New Member ... Restoring M1 Carbine.....

[INLAND44]

Sure, continue here rather than starting another thread as long as it's the same subject. You won't be sorry you bought a good supply of Kroil either. It has been the best industrial penetrant for decades, surpassed only by 'Sili-Kroil' which adds silicone. It has really caught on in the gun world as a penetrant and bore cleaner. Not much of a lubricant although it carries a fine-grade mineral oil. Nobody will know how the possible ban might affect curios and relics like the M1 Carbine until they pass something, if they do. As for the barrel, clean it with the Kroil and a .30 cal. brush, dry-patch it and take a look. It should be fine. You would want to have the gunsmith gauge the headspace with the bolt you plan on shooting with before firing it.

[ABPOS]

CLP would work. Wouldn't it?

What a wild story. It would be sweet to restore it back to working condition. Having survived so much.

[Im_in_NH]

The good news is that finally the Kroil has arrived. I had to get it from Amazon. The bad news, if its bad, is I leave for vacation soon and won't have time to spend on cleaning the rust. So I was able to give all of the metal a good coat of the KROIL. I took a small paint brush and worked the KROIL into every nook. The stuff seemed to get right to work. I am able to pull back the slide much easier now. Hoping to get another opportunity for some more cleaning before I leave. If not, then I'll get a good coat of the stuff on the barrel, bolt, slide and trigger housing so the KROIL and soak into the metal.

[garrettbragg12]

If it was your fathers service carbine, why change parts that don't need changing rather than keeping the gun original to him?


M1/M3 Carbine: late '44 Inland
M1 Garand: late '44 Springfield

[imarangemaster]

I am with Garretbragg on not changing any parts, since it was your father's service carbine. If you swap parts, it is no longer "original" as he carried it. I would clean it up, get a stock to hang it in, and enjoy it just as your father carried it. I wish I could find my father's carbine he carried on Iwo Jima! Closet I could come was to get one just like he carried: an un-messed with (as issued) 1943 Inland.

[Im_in_NH]

My primary goal is to try to get the rifle in working condition without changing anything. I don't know if this is possible but I'll give it my best. There are some missing parts that I will need to acquire. So far the list includes Trigger Housing Pin, Hand Guard, Stock with Butt Plate & Butt Plate Screw, Barrel Band Lock Spring, Sling and Oiler. I have not disassembled the rifle yet for further internal cleaning. I do know that the bolt does not lock in open position. Also, I'm not sure yet whether the rear sight elevation slide is present and operable. The rear sight windage knob moves left and right correctly. I would like to get the parts appropriate to the manufacture and year of the rifle, if possible. First is to get everything I have as clean as I can then inspected by a local gunsmith. Eventually I sure would like to take it to the range and fire it but I'm quite a ways from that. It may end up being a wall-hanger. Everything seems good so far. The KROIL is loosened everything up.

[fn111557]

My first IBM had a sticky bolt hold open catch. After a weekend of constant soak & spray to loosen it up, I finely got the nerve to just remove it. The little spring in there was SO GUMMED UP, I am surprised it worked at all. After a GOOD soaking and scrub with tooth brush, everything went right back in place and worked GREAT!
A gallon size “zip lock” baggie works wonders for keeping springy things from flying across the room!

[DaveHH]

and use it to scrub the rust off. It works as well as steel wool but is nowhere near as bad for the finish. Dip it in Kroil and just gently scrub.

[frankderrico]

Anything you use to remove rust must be replaced as the rust comes off. Change it often, the rust coming off is acts as sandpaper. I like oooo steel wool and some good gun oil you. Soak a small piece of the oooo SW with the oil then oil a small area on the gun and jently work it, wipe it with a paper towel and throw away the SW replace and start on the next spot. HTH

Regards.....Frank

[Thumper]

My Dad served in the 97th also.