View Full Version : The M1 Carbine
Picked this up earlier this year, and it had, well, it had been abused. The bore is perfect and the mechanics are sound, but the stock had been painted on in some spots, burned in others, and had the finish sanded off down to bare wood in others, and on top of that, there were no cartouches visible.
I like guns that look like they have a bit of character and age to them, so I didn't want to re-stock it with a new looking stock, and I didn't want to refinish it to look new. So, while preserving the dings that were in it, I simply took off the crappy finish, and then put the exact same color right back into it, topped it off with a bit of tongue oil, and that was that. It still doesn't look 'new', but it doesn't look 'beat to hell' either, so it still has 'character' to it, at least in my eyes.
It is a Saginaw S.G., with an Underwood barrel, made in June of 1944. The accuracy and reliability is excellent, and my three oldest kids shot expert scores with it this summer.
I've been using Remington UMC ammo in the white/green boxes, and haven't had any problems. Just thought I would share...
Your photo makes it look awfully dark. If you read the CMP forums, it's amazing what some of the people there can do with a bit of stripper, a steam iron, dye, and BLO or Tung oil.
I got an Inland from the CMP that I'm very happy with. It's about as fun to shoot as (maybe more fun than) my AR...and the ammo is quite a bit less expensive for the carbine.
I did very little to my stock...it was in pretty good shape to start with. It got a bunch of coats of BLO, a tiny bit of wet sanding with BLO, some more BLO, and then some wax.
I've got a second stock on the way that I'm going to play around with a bit.
it looks rather dark, but that's not a bad thing. it look sweet, do you have any pics of the Before?
MCPreacher
12-12-2007, 20:40
That is an evil, evil gun. Send it to me and I will perform an exorcism by fire... :)
Good looking M1, when I was a kid my Grandpa had a couple he got through the NRA program for $15 or $20 and we shot them all the time. By far one of my favorite guns of all time.
MOTHERGREEN
12-12-2007, 23:18
nice. the photo does make it look rather dark. I'm sure in better light it can be seen for detail. since the stocks a beater why not put the mag pouch on the rifle? it will scratch it a bit thats why its not such a good idea on real nice stocks.
Yeah, the photo makes it look a tad darker than it is, but it is still fairly dark. Actually, the color is exactly as it came to me.....minus the burning, sanding, and painting...:crying:
It's a fun gun, and something that my kids can shoot as well, so all in all, I'm pretty happy with it.
The same shop that had this had an 03A3 Springfield that had been HORRIBLY butchered by a Bubba who wasn't very good with a hacksaw..
It actually made me angry looking at it. That one would actually need a new stock. I thought about getting it and doing what was needed, but passed.
MOTHERGREEN
12-16-2007, 00:05
stocks are where the money is now. especially with all the beater m2 stocks coming from the cmp quality wood for carbines is expensive heh.
You can get a decent replacement stock from these guys:
http://www.reesesurplus.com/
This M2 style Walnut one came from them and after it was cleaned and refinished. They all clean up real nice if you put some effort into it:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r89/cphilip/M1finished5.jpg
As to the Scratching issue from a butt stock pouch, a very simple fix it to cover that snap with a pad of felt like one you put on the bottom of a chair leg to protect your Wood floors.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r89/cphilip/M1Carbine30RndL.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r89/cphilip/M1Carb30RndBayo.jpg
MOTHERGREEN
12-20-2007, 20:04
nice job looks good.
You can get a decent replacement stock from these guys:
http://www.reesesurplus.com/
This M2 style Walnut one came from them and after it was cleaned and refinished. They all clean up real nice if you put some effort into it:
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r89/cphilip/M1finished5.jpg
As to the Scratching issue from a butt stock pouch, a very simple fix it to cover that snap with a pad of felt like one you put on the bottom of a chair leg to protect your Wood floors.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r89/cphilip/M1Carbine30RndL.jpg
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r89/cphilip/M1Carb30RndBayo.jpg
i LOVE it!!!:wow:
Thanks!
