like most carbines found today. The Quality Hardware brand is not seen that often and the spring tube was the way QH made most of their guns. It is a nice carbine with character and probably worth a lot more than people would like. The handguard is probably worth $40 alone. Nice carbine to shoot and enjoy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DaveHH

Messed with" sounds harsh. It is a rebuilt carbine

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Basicly what I meant Dave...yes, clean and I'd have it too.