New guy has a paratrooper question

I have always liked M1 carbines, but never thought to see if there was an online group or forum. So glad I found this site. I recently inherited some gun stuff from my Dad. In it is a couple of M1 carbines and a stock that he had felt was an original paratrooper. I know there are a lot of reproductions out there. I'm wondering if someone can help me authenticate it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've included some pictures. I hope I am in the right subforum to do this, if not please let me know.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._zps1ic4-1.jpg
Whole view. I am missing the barrel band and top wood piece.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...bibskisu-1.jpg
Right side above pistol grip "c" marking.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hb57lad7-1.jpg
Left side pistol grip with two markings. Showing Rock Island rearsenal, maybe?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...0behkw9g-1.jpg
Right side, correct rivets?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ncwcaoze-1.jpg
RI under pistol grip. No sign of crossed cannons, but a lot of wear in this area.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...hu5ujxcn-1.jpg
Another view of bottom of pistol grip.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...quykog83-1.jpg
OI bottom right corner.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...npa6pb2u-1.jpg
Left side, correct rivets?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...va5sjj87-1.jpg
Markings on butt plate.

Any help greatly appreciated. Can post more pictures if needed. I remember the complete gun when I was in my teens(in my fifties now). My Dad did a lot with guns and owned quite a few M1 carbines at one time. So there is no telling what he broke down or traded parts on. I am trying to locate the barrel band and top wood piece also. What's it's worth, whether real or reproduction? Thanks.

45,

Welcome to the carbine forum. This is the right place for that item. You can use the search feature in the task bar to find other threads on your type stock. I'm sure there will be a lot of guys commenting on your thread. It will be valued many times over what your Bushmaster stock is worth.

If your looking for a value to possible sell it, there will be quite a range. And I wouldn't spend the time or money for the hand guard. If you are considering keeping it, hand guards are around $15. If you have the metal to put into it, the band usually is with that. Certain serial number ranges go into M1A1 stocks. You don't show the right side. That would let us know if it is high or low wood. The site below will show you what I mean by that.

The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine Stocks & Handguards

Again welcome. Not too many new guys start out with a rebuilt M1A1 stock. Pretty cool entrance into the forum.

Jim

Thx. Glad to be here. Sorry I forgot to add a picture of the right side of stock.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nvmeetj3-1.jpg
I think it's a low wood. Is that correct?
Also how difficult would it be to find the correct lower, bolt, barrel, etc. to make it right? Do you know what the correct stuff is or where I can find out what it is? Would it be considered authentic then? LOL, A lot of questions! Threw them out there in case anyone could answer. Possible, but doubtful, I can find the correct parts in my Dad's stuff if I knew what they were.
I've posted this on the m1carbine.com forum also. Nice guy there valued it at +/-$2000.
Any thoughts? Don't think I want to sell. Would love to piece together a authentic paratrooper M1A1, if that's not considered sacrilege.

It looks like a cut down highwood to me. I think I can see where the wood was unevenly cut. BTW, 2000 would be on the potential high side in my opinion since it has rebuild marks, but M1A1 stocks constantly shock me for what they go for.

Very nice looking stock no matter what, congrats!

Since it is a cut-down high-wood with a rebuild mark (RIA), any M1 Carbine without an import mark would be 'correct' for it, with any kind of barrel band. The attempt to make it correct with an original Inland carbine in WWII configuration would be expensive and pointless. However, I don't know if the arsenals put Type III bands on these at rebuild. A Type II band would be much better but also more costly. I think you could put a refinished carbine with late features and a Type II band in that stock for about $650. I think its value would then be about double that.

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Originally Posted by deldriver

It looks like a cut down highwood to me. I think I can see where the wood was unevenly cut. BTW, 2000 would be on the potential high side in my opinion since it has rebuild marks, but M1A1 stocks constantly shock me for what they go for.

Very nice looking stock no matter what, congrats!