I prefer the feel of the M2 stock however "uncorrect" it might be for WWII. It is period correct for Korea, Vietnam and later Cold War use. Which that one is designed to represent. The Bayo is Period correct for that as well. The 30 round mag is also an original GI which are getting very hard to find real ones of. The Mag pouch and the Sling are reproductions. The gun itself is a Quality Hardware and is mostly a mixmaster of parts. IBM trigger group and Winchester Barrel. Probably re-arsenaled very early as the patina all matches now. I would guess redone in late 40's.
The OP's gun has an M1 (not Pot Belly M2 style) stock and still has the original push button safety, but appears to have been re-arsenal job as well. It shows the later rear sight and the later style Bayo barrel clamp.
That looks really nice. I got a CMP Inland that came with a birch M2 stock that looked nearly new, had a few minor dents, but some idiot had used something to pry out a stuck oiler and did sort of a really rough job of turning a regular M2 into an I-cut...I'm guessing unintentionally.
I bought another stock as a fixerupper from someone else who'd replaced their CMP carbine stock with a nicer one. This one had lots of dents but came nearly complete...just missing the recoil plate screw. Turns out the butt plate is also rusted through along the top edge...found that while cleaning the rust out of the inside...and the handguard has a minor split in the front.
I may be contacting reesesurplus about some parts to complete this stock. BTW, after cleaning, steaming, oiling, and waxing the fixerupper, I can't decide which I like better.
This one still has plenty of dents, and even the ones I was able to steam out generally left marks...but there's something appealing about a stock that actually looks as if it may have seen heavy use in WWII.
MOTHERGREEN
12-20-2007, 22:07
who cares if its a mix master, its a shooter and a damn fine lookin one. usually the m2 stocks I see are beat up and are birch or beech. that one is a thing of beauty :)
thats true of the dinged stocks. but its even more true for the rifles that were rebuilt during the war. of all the configurations I like the late war m1 stocked ones. I need a proper bayonet for it. the polymer bayo I have is on the m2 stocked carbine.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/spike64/carbines.jpg
(i dont really have that much multicam..I used the clone tool :embarassed:)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v480/spike64/carbines.jpg
SWEET guns, :O)
Faulkner
12-23-2007, 22:20
Carbine stocks are not that hard to clean up, or if you prefer, unfinished replacement stocks are available that aren't too expensive. Here's a picture of a M1 carbine I restored for a friend of mine. He purchased a new unfinished stock for it and I put finished it out for him. It has one coat of Chestnut Ridge Military stock stain and about a dozen hand rubbed coat of boiled lindseed oil cut with mineral spirits.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/120029396.jpg
MOTHERGREEN
12-23-2007, 23:34
thanks eddie :cool:
now thats the kind of bayonet I need faulkner
MAN, this thread is making me want a carbine....and my Garand hasn't even came yet.....:supergrin:
i guess i know what i'm getting next:whistling:
MOTHERGREEN
12-24-2007, 18:50
lol! well I have a carbine and m14.. I need a garand next so I'll be on the lookout for your thread
lol! well I have a carbine and m14.. I need a garand next so I'll be on the lookout for your thread
:supergrin:
jrs93accord
12-25-2007, 06:33
MAN, this thread is making me want a carbine....and my Garand hasn't even came yet.....:supergrin:
i guess i know what i'm getting next:whistling:
Come on eddie4. Get on the stick. They are not making any more. Just to add fuel to the fire, here are mine again
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/DSC00262.jpg
1944 Inland
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/DSC00297.jpg
1943 Springfield Armory
Come on eddie4. Get on the stick. They are not making any more. Just to add fuel to the fire, here are mine again
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/DSC00263.jpg
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/DSC00297.jpg
:drool: ya i placed my order in with CMP for the Garand. after that, i already have plans:whistling:
MOTHERGREEN
12-25-2007, 13:10
:tongueout:they are making new carbines and garands ...they just suck is all.:whistling:
When I first picked it up, I saw some replacement stocks that were not that expensive. However, since mine was physically intact, I decided to keep it....and I think the dings give it character...:)
I would ALSO like to get an M1 Garand next!
