Questions regarding new-to-me M1A1

katzdad · 07-01-2008, 12:27 PM

Hello group. I just joined this forum, as many internet searches on my new M1A1 showed this to be the best group for helping newcomers with questions regarding M1 carbines.

I was just gifted an M1A1 carbine. Underwood is stamped on the receiver, serial number 2786432.

There is a little bit of rust on the underside of the barrel, the inside of the trigger guard, and the front sling swivel. Should I clean these myself, or is the weapon worth enough that I should have it disassemled and cleaned by a professional? Also, would it hurt the value of it to have it reblued, while I'm at it?

If I clean the rust off myself, do you have any suggestions as to the best way to go about it on a collectable?

Does it have to be disassembled to check the parts to see if it's original, or reassembled with parts from different manufacturers? The only history I have on it is that it saw service in Vietnam, and was brought into the U.S. by a former Vietnamese soldier (I think a 'Red-cap').

I plan to shoot the weapon, as well as display it and have it handy for personal home protection. Is the ammo for an M1A1 the same as for the M1 carbine? I have two 15-round clips now, with another bannana clip on the way. Can the regular clips be stored with all 15 rounds in it, or, like many other weapons, only partially loaded, to protect the spring? And should I use surplus ammo, or is there a manufacturer of new?

It has 'flip' rear peep sights. I understand that one is for 150 and the other for 300...but is that 'yards' or 'feet'? (I've seen both listed on various web sites.)

Is the weapon valuable enough as-is that I shouldn't modify it? I'm thinking of having either a scope or red-dot sight installed by a gunsmith.

Thanks,

Max

jimb2 · 07-01-2008, 08:51 PM

Lets start with the basics. Only Inland made M1A1 carbines. So, your carbine is not an original M1A1. Next, during the Korean War era and to some degree prior to the Korean War, many thousands of carbines were rebuilt and upgraded. The companies that did this didn't care what carbine got put into what stock. As a result many non-Inland carbines ended up in M1A1 stocks. This is probably what you have. It is a "correct " M1A1, but not an "original" M1A1.
Clean the rust off yourself. Use some light oil and a brass brush. That will remove 99% of the rust. DO NOT have the carbine refinished. That will substantially lower the value.
Go ahead and shoot it if you want to. It shouldn't hurt it. But a word to the wise...Do not use Wolf steel cased ammo. It can damage the extractor. And watch out for ammo marked LC52. It could be the chinese made corrosive stuff. Carbines were not mean to fire corrosive ammo.
Do not modify the carbine in any way. As it is, it is probably worth around $1500-$2000. If you modify it or drill the receiver for a scope mount, the value will plummet to around $500-$700. I don't think you want to loose a thousand dollars.
And flip sights are set up for 150 and 300 YARDS.
Please take care of that fine piece of history.

katzdad · 07-02-2008, 11:33 AM

Thank you! That info about the ammo is new to me, and I'll watch out for it.

What's your opinion on keeping the clips only partially loaded, to avoid weakening the spring with a full load?

Max

TheWanderingMind · 07-02-2008, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katzdad

It has 'flip' rear peep sights. I understand that one is for 150 and the other for 300...but is that 'yards' or 'feet'? (I've seen both listed on various web sites.)

That depends on the marksmanship of the authors of those websites!

I fired high expert at 100 yards the first time I fired the carbine in basic training. There was just something soul-satisfying in the little 'thump' it gives your shoulder. First non-bolt-action centerfire I'd ever used.

Wish I still had one...

rfc357 · 07-05-2008, 05:29 AM

Magazines have been stored fully loaded for decades with no ill effects. If it makes you feel better, download a couple of rounds.

It is possible, but highly unlikely, that a Vietnamese soldier brought the gun in. It's easy to make up stories. From your post, it appears you are new to the gun hobby. Be advised there is more BS per cubic yard surrounding guns than almost any other commodity. Cultivate a finely honed BS detector and you will keep your wallet intact. People will lie with a straight face in order to part you from your hard-earned dollars.

A friend of mine just got stung for $2000 on a spurious "WWI bring-back" 1903. Five minutes of research would have told him the gun was made after WWI. Common sense would have told him the geezer who sold him the gun could not possibly have been old enough to have served in WWI. The "special finish and stockwork" was just a bubba job on an otherwise respectable 1903. He has a $200 gun with a $2000 price tag. Beware!

katzdad · 07-06-2008, 12:23 PM

Thank you for your input. I have just ordered a BS detector from a firm in Nigeria, and am awaiting arrival.

Max

M14man · 07-06-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katzdad

Thank you for your input. I have just ordered a BS detector from a firm in Nigeria, and am awaiting arrival.

Max

I ordered one from them also, but I apparantly didn't send them enough, and sent more for their super-duper-delux BS detector.

katzdad · 07-06-2008, 04:02 PM

I couldn't figure out how much it was in American money, so just sent them my bank account info, and they promised to take out the correct amount...

heinrich17 · 07-13-2008, 01:05 AM

Does anyone know if m1a1 stocks ever come with the m2 cutout? im looking for a small little under the coat sweeper.

JBS · 07-13-2008, 01:22 AM

heinrich17-------You need to learn to spell...It's America, NOT Amerika. Got it?

oldjarhead · 07-13-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBS

heinrich17-------You need to learn to spell...It's America, NOT Amerika. Got it?

JBS, that's the way the Nazis spelled it.

Under the coat sweeper? Hmmmm...sounds foreboding.

