1942 Original issue Paratrooper

New member, be kind. First post.
Good friend, no internet access, has an M1A1 paratrooper. Had the "military guns experts" at the local gun club look it over. They had the books, the form, etc. Back story is friends Dad was a Chief in the Navy, assigned to a destroyer, was issued this gun on board, kept it in his locker for the duration-how it got back to the states is unknown(duffle bag?), gave to my friend(son) has had it ever since.
I know for a full scale eval, will need all the info, pics, etc. For now, a general question. the locals all feel it is as issued, barrel and receiver marked Inland, serials indicate date as Nov-Dec 1942 for both, general characteristics are sound-right rear sight, no bayo lug, right markings. The general question is, I can see asking prices/selling prices on all the normal internet sites. However, all that I can find are dated 1944. Would the 1942 date add any significant value over the 1944 ones?
Thanks

For a moment, I would ask, take a deep breath.

And once you've stepped back and away from the aspiration of riches, it might be possible to appreciate the treasure. There was much excitement, I'm sure, with the books and the folks at the club who inspected this gun. The research is often rewarding when all the ducks get into the row, and a true relic can be identified and defined.

But hold it for a moment in your hands, and then a moment extra. Understand that these models were in the hands of the Paratroopers who landed past the beaches of France in June of '44. And for the men who were charged to use them, or perish at the hands of the Facist war machine. For those, like the men with carbines and grit, we are able to post on this forum today - in freedom. We owe a lot to the tools of war, and deliverance may be felt in the grasp on the walnut, leather and steel.

Yes, the '42 Inland is a treasure, and it's not all to be measured in dollars. Thanks for giving that some thought.

Now, post up some detailed pics! We all appreciate these gems. And I'm sure that you can get an appraisal or two along the way, as well

Welcome..

local "experts" scare me.....let's see some pictures. Of the stock we need to see the printing on the butt plate, any letters or marks/symbols on the stock. The bulk of the value will be in the stock as Inlands are common and any Inland could have been dropped into the stock at the time it was made. We need to also see pictures of both sides of the stock as well. Close ups of the rear sight, barrel band, etc. Best to put pics on a host site like IMGUR or photobucket (I hate photobucket) and post the link to the album here.

Agreed.

High resolution photos, taken in ample natural light (not in direct sun), of all the marks will be needed to move forward with any potential evaluation. As it stands, and even with the local expert opinion, the value range for the gun could be from $700 for a poor conditioned clone, to several thousand dollars for a good conditioned original.

ltcnav,

Welcome to the Milsurps forum. And for a first post you have a very nice carbine to talk about.

You can look at back posts or threads on M1A1's from this site using the search feature. Already a few members are looking forward to seeing photo's. Some areas to get photo's have been mentioned. Others would be the right side of the stock, to see high or low wood. The bottom of the grip. And the leather piece and rivets.

Enjoy the forum and will be looking for your pictures.

Jim

What is the serial number range of your carbine?

Yes, that is the first question that has to be answered. There is a block of numbers that can be correct for an original early A1. Then the finishes and parts have to be reviewed for originality and condition. Next the wear and patina on all interfacing surfaces have to be examined to determine if those parts have been together since 'day one'. This includes where the metal and stock interact. If it turns out to be right and in nice condition, it would be a very valuable find. In the meanwhile, don't do anything to it and don't shoot it.

Yes ltcnav, welcome to the site. If you have difficulty posting photos please feel free to PM me and we will get your pictures up on the forum. And, I am anxious to see this carbine as well.

Hopefully this will end with pics. What I am trying to show is the following; On the handgrip butt is a crossed cannon cartouche, Receiver is marked Inland, serial no is 851xx, on the rear site,left side is an "S"with a dash, the barrel is marked, "Inland Mfg Div, second line is General Motors, third line is"11-42".
[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/9ajb6OI.jpg[/IMG]
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../1jjyQMf-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Wn5CZbZ-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../1FMT3Ag-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../FksahUm-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../EgvOWs6-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../XLGe63U-1.jpghttps://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../2GMh0h9-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../mm2irpP-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../Dzddnhl-1.jpg

Very nice looking. High wood stock?

[IMG]http://i.imgur.com/8fMySkz.jpg[/IMG]

real nice piece wait all info will be ready as soon as the ones who know get to look at the pictures in detail

It is a high-wood stock (early), and the serial number comes from the first production run. From the limited pictures of details, it is impossible to tell if it is fully original or not. But I must say that it looks really promising.

