M-1 Carbine in Local Pawnshop For Sale - Worth the Price?

[Gunmeister]

M1 A1 Paratrooper .30 Caliber Carbine Folding Stock Rifle S/N 3766xxx. This is for sale and I have it on hold pending feedback as to it's correctness, value etc. It comes with at least one aftermarket magazine and probably two. Curious that one is stamped "Japan," on the bottom. Also comes with what is probably a period bayonet that someone did a "bubba" job on with some silver paint.

They allowed me to take a few pictures and they are attached. Your comments and feedback would be appreciated. Blue Sky Import. Offered to me at $600.00.

What say ye?

Thank you in advance for any responses.

Information

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[mmppres]

Looks ok on out side as a shooter grade but what about inside bore condition, bolt face, mags could be from number of places, Folding stock could be one of the re-pops from the 70's What are markings on barrel, import nane?

[INLAND44]

Stock is repro. mags/bayo are junk. What you're buying is the carbine itself with no stock. Maybe $300 if in good condition but judging by what I can see I would want to take a real good look. Actually while the fake stocks aren't valuable, this set-up with a good working carbine is great for a home-defense or truck gun.

[Gunmeister]

Stock is repro. mags/bayo are junk. What you're buying is the carbine itself with no stock. Maybe $300 if in good condition but judging by what I can see I would want to take a real good look. Actually while the fake stocks aren't valuable, this set-up with a good working carbine is great for a home-defense or truck gun.

OK, thank you. I heard you recently passed your "really senior" 50th birthday, youngster!

---------- Post added at 05:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:33 PM ----------

Looks ok on out side as a shooter grade but what about inside bore condition, bolt face, mags could be from number of places, Folding stock could be one of the re-pops from the 70's What are markings on barrel, import nane?

Don't really know as would have to take down to check for more specifics. Imported by Blue Sky, Virginia. Thanks a heap!

[INLAND44]

Yeah, I passed 50 so long ago its funny. ha, ha.

The 'Blue Sky' carbines were from Korea. Somebody probably got rid of the old stock and bought that repro - they sold for about $120 20 years ago. Most 'Blue Skys' were heavily parkerized but that one seems to have escaped that fate. Actually looks like original finish, heavily worn. Its an IBM receiver but no idea what barrel is on it. They're fishing at $600 - just not worth it and you really don't know if it is a useable carbine. However if you could get a couple hundred off, it probably would be worth the risk. One of the more important checks on a carbine is the muzzle. You can't clean it from the breech so G.I.s rammed their dirty steel cleaning rods down from the muzzle without the benefit of a muzzle guide, with corresponding wear. The government used to back-bore the barrels about 1/4" to restore accuracy. You can check it with a .30-'06 standard ball cartridge - put the bullet in the muzzle and if you still see some bullet before the brass, you're good. If it swallows it, then you have to determine if its eroded or counterbored. Counterbored is okay but you'll have to feel for it if you can't see it - use a very small screwdriver to see if you can hit the ridge just inside the muzzle. Look at the bullet feed ramp to see if it has a groove from each side of the magazine; it wasn't made with grooves but many carbines that were converted to M2 select-fire are so 'shot-out' that the feed ramp is actually grooved. Grab the slide handle and work the slide while pulling out - it should not come out of the receiver except at the take-down notch in the slide raceway. Wiggle the trigger guard; ideally you want the trigger housing fairly tight but if very loose it can be fixed. Hold the stock and try to yank the carbine out of it by the barrel. Should be tight and once again, looseness can be fixed. Basically any fix you may need to do is covered in the armorer's carbine manual that you usually can find at the gun show.

[CINDERS]

Its got a chunk missing from the rear peeps left slide tab there is a bit off it left on the front but I guess its an easily obtained part

[USGI]

Its got a chunk missing from the rear peeps left slide tab there is a bit off it left on the front but I guess its an easily obtained part

The Type II rear sights were made that way. It's not real pretty, but should work just fine. - Bob

[deldriver]

If you parted it out you'd get your money back somewhat or maybe pretty easily. The NVS mags are Japanese made and unless I missed something of good quality. I have seen Blue Sky imports sell for at and even over 1000 on Gunbroker, if that even matters to some. Personally, I wouldn't have bought it at price or any other since it's a rebuilt import, that's just my carbine taste speaking though. Now, if it were mine I'd ditch the reproduction paratrooper stock, find a good USGI one and shoot the crap out of it.

Hmm, just noticed the push safety, that makes me wonder about the other trigger parts and their values...just another thought I remembered late.

[rcathey]

If you parted it out you'd get your money back somewhat or maybe pretty easily.
...
Now, if it were mine I'd ditch the reproduction paratrooper stock, find a good USGI one and shoot the crap out of it.

That basically sums up my thoughts as well. I've gotta wonder if anyone has seen any Carbine going at $300 in the last five years. You can't even buy a Universal for that price.

[browningautorifle]

There's so much wrong that it makes it not worth starting, buy one that's ready to go. If it's a paratroop you want, then prepare to pay a reputable source. A pawnshop won't be the place to find one. Why buy that to part it out? Why bother...?