New guy has a paratrooper question

[45aseep]

I have always liked M1 carbines, but never thought to see if there was an online group or forum. So glad I found this site. I recently inherited some gun stuff from my Dad. In it is a couple of M1 carbines and a stock that he had felt was an original paratrooper. I know there are a lot of reproductions out there. I'm wondering if someone can help me authenticate it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I've included some pictures. I hope I am in the right subforum to do this, if not please let me know.

Whole view. I am missing the barrel band and top wood piece.


Right side above pistol grip "c" marking.


Left side pistol grip with two markings. Showing Rock Island rearsenal, maybe?


Right side, correct rivets?


RI under pistol grip. No sign of crossed cannons, but a lot of wear in this area.


Another view of bottom of pistol grip.


OI bottom right corner.


Left side, correct rivets?


Markings on butt plate.

Any help greatly appreciated. Can post more pictures if needed. I remember the complete gun when I was in my teens(in my fifties now). My Dad did a lot with guns and owned quite a few M1 carbines at one time. So there is no telling what he broke down or traded parts on. I am trying to locate the barrel band and top wood piece also. What's it's worth, whether real or reproduction? Thanks.

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[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

45,

Welcome to the carbine forum. This is the right place for that item. You can use the search feature in the task bar to find other threads on your type stock. I'm sure there will be a lot of guys commenting on your thread. It will be valued many times over what your Bushmaster stock is worth.

If your looking for a value to possible sell it, there will be quite a range. And I wouldn't spend the time or money for the hand guard. If you are considering keeping it, hand guards are around $15. If you have the metal to put into it, the band usually is with that. Certain serial number ranges go into M1A1 stocks. You don't show the right side. That would let us know if it is high or low wood. The site below will show you what I mean by that.

The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine Stocks & Handguards

Again welcome. Not too many new guys start out with a rebuilt M1A1 stock. Pretty cool entrance into the forum.

Jim

[45aseep]

Thx. Glad to be here. Sorry I forgot to add a picture of the right side of stock.

I think it's a low wood. Is that correct?
Also how difficult would it be to find the correct lower, bolt, barrel, etc. to make it right? Do you know what the correct stuff is or where I can find out what it is? Would it be considered authentic then? LOL, A lot of questions! Threw them out there in case anyone could answer. Possible, but doubtful, I can find the correct parts in my Dad's stuff if I knew what they were.
I've posted this on the m1carbine.com forum also. Nice guy there valued it at +/-$2000.
Any thoughts? Don't think I want to sell. Would love to piece together a authentic paratrooper M1A1, if that's not considered sacrilege.

[deldriver]

It looks like a cut down highwood to me. I think I can see where the wood was unevenly cut. BTW, 2000 would be on the potential high side in my opinion since it has rebuild marks, but M1A1 stocks constantly shock me for what they go for.

Very nice looking stock no matter what, congrats!

[INLAND44]

Since it is a cut-down high-wood with a rebuild mark (RIA), any M1 Carbine without an import mark would be 'correct' for it, with any kind of barrel band. The attempt to make it correct with an original Inland carbine in WWII configuration would be expensive and pointless. However, I don't know if the arsenals put Type III bands on these at rebuild. A Type II band would be much better but also more costly. I think you could put a refinished carbine with late features and a Type II band in that stock for about $650. I think its value would then be about double that.

[45aseep]

It looks like a cut down highwood to me. I think I can see where the wood was unevenly cut. BTW, 2000 would be on the potential high side in my opinion since it has rebuild marks, but M1A1 stocks constantly shock me for what they go for.

Very nice looking stock no matter what, congrats!

Can you explain "cut down highwood"? Just so I know, what that means. I'm interested in what people think it's worth also. But not from the point of selling it. Just interested. It has a lot of sentimental value and is worth a great deal to me personally. Just curious as to the estimated monetary value of it. My dad passed away about 5 years ago and my mother recently divided some of his things between myself and my brothers. I just happened to pick up the stock because no one else had any desire for it and because I remember it as a whole gun and shooting it with my dad when I was younger. He had alzheimer's in his last years and in the early stages of his disease I think he broke down a lot of his guns, I may can find the parts or trade my brothers for the correct parts, if I know what to look for. Also it's a good day on another point.....A few days ago I thought it was worth $25 to $50 bucks......I've learned a lot from looking at these boards and a couple of other forums. Really got me reinterested in military guns again. I have several and very many questions also. Thanks for your thoughts.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Cut down is just a highwood, cut to low wood. Maybe it cracked, splintered off a bit, or was just an upgrade.

The link I posted show pictures of what high and low wood looks like. Did you go there and look?

[deldriver]

Can you explain "cut down highwood"? Just so I know, what that means. I'm interested in what people think it's worth also. But not from the point of selling it. Just interested. It has a lot of sentimental value and is worth a great deal to me personally. Just curious as to the estimated monetary value of it. My dad passed away about 5 years ago and my mother recently divided some of his things between myself and my brothers. I just happened to pick up the stock because no one else had any desire for it and because I remember it as a whole gun and shooting it with my dad when I was younger. He had alzheimer's in his last years and in the early stages of his disease I think he broke down a lot of his guns, I may can find the parts or trade my brothers for the correct parts, if I know what to look for. Also it's a good day on another point.....A few days ago I thought it was worth $25 to $50 bucks......I've learned a lot from looking at these boards and a couple of other forums. Really got me reinterested in military guns again. I have several and very many questions also. Thanks for your thoughts.

Glad you plan on keeping it. It's simply irreplaceable in your situation.

[45aseep]

Since it is a cut-down high-wood with a rebuild mark (RIA), any M1 Carbine without an import mark would be 'correct' for it, with any kind of barrel band. The attempt to make it correct with an original Inland carbine in WWII configuration would be expensive and pointless. However, I don't know if the arsenals put Type III bands on these at rebuild. A Type II band would be much better but also more costly. I think you could put a refinished carbine with late features and a Type II band in that stock for about $650. I think its value would then be about double that.

So to be clear and for my knowledge only, since it is a "rebuild", it can't be considered to be an genuine M1A1? Is it because none of the Inlands went in for rebuilding or is it pointless because they are hard to find? With your numbers can I assume you think the stock is worth $600ish? Please know that none of these questions are meant to be condescending are antagonistic. It's just simply that I'm interested in this. I also have what I think is a Saginaw and what I know is a Plainfield. I've learned here that the Plainfields are a commercial carbine. So I know that would not be period correct. I'm not sure if the Saginaw has an import stamp or not. Not where I can check it tonight. I'm thinking you are saying that it shouldn't have an import stamp on it because the imports would not have been rebuilt in the USA. Is that correct? If no import stamp on the Saginaw, should I drop it into the paratrooper stock? Now if this is wrong on any level please tell me. Thanks

[45aseep]

Cut down is just a highwood, cut to low wood. Maybe it cracked, splintered off a bit, or was just an upgrade.

The link I posted show pictures of what high and low wood looks like. Did you go there and look?

To be honest, really busy day at work and I forgot about the link. Looks like a lot of good info. Will have time in about an hour to really take a look at the link. Thanks for reminding me.