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Can you explain "cut down highwood"? Just so I know, what that means. I'm interested in what people think it's worth also. But not from the point of selling it. Just interested. It has a lot of sentimental value and is worth a great deal to me personally. Just curious as to the estimated monetary value of it. My dad passed away about 5 years ago and my mother recently divided some of his things between myself and my brothers. I just happened to pick up the stock because no one else had any desire for it and because I remember it as a whole gun and shooting it with my dad when I was younger. He had alzheimer's in his last years and in the early stages of his disease I think he broke down a lot of his guns, I may can find the parts or trade my brothers for the correct parts, if I know what to look for. Also it's a good day on another point.....A few days ago I thought it was worth $25 to $50 bucks......I've learned a lot from looking at these boards and a couple of other forums. Really got me reinterested in military guns again. I have several and very many questions also. Thanks for your thoughts.

Cut down is just a highwood, cut to low wood. Maybe it cracked, splintered off a bit, or was just an upgrade.

The link I posted show pictures of what high and low wood looks like. Did you go there and look?

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Originally Posted by 45aseep

Can you explain "cut down highwood"? Just so I know, what that means. I'm interested in what people think it's worth also. But not from the point of selling it. Just interested. It has a lot of sentimental value and is worth a great deal to me personally. Just curious as to the estimated monetary value of it. My dad passed away about 5 years ago and my mother recently divided some of his things between myself and my brothers. I just happened to pick up the stock because no one else had any desire for it and because I remember it as a whole gun and shooting it with my dad when I was younger. He had alzheimer's in his last years and in the early stages of his disease I think he broke down a lot of his guns, I may can find the parts or trade my brothers for the correct parts, if I know what to look for. Also it's a good day on another point.....A few days ago I thought it was worth $25 to $50 bucks......I've learned a lot from looking at these boards and a couple of other forums. Really got me reinterested in military guns again. I have several and very many questions also. Thanks for your thoughts.

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Glad you plan on keeping it. It's simply irreplaceable in your situation.

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Originally Posted by INLAND44

Since it is a cut-down high-wood with a rebuild mark (RIA), any M1 Carbine without an import mark would be 'correct' for it, with any kind of barrel band. The attempt to make it correct with an original Inland carbine in WWII configuration would be expensive and pointless. However, I don't know if the arsenals put Type III bands on these at rebuild. A Type II band would be much better but also more costly. I think you could put a refinished carbine with late features and a Type II band in that stock for about $650. I think its value would then be about double that.

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So to be clear and for my knowledge only, since it is a "rebuild", it can't be considered to be an genuine M1A1? Is it because none of the Inlands went in for rebuilding or is it pointless because they are hard to find? With your numbers can I assume you think the stock is worth $600ish? Please know that none of these questions are meant to be condescending are antagonistic. It's just simply that I'm interested in this. I also have what I think is a Saginaw and what I know is a Plainfield. I've learned here that the Plainfields are a commercial carbine. So I know that would not be period correct. I'm not sure if the Saginaw has an import stamp or not. Not where I can check it tonight. I'm thinking you are saying that it shouldn't have an import stamp on it because the imports would not have been rebuilt in the USA. Is that correct? If no import stamp on the Saginaw, should I drop it into the paratrooper stock? Now if this is wrong on any level please tell me. Thanks

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Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

Cut down is just a highwood, cut to low wood. Maybe it cracked, splintered off a bit, or was just an upgrade.

The link I posted show pictures of what high and low wood looks like. Did you go there and look?

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To be honest, really busy day at work and I forgot about the link. Looks like a lot of good info. Will have time in about an hour to really take a look at the link. Thanks for reminding me.

Yes, the stock is genuine as far as I can tell. The carbine it held was involved in a rebuild and the high wood was cut down as per the orders to make it a low-wood. Then it received a rebuild mark. Consequently, you would find an updated carbine in that stock after the rebuild. This means an Inland carbine in original configuration would not normally be found in a stock with a rebuild mark, so any M1 Carbine could have been found in that stock after the rebuild. The absolute best carbine you could put in the stock would be an Inland from either serial number bloc for M1A1 production but in rebuilt configuration. A Saginaw would be great too. The import mark is fine - it simply reduces the value because it could not exist on a carbine that did not leave U.S. custody until it was sold by the DCM. It means that carbine was given to some other country. Later, that country surplussed it out and an importer bought it and brought it 'home' to the USA to sell.

