M1a1 paratrooper

ggordon · 01-13-2008, 01:31 PM

I found an M1A1 "paratrooper" carbine for sale.

Everything looks right about the metal (barrel, action, and folding metal stock components)

The only problem is with the wood. The upper hand guard and pistol grip are clearly walnut, and the right markings are on the pistol grip.

The stock itself, however, looks to me like birch. Canfield's book says that all original USGI paratrooper stocks were walnut.

The seller claims that it is walnut, but it's "sap wood" so it doesn't have the usual walnut grain appearance.

Am I being B.S.'d or has anyone seen any "sap wood" walnut stocks?

Mooseman684 · 01-13-2008, 01:46 PM

You have to be Dam Careful to watch for fakes , since there are aftermarket Reproductions of the Stock sold by Sarco and others and they are hard to tell except they are NEW...Too good looking for an Original that saw Combat...As far as "SAP wood"....I don't have an answer, but I would be suspiscious.....
Rich

Here is what an Original should look like...
GunBroker.com guns: M1 CARBINE INLAND PARATROOPER M1A1 (item: 89537041 ends: Jan-16-08 04

06 PM)
Rich

ggordon · 01-13-2008, 05:34 PM

Thanks, Mooseman: Caveat Emptor for sure.

Mooseman684 · 01-13-2008, 05:40 PM

Amen GGordon....

jimb2 · 01-13-2008, 10:23 PM

The seller could be right. Often M1A1 stocks were made from sapwood. They have a very light color. I had one that was the typical dark walnut on one side while the other side almost looked like a white maple! Sapwood M1A1 stocks are fairly common. And the grain of the wood isn't as tight either. Ask if he will let you take the action out of the stock. There should be an IO stamped in the bottom of the slide well just ahead of the mag well.

ggordon · 01-14-2008, 06:54 PM

Thanks. I'll take a look.

oldjarhead · 01-17-2008, 01:38 PM

Not much help but I've a para-stock that has followed me for nearly 40 years. The lower and grip are hardwood, I'm guessing walnut but the upper is a softer wood. I believe this was a surplus stock when I got it. So it is probably fairly common to have mixed wood.

ggordon · 01-18-2008, 12:10 AM

Okay, thanks. Every tidbit of info helps.

01-13-2008, 01:31 PM	#1
ggordon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 123	M1a1 paratrooper I found an M1A1 "paratrooper" carbine for sale. Everything looks right about the metal (barrel, action, and folding metal stock components) The only problem is with the wood. The upper hand guard and pistol grip are clearly walnut, and the right markings are on the pistol grip. The stock itself, however, looks to me like birch. Canfield's book says that all original USGI paratrooper stocks were walnut. The seller claims that it is walnut, but it's "sap wood" so it doesn't have the usual walnut grain appearance. Am I being B.S.'d or has anyone seen any "sap wood" walnut stocks?

01-13-2008, 01:46 PM	#2
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness...Currently in Holiday, Fla. Posts: 11,006 Images: 2	You have to be Dam Careful to watch for fakes , since there are aftermarket Reproductions of the Stock sold by Sarco and others and they are hard to tell except they are NEW...Too good looking for an Original that saw Combat...As far as "SAP wood"....I don't have an answer, but I would be suspiscious..... Rich Here is what an Original should look like... GunBroker.com guns: M1 CARBINE INLAND PARATROOPER M1A1 (item: 89537041 ends: Jan-16-08 0406 PM) Rich __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM! Last edited by Mooseman684; 01-13-2008 at 01:50 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

01-13-2008, 05:40 PM	#4
Mooseman684 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alaska Wilderness...Currently in Holiday, Fla. Posts: 11,006 Images: 2	Amen GGordon.... __________________ You know you might be facing your doom,when all you get is a click when you're expecting a BOOM!

01-13-2008, 10:23 PM	#5
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 555	The seller could be right. Often M1A1 stocks were made from sapwood. They have a very light color. I had one that was the typical dark walnut on one side while the other side almost looked like a white maple! Sapwood M1A1 stocks are fairly common. And the grain of the wood isn't as tight either. Ask if he will let you take the action out of the stock. There should be an IO stamped in the bottom of the slide well just ahead of the mag well. __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...

01-13-2008, 05:34 PM	#3
ggordon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 123	Thanks, Mooseman: Caveat Emptor for sure.

01-14-2008, 06:54 PM	#6
ggordon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 123	Thanks. I'll take a look.

01-17-2008, 01:38 PM	#7
oldjarhead Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: MO Posts: 1,023	Not much help but I've a para-stock that has followed me for nearly 40 years. The lower and grip are hardwood, I'm guessing walnut but the upper is a softer wood. I believe this was a surplus stock when I got it. So it is probably fairly common to have mixed wood.

01-18-2008, 12:10 AM	#8
ggordon Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 123	Okay, thanks. Every tidbit of info helps.