M1A1's at gun show

[lboos]

I saw two M1A1's at a gun show sat, they both looked very orig. one was for $2900 the other was $5500, not being an expert I could not tell the diff. both had the flip sights, older mag. release, and no bayonet lug. I ask the guy with the $5500 one if he had seen the other one, he said it was a part's gun, made up one.
Sorry, did not have my cam. with me.
So hard for a novice to tell the diff. they both look'ed so good.

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[carwashchris]

Of course, what else would he say ? Although I serious doubt you can find an original for 3k. But that certainly doesn't mean his was original either. He was being a salesman. I wonder were they both highwood ?

Chris

[deldriver]

Chances are they were both mixed up parts gun judging by the that one seller's comments. Personally, I believe that M1A1's are one of the most if not the most tampered with carbine variations out there due to the money involved with them. I mean how many faked, mixed up M1A1's have we all seen on this site alone? Think of it another too, how many truly undeniable original M1A1's do we ever see on this site or others? The numbers on my first question is fairly high, while the answer to the second question obviously almost never. Finally, if you want a M1A1 you can find them in all kinds conditions at all kinds of prices. It's finding the just the right one that's the trick.

[cali201]

the only thing that makes an M1A1 is the stock, not the carbine. You can take a perfetly honest Inland, real deal from a regular stock and drop it in a M1A1 and poof!!---a real M1A1! So you really buy the stock, not the carbine...IMO

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Agree with that. Just get the correct serial number range and it's hard to say one way or the other. Sometimes more then one wear pattern on the metal & wood gives it away.

[Live4therut]

the only thing that makes an M1A1 is the stock, not the carbine. You can take a perfetly honest Inland, real deal from a regular stock and drop it in a M1A1 and poof!!---a real M1A1! So you really buy the stock, not the carbine...IMO

Having an actual M1A1 and observing 3 others vs the amounts of fakes or drop in's. I disagree there are certain wear characteristics that a M1A1 receives when in a paratrooper stock for a long time. These wear characteristics would not be on a regular inland dropped into a M1A1 stock. I can take some pics to elaborate. I'd likely just be showing the fakers and humpers how they can make their rifles more convincing but there are definite wear features to look for.

[Live4therut]

Rereading my previous post, I forgot a comma after I disagree, hope the context is clear

[lboos]

Having an actual M1A1 and observing 3 others vs the amounts of fakes or drop in's. I disagree there are certain wear characteristics that a M1A1 receives when in a paratrooper stock for a long time. These wear characteristics would not be on a regular inland dropped into a M1A1 stock. I can take some pics to elaborate. I'd likely just be showing the fakers and humpers how they can make their rifles more convincing but there are definite wear features to look for.

Please do show some pic's, very interesting subject.

[Live4therut]

Please do show some pic's, very interesting subject.

Ask and you'll receive. The best thing you can do if not confident or well versed is to take pics and post to threads like these for some of the collecting veterans to have a look. Heck I made a couple bad buys in my collecting career. Thankfully they weren't exorborant purchases and only lost a few grand, basically was a cheap lesson learned. I bought the books, did the studying, ask the questions, took every opportunity to handle as many guns in my collection focus as I could.

So here's three original carbines I chose to dissemble because of differences
First production run M1A1
1943 early type 1 Saginaw
1944 transitional WRA mix of type one and two parts

So pay attention to where the trigger guard sits in M1A1 stock


So out of the few I've seen close up the wear on mine is actually quite mild.



See how there is no or little wear at that point on the other carbines.