M1 carbine experts chime in. Im a newb

[southfork]

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.

[Patrick Chadwick]

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?

[CrossedCannons]

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?

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

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

[USGI]

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

[painter777]

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

Like this one........

Cheers,
Charlie-Painter777

[USGI]

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

[evad]

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.

[browningautorifle]

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

[DaveHH]

"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.