JBS · 07-13-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldjarhead

JBS, that's the way the Nazis spelled it.

Under the coat sweeper? Hmmmm...sounds foreboding.

Maybe they still do.

heinrich17 · 07-13-2008, 04:00 PM

that would be germans that spell it amerika not nazis. So does anyone know if they did come with the m2 cutout or do i have to fit it myself?

jimb2 · 07-13-2008, 09:20 PM

GI ones didn't, but many commercial ones did and some were modified in Nam for a switch. So the answer is yes, and no!

07-01-2008, 12:27 PM	#1
katzdad Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	Questions regarding new-to-me M1A1 Hello group. I just joined this forum, as many internet searches on my new M1A1 showed this to be the best group for helping newcomers with questions regarding M1 carbines. I was just gifted an M1A1 carbine. Underwood is stamped on the receiver, serial number 2786432. There is a little bit of rust on the underside of the barrel, the inside of the trigger guard, and the front sling swivel. Should I clean these myself, or is the weapon worth enough that I should have it disassemled and cleaned by a professional? Also, would it hurt the value of it to have it reblued, while I'm at it? If I clean the rust off myself, do you have any suggestions as to the best way to go about it on a collectable? Does it have to be disassembled to check the parts to see if it's original, or reassembled with parts from different manufacturers? The only history I have on it is that it saw service in Vietnam, and was brought into the U.S. by a former Vietnamese soldier (I think a 'Red-cap'). I plan to shoot the weapon, as well as display it and have it handy for personal home protection. Is the ammo for an M1A1 the same as for the M1 carbine? I have two 15-round clips now, with another bannana clip on the way. Can the regular clips be stored with all 15 rounds in it, or, like many other weapons, only partially loaded, to protect the spring? And should I use surplus ammo, or is there a manufacturer of new? It has 'flip' rear peep sights. I understand that one is for 150 and the other for 300...but is that 'yards' or 'feet'? (I've seen both listed on various web sites.) Is the weapon valuable enough as-is that I shouldn't modify it? I'm thinking of having either a scope or red-dot sight installed by a gunsmith. Thanks, Max

07-01-2008, 08:51 PM	#2
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 511	Lets start with the basics. Only Inland made M1A1 carbines. So, your carbine is not an original M1A1. Next, during the Korean War era and to some degree prior to the Korean War, many thousands of carbines were rebuilt and upgraded. The companies that did this didn't care what carbine got put into what stock. As a result many non-Inland carbines ended up in M1A1 stocks. This is probably what you have. It is a "correct " M1A1, but not an "original" M1A1. Clean the rust off yourself. Use some light oil and a brass brush. That will remove 99% of the rust. DO NOT have the carbine refinished. That will substantially lower the value. Go ahead and shoot it if you want to. It shouldn't hurt it. But a word to the wise...Do not use Wolf steel cased ammo. It can damage the extractor. And watch out for ammo marked LC52. It could be the chinese made corrosive stuff. Carbines were not mean to fire corrosive ammo. Do not modify the carbine in any way. As it is, it is probably worth around $1500-$2000. If you modify it or drill the receiver for a scope mount, the value will plummet to around $500-$700. I don't think you want to loose a thousand dollars. And flip sights are set up for 150 and 300 YARDS. Please take care of that fine piece of history. __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...

07-02-2008, 11:33 AM	#3
katzdad Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	Thanks! Thank you! That info about the ammo is new to me, and I'll watch out for it. What's your opinion on keeping the clips only partially loaded, to avoid weakening the spring with a full load? Max

07-05-2008, 05:29 AM	#5
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	Magazines have been stored fully loaded for decades with no ill effects. If it makes you feel better, download a couple of rounds. It is possible, but highly unlikely, that a Vietnamese soldier brought the gun in. It's easy to make up stories. From your post, it appears you are new to the gun hobby. Be advised there is more BS per cubic yard surrounding guns than almost any other commodity. Cultivate a finely honed BS detector and you will keep your wallet intact. People will lie with a straight face in order to part you from your hard-earned dollars. A friend of mine just got stung for $2000 on a spurious "WWI bring-back" 1903. Five minutes of research would have told him the gun was made after WWI. Common sense would have told him the geezer who sold him the gun could not possibly have been old enough to have served in WWI. The "special finish and stockwork" was just a bubba job on an otherwise respectable 1903. He has a $200 gun with a $2000 price tag. Beware! __________________ Certified rifle and pistol instructor

07-06-2008, 12:23 PM	#6
katzdad Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	Thanks Thank you for your input. I have just ordered a BS detector from a firm in Nigeria, and am awaiting arrival. Max

07-06-2008, 04:02 PM	#8
katzdad Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 6	BS detector I couldn't figure out how much it was in American money, so just sent them my bank account info, and they promised to take out the correct amount...

07-13-2008, 01:05 AM	#9
heinrich17 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Amerika Posts: 7	Does anyone know if m1a1 stocks ever come with the m2 cutout? im looking for a small little under the coat sweeper.

07-13-2008, 01:22 AM	#10
JBS Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 761	heinrich17-------You need to learn to spell...It's America, NOT Amerika. Got it?

07-13-2008, 04:00 PM	#13
heinrich17 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Amerika Posts: 7	M1A1 m2 cutout? that would be germans that spell it amerika not nazis. So does anyone know if they did come with the m2 cutout or do i have to fit it myself?

07-13-2008, 09:20 PM	#14
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 511	GI ones didn't, but many commercial ones did and some were modified in Nam for a switch. So the answer is yes, and no! __________________ I am a nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect...