New to carbines, need advice.

elcig · 05-06-2002, 09:55 PM

Don't blaspheme me too much, but I had not owned a carbine until Friday night. Mostly I've collected German arms. I went to an auction Friday night to buy a particular luger. I was outbid on the luger but picked up an M1 and another gun. I'm trying to gauge whether I got ripped on the price of $475 or if it was a decent purchase. I'm going to list some of the identifying marks and hope to get some advice.
Winchester s/n 5715748 under rear sight. Barrel is marked with a small "w" on top along with what appears to be a "WP" in a circle. Rear sight has an "H" within a shield. Trigger guard stamped with a "J". Safety is marked "EW" and mag release is marked "M". All above are in really nice condition with greyish-green patina. The stock is not original, it is in good shape but definately not GI. No bayonet lug but it came with a flash hider marked "hider-flash-m3-sa".
My question is this, was the price decent and should I look at investing in an original stock? It shoots great but I don't want to invest too much if it isn't worthy. Also if anyone could recommend a good book on carbines it would be appreciated. Needless to say I have fallen in love with it in two day and thanks for any advice or info in advance.

wes · 05-06-2002, 11:27 PM

Sounds like you got a pretty good deal.Some of the other's can tell you more about what you have. Have a good 'smith check it out for safe operation,if it's ok,get some ammo for it and have some fun,great little guns.

Calvin · 05-10-2002, 09:40 AM

Elcig, sounds like you have a very nice carbine there. The price was very good. Winchesters are very high-dollar carbines. If you are happy with it, who cares about the stock? If you want, go ahead and find a correct stock for it. I would restock it, and keep it as is. As far as books go, check out www.midwayusa.com. Also, check out www.fultonarmory.com. They have the best books available on the War Baby. For a replacement stock, try www.reesesurplusinc.com. Tell them what you have and they'll find you a correct stock. It may take a month or two, but they have very good/excellent stocks. Hope you enjoy it

elcig · 05-10-2002, 06:25 PM

I really appreciate the input. I was hoping it wasn't too bad of a price. I'll probably do a bit more research before investing in anything except a stock. I want to make sure it original inside as well.

Thanks again

WyrTwister · 06-09-2002, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by elcig
I really appreciate the input. I was hoping it wasn't too bad of a price. I'll probably do a bit more research before investing in anything except a stock. I want to make sure it original inside as well.

Thanks again

If it shoots accuratly with that stock , save it , never know how it will shoot with different wood .

Wyr
God Bless

08-01-2004, 10:25 AM

I wish I could find a Winchester M-1 Carbine for less than $500 :assult:

sniper762 · 08-01-2004, 05:52 PM

Yeah Logansdad, I have an Underwood and its a fine rifle, shoots well (100 yards or less). My friend has a Winchester. I offered him 500 for it and he turned it down. The Winchesters are some of the rarest of the wartime rifles.

08-01-2004, 07:08 PM

I've always wanted an M-1 Carbine but for the prices they command I can buy a new AR-15 :assult:

jerry · 08-01-2004, 09:50 PM

sometimes it's just a rich man's game.

Uh, Miss, another bologney sandwitch & glass of water please.

DocCombat · 08-07-2004, 08:05 PM

Ok here is what you have.

1. The "W" and "WP" on the barrel let you know that its a winchester barrel. And most manufacturers did not date their barrels after late 1943. And the fact that it does not have a bayonet lug lets us know that it is the original barrel.
2. The "H" in sheild is the type II rear sight and is correct for your serial # range.
3. The trigger guard might be a poorly stamped "U" for Underwood as no manufacturer used a "J" as their manufacture code.
4. The safety marked "EW" is winchester.
5. The mag release marked "M" is a type III and is a replacement. Correct would be "W"

As for a stock it should have "W" in the rear sling well for a winchester. Earlier stocks were marked with crossed cannons of varying sizes and WRA/GHD on the right side of the buttstock. After 5,720,000 the WRA/GHD was deleated and just had crossed cannons woth the "W" in the sling recess were used. THey are out there but you will pay for it if the person selling it knows what they have.
And as for all the other parts on the rifle they should all be marked with a "W" for winchester. Any other letter will be a replaced part. But you did good on the price, Winchesters tend to bring a higher price cause they are the original producers of the carbine.

Two good books are..

1 Bruce N. Canfeilds COMPLETE GUIDE to the M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbine. and.

2 U.S. M-1 Carbines Wartime Production. By Craig Riesch.

Hope this helps and good luck with your carbine.

DocCombat · 08-08-2004, 11:47 AM

And it would probibly make you cry to find out that I was given a 1943 Winchester that has never been touched since it was issued with the WRA/GHD and crossed cannons stamped stock....Every part a winnie. I really got lucky on that one.

whirlwind · 08-10-2004, 12:40 AM

the little carbines are addictive! ive got a standard products and im about yanking my hair out trying to find a rock-ola!!! i know i will find it when im flat broke!...just my luck lol

jimb2 · 08-15-2004, 08:27 PM

Hey! Doc! a J could be a winchester! Underwood marked their trigger housings with a U in the mag well. The way to tell for sure is to disassemble the trigger housing. Look at the hole where the arm of the trigger goes through to the safety. In a Winchester, the hole os more of a three leaf clover shape. All other makers used an oval hole that resembles the sling/oiler cut. Winchester housings also will usually have a number or letter on the bottom, between the mag well and the trigger guard.