Seems like the consensus here and on another forum, is that it is the real deal, albeit a rebuild. So very happy about that. Guess I can spend some time looking for the correct serial number Inland to go in it. May take years. But I'm not interested in selling it and it will be fun seeking the "Holy Grail". I appreciate your opinion, the information and the time you have spent helping me.

---------- Post added at 10:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:11 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

Cut down is just a highwood, cut to low wood. Maybe it cracked, splintered off a bit, or was just an upgrade.

The link I posted show pictures of what high and low wood looks like. Did you go there and look?

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Was able to spend about an hour, today, on the link that you recommended. Well worth the read. I learned a lot and will be returning. Whoever put it together did a top notch job. Thanks for the direction.

That site was built and is maintained by Jim Mock.

As long as you understand, and I'm not sure you do, that if you can find a carbine with an Inland receiver numbered to one of the two blocs of M1A1 production and any combination of USGI parts, that would be as correct as you would expect with the rebuild mark on the stock.

I think I got it. The best I can hope to achieve is a historically accurate, but not a historically authentic carbine. I can track down a correct "serial number range Inland receiver" and use only USGI parts for everything else. Hopefully Inland if I can find them. It will probably be very, very difficult to find all of this without spending a fortune. But fun if I can pull it off. This could take years. As proven by the rebuild mark, it will not be worth as much because it is a rebuilt carbine. Rebuilt not only by the government once, but by me again. With accurate government issue parts, but not original to this particular gun. So the value is less. Historically accurate is all I want. Good thing for me, cause historically authentic is not possible. For me this is like rebuilding my Dad's old car. The fun is the work. Not interested in selling it, but if I were in the future, it would be wrong to attempt to sell it as historically authentic. I would not even present it as an arsenal rebuild, but as one I put together with historically accurate parts.
I really appreciate the sharing of knowledge and expertise on this site. You guys are great. I have several milsurp guns I have collected and inherited over the years. I'm really interested in learning more about them, also. But I'm sure the M1 carbine will always be the Top Shot for me.

Good luck finding a 'Reciever'! A lot easier and cheaper just to buy a complete gun! GK

Like he said, don't try to start with a receiver. Find an Inland with any combination of parts and drop it in.

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Originally Posted by INLAND44

Like he said, don't try to start with a receiver. Find an Inland with any combination of parts and drop it in.

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Probably best achieved by buying online through sites such as gunbroker.com????
I have never bought a gun online, any advice?

First find a FFL who will receive the firearm and do the paperwork to transfer it to you. Any carbine you find on Gunbroker ask us about it. You should go to gun shows too. Don't be in a hurry.

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Originally Posted by INLAND44

First find a FFL who will receive the firearm and do the paperwork to transfer it to you. Any carbine you find on Gunbroker ask us about it. You should go to gun shows too. Don't be in a hurry.

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The last sentence is this quote will save you potentially lots of money. Do your research and ask plenty of questions along the way. These are fun little guns to shoot and collect. The more you know the better off you'll be.

BTW, FFL businesses charge varying amounts for transfers. Some places are excessive too, so find the cheapest one.

Good Luck!

Better yet, apply for your C&R FFL and you can buy old military guns all you want without having to send them to a dealer for transfer! Good luck...

But then you have to log every buy you make, no?

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Originally Posted by tenOC

But then you have to log every buy you make, no?

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Yes, and it's not for resale purposes either. With that said, I've had the paperwork setting on my kitchen counter for about a year or more now. I think I've finally made the choice recently to go ahead and fill it out though. There's just enough advantages to having one to go ahead and do, especially if one buys a lot of firearms online.