M1A1 - Real or Fake?

[G26ster]

Just curious as to what you folks think.

M1A1 Carbine Orig. Paratrooper m1 carbine Garand : Curios and Relics at GunBroker.com

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[USGI]

No expert here, but it's got my fake one beat! I wouldn't quite call it "original" - something about the pistol grip and some of the markings look questionable. To me it looks 'enhanced' a bit and some of the stock metal may be refinished, or swapped from a reproduction. One thing demonstrated here is how differences in the photography can sway your opinion. For example, compare pictures #24 with #40 - the finish can look so much different depending on the lighting. Boy, the muzzle and rifling sure look good! Harlan taught me all about slings, so I know that's legit! Without looking up the dates for all the pieces, to me the mix of early and late parts are questionable. I think the closeup of the front band shows the correct features discussed recently in the other threads. I wouldn't mine owning it. - Bob

[trekvana]

I agree with Bob here. Taking a look at picture 39 the metal sure looks brand new compared to the rest of the gun

[G26ster]

No expert here, but it's got my fake one beat! I wouldn't quite call it "original" - something about the pistol grip and some of the markings look questionable. To me it looks 'enhanced' a bit and some of the stock metal may be refinished, or swapped from a reproduction. One thing demonstrated here is how differences in the photography can sway your opinion. For example, compare pictures #24 with #40 - the finish can look so much different depending on the lighting. Boy, the muzzle and rifling sure look good! Harlan taught me all about slings, so I know that's legit! Without looking up the dates for all the pieces, to me the mix of early and late parts are questionable. I think the closeup of the front band shows the correct features discussed recently in the other threads. I wouldn't mine owning it. - Bob

I looked up all the parts, and I believe they are all correct for that SN. The metal stock looks refinished, but the only thing that was questionable to me was the numbers on the buttplate. They looked stamped rather than sand cast, but it's hard to tell. In any case it sold for $2000.

[rayg]

The carbine is nice and nothing wrong with it. Well worth what it sold for, Ray

[bkavanaugh]

I believe the number on the butt plate is incorrect. This butt plate is numbered "B357614." Original butt plates were cast "B257614." The pistol grip also looks a little new (look at photo 45). I believe the "RI" should be serifs and that isn't exactly clear in picture 9. Lastly, the crossed cannon cartouche looks a little big. I believe the larger crossed cannon cartouches on the second run M1A1s measure 0.50 inch. (Maybe it is just the angle of the pistol grip in photograph 18).

I could be completely all wet on this, but to me, this carbine looks like a mix of original and new.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

A better picture straight on the numbers would help. It's a little blurry photo of the butt plate marking. The spacing of the characters looks good. Could be just a bad spot in the casting?

This is a known #6



This is the one in question

[ibmikey]

I have had a number of M1A1 carbines but only one rebuild by AA, the photos look very genuine to me, consistent with a rebuild that has gone back in service. The only "strange" thing I see is the CC on the grip as being very sharp where the rest of the markings are worn, could be this is a replacement part but then it should not even have the CC. My knowledge is limited to personal experience and all the neat books I have read, no telling what 65 years have done to the originality of this piece.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I also think the pistol grip has been replaced. Different color, and a lot better condition then the rest of the stock.

As for the crossed cannons. I don't know which books you have. The first two I checked shows that "War Baby" page 348, Riesch 5th edition page 125 mention them.

[G26ster]

Any opinions on the buttplate casting/stamping? As bkavanaugh said, "I believe the number on the butt plate is incorrect. This butt plate is numbered "B357614." Original butt plates were cast "B257614."

That's what I read in Riesch. Has anyone seen one marked with "B3....?"