Waterwagonboom
12-29-2007, 00:27
I love my Inland
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x211/135boomer_photos/Image0042-1.jpg
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x211/135boomer_photos/Image0052-1.jpg
Faulkner
12-29-2007, 13:44
MAN, this thread is making me want a carbine....and my Garand hasn't even came yet.....:supergrin:
i guess i know what i'm getting next:whistling:
Be warned, there must be something in the lindseed oil finish that makes both Garands and carbines as addicting as crack. Here's a picture of part of my humble collection.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/150368302.jpg
:tongueout:they are making new carbines and garands ...they just suck is all.:whistling:
Who's making news ones (of either)? I saw a Universal M1 Carbine in a gun shop the other day, and it was just scary. The stock was nothing like a USGI M1 or M2 stock. The metal was all painted green. The barrel band was nothing like GI. The slide and receiver lacked any provision for a bolt hold-open, and the slide looked like it had been twisted into shape rather than machined. The only part that looked like it could have passed for GI was the rear sight.
MOTHERGREEN
12-29-2007, 17:49
well.. universals have a history of crap all their own. as for whos making them currently auto ordinance is making carbines and springfield armory is making garands in 30-06 and .308. it doesn't really matter though since buying usgi is the way to go. really says something about the quality products we used to turn out here in america when something 60 some odd years old is better than new.
Waterwagonboom
12-29-2007, 17:55
I had a universal carbine 30some years ago. It was stolen. What a piece of junk!
MOTHERGREEN
12-29-2007, 17:58
shockingly enough I have heard sporadic reports of actual reliable universals. that guy who stole yours obviously didn't realize he done did you a favor. we can only hope he went to try and shoot somebody with it.. failed and got killed himself.
shockingly enough I have heard sporadic reports of actual reliable universals. that guy who stole yours obviously didn't realize he done did you a favor. we can only hope he went to try and shoot somebody with it.. failed and got killed himself.
:rofl:
Be warned, there must be something in the lindseed oil finish that makes both Garands and carbines as addicting as crack. Here's a picture of part of my humble collection.
http://pic50.picturetrail.com/VOL488/1124764/6541000/150368302.jpg
:drool: :faint:
Faulkner
12-29-2007, 19:41
Who's making news ones (of either)?
Auto-Ordnance is making new M1 carbines.
http://www.auto-ordnance.com/ao_aom110_f.html
They're not bad looking guns either.
http://www.auto-ordnance.com/images/aom130.jpg
Auto-Ordnance is making new M1 carbines.
I knew / had forgotten about them. I heard that at least with the earlier ones, they had reliability issues.
MOTHERGREEN
12-29-2007, 22:44
:supergrin:
AKMIKEFMJ
01-13-2008, 19:53
Here is a photo of my early Winchester.................:supergrin:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e350/mbmphoto/Winhigh1-1.jpg
MOTHERGREEN
01-13-2008, 23:39
nice highwood :)
I'll throw mine in.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b226/G19Tony/DSC00153.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b226/G19Tony/DSC00151.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b226/G19Tony/DSC00154.jpg
Waterwagonboom
01-17-2008, 00:23
What the heck...here's mine.
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x211/135boomer_photos/Image0042-1.jpg
RON WAYNE
01-22-2008, 12:28
Can I play too?
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj115/SO758/RonnypicsII376.jpg
http://i270.photobucket.com/albums/jj115/SO758/RonnypicsII390.jpg
AKMIKEFMJ
02-05-2008, 19:50
My Rock-Ola.........
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e350/mbmphoto/RMC1-1.jpg
exmdshooter
02-24-2008, 08:54
Here's my CMP Inland. The stock cleaned up nicely, and is not as dark as it appears in the photo (lighting and exposure issues).