05-06-2002, 09:55 PM	#1
elcig Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2	New to carbines, need advice. Don't blaspheme me too much, but I had not owned a carbine until Friday night. Mostly I've collected German arms. I went to an auction Friday night to buy a particular luger. I was outbid on the luger but picked up an M1 and another gun. I'm trying to gauge whether I got ripped on the price of $475 or if it was a decent purchase. I'm going to list some of the identifying marks and hope to get some advice. Winchester s/n 5715748 under rear sight. Barrel is marked with a small "w" on top along with what appears to be a "WP" in a circle. Rear sight has an "H" within a shield. Trigger guard stamped with a "J". Safety is marked "EW" and mag release is marked "M". All above are in really nice condition with greyish-green patina. The stock is not original, it is in good shape but definately not GI. No bayonet lug but it came with a flash hider marked "hider-flash-m3-sa". My question is this, was the price decent and should I look at investing in an original stock? It shoots great but I don't want to invest too much if it isn't worthy. Also if anyone could recommend a good book on carbines it would be appreciated. Needless to say I have fallen in love with it in two day and thanks for any advice or info in advance.

05-10-2002, 09:40 AM	#3
Calvin Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 2,000	Elcig, sounds like you have a very nice carbine there. The price was very good. Winchesters are very high-dollar carbines. If you are happy with it, who cares about the stock? If you want, go ahead and find a correct stock for it. I would restock it, and keep it as is. As far as books go, check out www.midwayusa.com. Also, check out www.fultonarmory.com. They have the best books available on the War Baby. For a replacement stock, try www.reesesurplusinc.com. Tell them what you have and they'll find you a correct stock. It may take a month or two, but they have very good/excellent stocks. Hope you enjoy it __________________ If you don't like cops, call your local crackhead for help next time!

08-01-2004, 09:50 PM	#9
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,886 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	sometimes it's just a rich man's game. Uh, Miss, another bologney sandwitch & glass of water please. __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

08-07-2004, 08:05 PM	#10
DocCombat Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: FBNC Posts: 96	Ok here is what you have. 1. The "W" and "WP" on the barrel let you know that its a winchester barrel. And most manufacturers did not date their barrels after late 1943. And the fact that it does not have a bayonet lug lets us know that it is the original barrel. 2. The "H" in sheild is the type II rear sight and is correct for your serial # range. 3. The trigger guard might be a poorly stamped "U" for Underwood as no manufacturer used a "J" as their manufacture code. 4. The safety marked "EW" is winchester. 5. The mag release marked "M" is a type III and is a replacement. Correct would be "W" As for a stock it should have "W" in the rear sling well for a winchester. Earlier stocks were marked with crossed cannons of varying sizes and WRA/GHD on the right side of the buttstock. After 5,720,000 the WRA/GHD was deleated and just had crossed cannons woth the "W" in the sling recess were used. THey are out there but you will pay for it if the person selling it knows what they have. And as for all the other parts on the rifle they should all be marked with a "W" for winchester. Any other letter will be a replaced part. But you did good on the price, Winchesters tend to bring a higher price cause they are the original producers of the carbine. Two good books are.. 1 Bruce N. Canfeilds COMPLETE GUIDE to the M-1 Garand and M-1 Carbine. and. 2 U.S. M-1 Carbines Wartime Production. By Craig Riesch. Hope this helps and good luck with your carbine. __________________ The best medicine on the battlefeild is fire superiority. Doc C. Last edited by DocCombat; 08-08-2004 at 08:31 PM.

08-08-2004, 11:47 AM	#11
DocCombat Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: FBNC Posts: 96	And it would probibly make you cry to find out that I was given a 1943 Winchester that has never been touched since it was issued with the WRA/GHD and crossed cannons stamped stock....Every part a winnie. I really got lucky on that one. __________________ The best medicine on the battlefeild is fire superiority. Doc C.

05-06-2002, 11:27 PM	#2
wes Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Loveland Co Posts: 1,906	Sounds like you got a pretty good deal.Some of the other's can tell you more about what you have. Have a good 'smith check it out for safe operation,if it's ok,get some ammo for it and have some fun,great little guns.

05-10-2002, 06:25 PM	#4
elcig Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2	I really appreciate the input. I was hoping it wasn't too bad of a price. I'll probably do a bit more research before investing in anything except a stock. I want to make sure it original inside as well. Thanks again

08-01-2004, 10:25 AM	#6
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	I wish I could find a Winchester M-1 Carbine for less than $500 :assult:

08-01-2004, 05:52 PM	#7
sniper762 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NorthCarolina Posts: 118	Yeah Logansdad, I have an Underwood and its a fine rifle, shoots well (100 yards or less). My friend has a Winchester. I offered him 500 for it and he turned it down. The Winchesters are some of the rarest of the wartime rifles.

08-01-2004, 07:08 PM	#8
Logansdad Guest Posts: n/a	I've always wanted an M-1 Carbine but for the prices they command I can buy a new AR-15 :assult:

08-10-2004, 12:40 AM	#12
whirlwind Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: oklahoma Posts: 3,739 Images: 1	the little carbines are addictive! ive got a standard products and im about yanking my hair out trying to find a rock-ola!!! i know i will find it when im flat broke!...just my luck lol __________________ De oppresso liber !

08-15-2004, 08:27 PM	#13
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 513	Hey! Doc! a J could be a winchester! Underwood marked their trigger housings with a U in the mag well. The way to tell for sure is to disassemble the trigger housing. Look at the hole where the arm of the trigger goes through to the safety. In a Winchester, the hole os more of a three leaf clover shape. All other makers used an oval hole that resembles the sling/oiler cut. Winchester housings also will usually have a number or letter on the bottom, between the mag well and the trigger guard. __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...