I would love to have that carbine in hand to disassemble and document all the maker stamps.

First and most importantly it's very nice. I believe it has a possible Winchester trigger housing on it going by the letter looking think on the bottom of the housing. Even if that's true it hardly matters.

WOW! That is one sweet carbine you have!

Damn!! The local experts were right!! Nice carbine

So, refer to my first post for "provenance" info, followed by pics. Lets assume an original 1942 unaltered(as evidence suggests). What would a fair price be? You guys are the experts. I can follow GB, most higher priced ones are dtd 1944, does not seem to be much interest in them.
What do you think.

You might wish to submit it for review to Advisory Panel or in the appraisal section. The Advisory Panel will need good quality photos and close ups in macro and overall pictures of all the parts and pieces. We have the very best the hobby has to offer here at milsurps.com and are willing to help.

This is a Nice Paratrooper Carbine that I wouldn't even think about selling, but it's nice to have it appraised for Insurance purposes. Why would a Chief on a Destroyer be issued a Paratrooper Carbine ?

Frank

Nice little carbine...possible the Chief just procured it. The issue thing may be a loose term...

Nice Carbine. I had a similar one that I sold three years ago through Rock Island Auction Company for 3250 and the buyer paid a hefty premium on top of that. That looks to be in better overall condition than mine. The serial range was the same and it had all original Inland parts and in an as issued configuration.
I want to add that, in my opinion that there is little interest in the latter ones on GB because they are way overpriced. We all know that the 1st rule in selling is start high because you can come down but its harder to go up. People who are really interested in selling will price the item accordingly.

Oh you got a dandy ! If I had to guess $3800.ish on the low side the high side will depend on bore condition, front band, front sight, bolt and the trigger housing internals.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by browningautorifle

Nice little carbine...possible the Chief just procured it. The issue thing may be a loose term...

---

If he did procure it he must of really wanted one of those bad boys.

Frank

Nice carbine!!!!

Don't get the wrong impression of this approach but how I approach these is looking for the items that don't fit the pattern. If those are present then it's a matter of figuring out why it looks that way. One of those would be the story of who was "issued" this one.

The parts look good from the pics. The rear sight appears shifted way left which was common, but I'd like to see a better picture of the staking on the right side of the sight dove tail. On this monitor the rear staking doesn't appear proper for a flip sight. An in focus picture could tell much about the Carbine itself, but not much about the stock. The coloration of the Carbine gives me the impression that it was refinished but the rear sight wasn't. In the left side profile picture the plain where the rear sight meets the dove tail looks too clean and debris free to have been together very long. If any part of a Carbine doesn't fit 100% original config, then that introduces alterations which detract from the value. In orig unaltered config these can be $5000. If there are ANY alterations it will be looked at as some level of restoration and will knock an easy 1000 off the value and typically much more than that.

For reference, a decent high wood stock only was at our local show for a cash price of $1300 recently. I know the history and it had a crack professionally repaired by Frank and the grip could've been just a little bit better. The stock came from Gunbroker and was a complete M1A1 with Winchester action installed and was bought this past spring. It had a Buy It Now on it for I believe $1599. Another high wood walked in our local show for $1500 this spring. The action was an original early Inland with dogleg, type I band, but the stock has two cracks and a couple of repop parts. Another with a Rockola action was here this month for $3500 which was too much for it.

Regarding the first page statement, the Germans weren't fascists. They were nationalist minded socialists which means they wanted a strong nation for their German citizens only, and not for the migrants and bankers who were bleeding them out after WWI. They were government authoritarians which is a FAIL in my book right off the bat. The Italians were fascists.

Let's talk about the carbine and not progress into political definitions.

I agree. I would've addressed that on the first page if I could be a moderator. :thup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by imntxs564

he must of really wanted one

---

Not surprising. I do.

drool!

Sold to a forum member, he PM'd me, sent bunches of pics. Received it for inspection, and bought it.
He can add more if he desires.
Thanks for all the responses and help.

Nice looking M1A1 carbine in original condition, 5 digit with black oxide finish. IMO, I would put a value of at least $5000 on it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Newscotlander

I would put a value of at least $5000 on it.

---

He sold it already...

Quote:

---

He sold it already...

---

I'm aware. Just letting him know of it's value and hoping he got at least that for it.