Sweet little rifle, and a great piece of history. I love it! :supergrin:
Deaf Smith
03-08-2008, 22:07
Question....
Where do you find GI Carbine magazines these days. My local gunshop wants 30 bucks each! Are the ones made by Pro-Mag any good (just for practice use.)
Thanks,
Deaf
jrs93accord
03-09-2008, 08:55
Question....
Where do you find GI Carbine magazines these days. My local gunshop wants 30 bucks each! Are the ones made by Pro-Mag any good (just for practice use.)
Thanks,
Deaf
I bought my 15-rounders from SARCO (www.sarcoinc.com) last year for $10. They were slightly used, but function perfectly. Unfortunately, they have gone up.
CRB009 M1/M2 Magazine,15 Round (Used) $17.95
Tel: (908) 647-3800
I've ordered them from Sarco, Numrich, Atlanta Cutlery, and the CMP.
CMP sold them the cheapest, and sold out in no time. AC was backordered, and I ended up canceling my order before they got them back in stock. The Numrich ones I got were the worst condition ones I have, but with some minor adjustment of the feed lips, they all work.
With any of these, be prepared for rough looking mags...the sort you might refinish if you care about looks. They're likely to have been used and then stored for 50-60 years.
I bought some from my local gunshop, for about $12 bucks each. They actually all functioned with no problems...
GEEEEZ you people suck!$%^&^%&%$#@@... OK I'm sorry. Those are all nice rifles and probably shoot better than my imagined m1 carbine or garand.
My Rock-Ola.........
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e350/mbmphoto/RMC1-1.jpg
as i was reading the new american rifleman i realized......just how special that rifle REALLY is!!!:shocked::faint:
AKMIKEFMJ
03-23-2008, 11:26
I love my Rock-Ola...........:supergrin:
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e350/mbmphoto/RMC3.jpg
MOTHERGREEN
03-24-2008, 19:21
my inland has a rock-ola stock :whistling:
AKMIKEFMJ
03-24-2008, 19:33
my inland has a rock-ola stock :whistling:
How much for the Rock-Ola stock ???
:supergrin:
i'll give you $20:supergrin:
All,
I have really enjoyed reading the various threads about CMP Carbines and Garands. Up to this point I have only shot pistol and shotgun, but I want to take the next step to the rifle world!
I think I am leaning toward the carbine category since I don't see myself ever having the facilities to shoot past 100 yards etc. I also like the fact that the ammo for carbines is cheaper than full sized rifles. The various guns I'm considering are a Marlin lever action (probably .357), a mini-14....and now a CMP M1 Carbine!
I think a realistic price range for myself is $500, I know it's not a lot to work with. That puts me in the rack grade and service grade categories at CMP. Does anyone have experience with these categories or know which manufacturer to stay away from. The cheapest was the rack grade from Inland at $415 and from Underwood at $479. Moving up to the service grade category is a minimum $575. Do any of you have any experience w/ these specific categories?
Just a few general questions about the carbine as well:
-What ammo do you guys typically use? I noticed Wolf made .30 carbine for a pretty good price, it get's more expensive from there. Is Wolf OK to use?
-I know they have bayonet lugs on them, is this a problem for California? I'm dealing with the posibility that I may be moving there in the near future (military), so I'd like to know if there is any BS i'd have to deal with.
Thanks!
I think I am leaning toward the carbine category since I don't see myself ever having the facilities to shoot past 100 yards etc. I also like the fact that the ammo for carbines is cheaper than full sized rifles. The various guns I'm considering are a Marlin lever action (probably .357), a mini-14....and now a CMP M1 Carbine!
Get the CMP/M1 carbine. The other rifles, you can buy any time in the future. The M1 carbine, at least the USGI ones, haven't been in production for >60 years.
