Paratrooper Authenticity Check

[brevennaugh]

I'm looking to buy a paratrooper M1 that has a Type 2 stock (low wood, RI/3 on butt of pistol grip and crossed cannons on right side of pistol grip). The manufacturer's date for the Inland barrel is 1-44. The serial number of the gun is Inland 4957xxx. Is that in the range to be a honest to goodness Paratrooper?
Thanks. Any comments would be welcome.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Do you have one too many X in there?

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

brevennaugh,

Welcome to the carbine forum. You are the second person in the last week who's first post was about an M1A1.

Do you have pictures of your carbine?

I think your serial number is a bit early for the second run around 5.1 million. But I've learned there are no absolutes in regards to the carbine.

You can look at past threads on M1A1's by using the search feature in the task bar.

Look forward to your pictures.

Enjoy the forum and camaraderie of our members.

[brevennaugh]

That's my concern. Too early a serial number to be legitimate paratrooper. Interesting to learn that there's another barrel/receiver combo in the same number neighborhood. I read on one website that the barrel could/would have been mated to the receiver in about 3 months, which would make the combo appropriate.
Yes, I do have some pictures. I'll try to figure out how to post them. I don't have any pictures of the innards.

[brevennaugh]

Here's some pictures of the paratrooper I'm looking to buy.

[shadycon]

The stock has had a type 2 or 3 barrel band. Either someone has changed the band or the gun. GK

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Shadycon pointing out the band area shows it is not all original. You don't mention the asking price, but that alone should give you some negotiating room.

[brevennaugh]

[/COLOR]I appreciate Shadycon"s observation of a wrong barrel band. You thought Barrel/receiver was too early. He did too on another forum I posted to. What's the going price for a paratrooper low wood stock that would take a type 3 barrel band? Am I thinking correctly that that's what it is? The gun's owner wasn't asking top dollar but it wasn't cheap, either, pushing $3K!! What would be a fair price?
Thanks guys!!!

[INLAND44]

A type II and III band will leave the same signature on the stock nose. A 4.957 would have had a Type II band. That is a good-looking carbine but most likely is a total 'put-together'. Personally I could not see paying $3000 for it.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

But with a type II band I could see $2300-$2500