I picked up an M-1 Carbine today

[woodchukhntr]

I'm at the Syracuse gun show today and my buddy pulls out a M-1 carbine that he recently picked up at an auction.  It has an Inland receiver with a late WW2 serial number, a 1945 Inland barrel, an early 2 rivet handguard and an early Winchester push button safety.  The stock is pretty good, but the gun had been blued and the round bolt was jewelled.  He blueing is fair with some pits in the metal.  The bore lools really good.  I got it for $250.  He had hoped to sell it for more, but we have a deal not to make money when we sell to each other.  Now I have to pick up some dies.  I'll get 5 round and 15 round magazines tomorrow.

I used to have a Winchester in very good condition that I picked up from the DCM in the 60's and wish I had hung on to it!

[30-30man]

I still remember the M-1's at the Roses stores many years back.  They were $100 guns then, so I bought one. Now the ones I've seen are $500 or more. A person who buys one for a history piece will be better served.  If you are buying it for a shooter, there are better options out there. The M-1 was not a very accurate rifle to begin with and the 30 carbine is just not a rifle catridge capable of much. The ammo is very expensive and often hard to find.  If I was buying a  shooter, I'd much rather have an SKS.  They are just as good, handle a better cartridge and are much cheaper.

You got a deal on your M-1 and your friend is a true friend.  He could have gotten double that.  I hope you enjoy it,you got a deal.

[Victor3]

 The bolt-jeweling thing must be a favorite of the bubbas; I got an M-1 with that too  

 In addition, the stock on mine had beautiful pocket knife checkering and an image of a $1 bill carved into the side. Lovely work (done to pass the time on cold winter nights in the trailer I guess). A recoil pad with white-line spacer was added, and several coats of high-gloss varnish really 'blinged' it up.

 Fortunately, nothing else on the rifle was disturbed. I was able to get a good original used stock and a new condition bolt, so now I have a nice Underwood that only cost me about $350 total.

[woodchukhntr]

You did well, at least Bubba didn't have the resources to screw up the original finish on the barrel/receiver.  Mine is beyond full restoration, but doesn't look all that bad.  When these guns were cheap and plentiful, a lot of them were modified, but now you would have to be either clueless or crazy to "Bubbaize" one in original condition.

[jmayton]

Well, I don't have a true mil-surp...mine is an early Universal with the miltary style bolt and slide not the cheap skeletonized slide of the later Universals.  But it is a good shooter...not great but good.  The only thing, it was my Grandfather's when he worked for Dallas County SO and had a special stock and the barrel and receiver are nickel plated.  Yeah, nickel plated.  It's a lot of fun and has a lot of sentimental value, but I'd still like to have the real deal...even if it is bubba'd a bit.

[Troyboy]

I rember when the were 185@ white elephant in spokane so were the ms49/56 new in the wrapper 200. Havn't seen an .30 less than 400 for a long time and i go to a lot of "shows" Good job on the price. I'd still shoot it though there fun.

                                              Troy