I think a realistic price range for myself is $500, I know it's not a lot to work with. That puts me in the rack grade and service grade categories at CMP. Does anyone have experience with these categories or know which manufacturer to stay away from. The cheapest was the rack grade from Inland at $415 and from Underwood at $479. Moving up to the service grade category is a minimum $575. Do any of you have any experience w/ these specific categories?
That's a tough call. There are no bad ones or brands to avoid. If it were just the money, I'd say get the service grade, but you're a bit late. At this point, if you want to guarantee getting one, order an Inland Rack (with a second choice of Underwood). If you want to try for a service grade, put in an order the next time a service grade type goes on sale...but the rest are likely to sell out immediately, so you're not guaranteed to get one.
Just a few general questions about the carbine as well:
-What ammo do you guys typically use? I noticed Wolf made .30 carbine for a pretty good price, it get's more expensive from there. Is Wolf OK to use?
-I know they have bayonet lugs on them, is this a problem for California? I'm dealing with the posibility that I may be moving there in the near future (military), so I'd like to know if there is any BS i'd have to deal with.
Thanks!
CMP sold Wolf until recently, so they must not think it's too horrible. I've been using Aguila.
IIRC, they're ok in CA as they don't have a pistol grip (at least if you don't get the folding stock type).
i'm in the same boat as NozeMan. (as far as looking to get a carbine from CMP)
when the carbine first went on sale i was waiting for the Correct grade Garand..i'm a little behind:supergrin:
how much worse REALLY is a rack grade rifle than the service grade?
what's the big decision maker that say's it's a rack grade over a service grade?
as much as i want to get a rack to hold me over to july till the service grades go on sale again..i don't think i can:sad:
I recently received a second rack grade Inland from CMP. I got a very good one. Correct barrel, good bore and coloring on the metal. It even had the correct for year flat bolt. :wow: The stock was a kind of beat up FAT32. I already have it's replacement in hand.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b226/G19Tony/DSC00230.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b226/G19Tony/DSC00231.jpg
My first CMP carbine is a mutt with nothing matching. It shoots very nice though. I took it out for the first time the other day.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b226/G19Tony/DSC00153.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b226/G19Tony/DSC00237.jpg
25 yards standing.
Waterwagonboom
04-05-2008, 12:54
Well Tony, I just hope the Winchester racker I have on order looks as good. I also have a spare stock on hand.
Bought a M1 Carbine off of Gun Broker this morning. The stock is beat, but you can still see the large ordinance wheel stamped in the stock (no cracks either). It's also "high wood" which seems to be something I've seen discussed in some threads. Metal is supposed to be in good shape. Rock-ola receiver and barrel, WWII era stock (not sure of maker but I'm hoping Rock-ola). Don't know about the rest of it. Seems I probably paid too much for it at $769, for a carbine that looks to have been shot a lot, but I like the history of it and brand. Also has serial number on left side of stock, which I guess means that it's seen military use somewhere in the world. Manufacture date around March 1944., and what appears to be white paint that you can see in the picture. I can't wait to get it and clean it up. I'll post updated pictures when I get it.
You'd be amazed what a little denatured ethanol, rags, maybe some 0000 steel wool, and a few coats of BLO (boiled linseed oil) can do for a beat looking stock. If you have dents you'd rather not, some of them may be removable with steam.
I was wondering what BLO is, thanks for the info. I think I want to put something on the stock, just to help preserve it. I don't think I'll sand it because I don't want to lose what remains of the ordinance wheel. You can see in the picture that it has more than it's share of dents, grooves, paint, etc.:embarassed:
You certainly have some dents. Ones where the grain of the wood is broken are unlikely to steam out all the way if at all. If you do the DNA and BLO treatment, the DNA will likely lighten the color of the stock. Give it a day or more to dry, and then start doing a coat of BLO per day, and it'll darken back up. Some thin the first coats of BLO with mineral spirits to help get the BLO into the wood and dry faster.
Will do, thanks for the tips.
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