I need help with Carbine Receiver S/N & Barrel Mfg

[DICKX]

I asked a question here about 2 weeks ago, and received some very good feed back from you guy's
At that time I was not sure of complete S/N but contacted the owner, and had him recheck the S/N, so here go's
Saginaw S/N 3,276,136 Receiver
Barrel marked - Inland Mfg, Gen. Motors 44, and then the dreadful Inport mark Exel Gardner,MA.
Carbine must have been thru a rebuild at some time because it has adjustable sights, bayonet lug, flip safety, magazine latch with letter M, 4 rivet upper hand guard. I like the up grade's but not the inport mark.
Bolt is flat type & blue color which I think would be correct,he say's has nice wood , right side of stock has a square box but can't see any thing inside box. The left side of stock has no marks ( like a rebuild mark ), oiler & sling may be a repo don't know ??
He doesn't know ME,and does not have a 30-06 bullet to check ME.
I am wondering if this barrel is a replacement.
Receiver falls within the first batch of S/N by Saginaw but don't know about barrel.
I have to drive 250 miles round trip to see the rifle, he has a 01 FFL but I don't think he knows much about Carbine's. He said he bought it a number of years ago and had to dig it out to give me info. The bad part he went to a gun show and seen a beater that had a tag of 8 bill's & because his has nicer wood he want's 8 bill's, I told him the inport barrel of his rifle hurt's the price.
I don't know how much the Saginaw receiver would be worth.
I don't want to ask him to much to alert him if it is some thing of a rare rifle, I will probably have to drive the miles and look at it which would be to my advantage.
I would appreciate any advice you guy's could give me before I make the trip, as you can tell I am new to this and you all have so much experience.
THANKS
Dick

Information

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[USGI]

You sound a lot like me! Be sure to take the money along when you go see it. Someone will always tell you that you paid too much, but in a few years it will be more than worth it, and you won't have to kick yourself for passing it up. - Bob

[DICKX]

USGI
Thanks for you'r reply - Bob
Dick

[painter777]

The bad part he went to a gun show and seen a beater that had a tag of 8 bill's & because his has nicer wood he want's 8 bill's,

Problem here is..... That beater may have been up for sale @ $800 for a few years now.

DICKX,
My experience has been, If I've drove X amount of miles to see a carbine. The majority of the time the seller seems to take that in to account and is usually more likely to deal a bit.
Especially with the current price of gas. That may give you a little added leverage.
I also like to do a Pre-search of any near by Gun shops, Gun Shows or Pawn shops that may have some carbines. Searching, mapping out and calling a few of these shops first, saves some time and may bring in a new lead.

I agree about the Import mark, it does hurt value. But it depends on what grade your looking for. His 'Nicer Wood' may end up being a nice SG stock with light markings. When nice SG stocks are auctioned they can bring half or better than his current asking price for the entire carbine.

JMO and HTH,
Charlie-painter777

[Tired Retired]

Here is a suggestion and is dependent it on many personal factors... At least it is an option I would consider....

I would ask the seller to send me detailed pics. I will assume that I want the carbine as a shooter (not a collector). Save the gas and buy it and have him send it to you on his FFL. Negotiate the price and see if he will pay shipping. He may give you some room based on the import mark, buying sight-unseen and just because it has been sitting around awhile (I mean how many other offers is he entertaining right now?????). Then go shoot it. If you like it, keep it. If you don't, the list it and sell it. You can always part it out if you get hard up to move it (Wow, did I just suggest that?????????) The round trip would cost me $50 in my truck plus a whole day of time (worth more money to me). I personally would draw the line at $650 tops for sight-unseen and the import mark. (But then I personally believe that most carbines are shooters and not collectable as a whole)

Just my two cents worth...

[DICKX]

THANKS
Charlie- painter 777 for your reply & advice I appreciate it.
Question- would the Inland barrel date 44 match the Saginaw reciever S/N 3,276,136 or has the barrel been replaced.
THANKS
Dick

[DICKX]

THANKS - Tired Retired
I appreciate you'r advice- I don't want it as a collector but if would have to resale it some day would like to get my money back. If it just didn't have the inport on the barrel I would probably go ahead with it.
THANKS
Dick

[usgicollector]

I would say It has been replaced. The Saginaw plant was finished making carbines in April 44 and they were using their own Saginaw marked barrels.

[DICKX]

THANKS - usgicollector for the reply, that was what I wondered about and could not find that in my book. I would like to have barrel correct for the receiver even if I will be using it only as a shooter. It may have some Saginaw parts that I could sell to offset the barrel ( inport ), but would have to tear down and that would take me some time as I don't have the experience to do on the spot, so would have to get the books.
THANKS a lot
Dick

[Bruce McAskill]

Your serial number would date to about August 1943 so an Inland barrel with a 1944 date is a replacement.