M1 Carbine - Would You Buy This??

[USGI]

The gun is not worth the asking price. But it is a desirable piece. Most of what I see on it is Boiled linseed oil, Tung Oil or some other kind of varnish, easy to clean. Many stocks were cracked behind the recoil plate from shooting grenade-launcher rounds. The fix for that is easy, fast, cheap and permanent; take the recoil plate out - soak Super Glue into the crack for a few minutes until it reaches the point of refusal, when the stock has absorbed all it is going to and the crack is full of glue. The next day it's finished. Remove any excess SG with Acetone and replace the recoil plate. I would start the clean up with alcohol from the hardware store, not the drug store. Anything that doesn't get will require the Acetone. Do not use any abrasives, steel wool, etc. Wipe the stock down with the alcohol. I would not be thinking about any refinishing until it's all clean and you can see what it really is. Some areas sure look like rust. If areas of it are rusty, it may be necessary to refinish it. But you don't pay even $1000 for a carbine that should be refinished.

Here you go. - Bob