How do you go looking for a Carbine?

charles73 · 09-24-2009, 02:27 AM

Ok I was in my local gunshop today and saw a M1 Carbine. It is a Saginaw but I know nothing about the values etc. I plan on going back to look at it again. What do I need to look for?
I don't have the throat and muzzle gauges so is there anything beside them that I could use?
Any thoughts or tips will be greatly appreciated...

rondog · 09-24-2009, 10:18 AM

What was their price? If it's not close to the CMP price for carbines, I'd be careful....might be a great deal though. Certainly worth checking into, they're not making any more of them. They'll just get scarcer and more expensive. I just got my first carbine from another member here, and I love it!

jimb2 · 09-24-2009, 02:14 PM

Wow, that is a "loaded" question. Is it supposed to be "original", correct or rebuilt? The parameters vary with each as does the value. Use an M2 .30-06 round for muzzle wear. Insert it into the muzzle. The more bullet showing between the muzzle and the case mouth, the better the muzzle. Don't worry about throat erosion. It is almost never an issue with carbines since they operate at lower pressures than other rifles.
BTW, a Saginaw SG will have a Saginaw barrel. A saginaw S'G' will most likely have an Underwood barrel. Look carefully at the receiver markings to determine which it is. And there is a significant value difference between the two; the S'G' having the higher value.

DaTeacha · 09-24-2009, 02:43 PM

Ahh, the wonderfully confusing and convoluted world of collectibles. You just never know what to buy, especially from a dealer or store whom you think is going to be up on all the latest values and variations that are hard to find.

charles73 · 09-25-2009, 12:30 AM

Thank you so much gentlemen. It has a price tag of 648.00 on it right now. I imagine if I went in there and chewed a little Im pretty confident I could walk out with it for around 575.00 to 600.00 if I tried. I don't know though I might trade a Win mod 70 CLassic Featherweight in 30-'06 for it or atleast towards it.

charles73 · 09-25-2009, 12:31 AM

The Win is a 1998 production year, and shoots like a house afire! So that might not happen. lol

twtalbot · 09-27-2009, 10:11 AM

If you buy from CMP, you'll wait a long time; if you buy from someone else, you'll pay significanly more for a carbine in equivalent condition.

roverboy · 09-27-2009, 12:45 PM

Twtalbot's right if you buy from somebody else
it will probably cost more. Maybe a lot more.
I'd like to have one myself. I've never seen
one I could afford.

AzTrooper · 09-28-2009, 01:41 AM

If you choose not to buy from the CMP and opt to buy from a dealer of private seller Id also like to add not to rush and buy the first one you come across, that is unless it is from someone that you can really trust. It is all too easy to jump at the first thing that you see when your really wanting something, Im only saying this because I have to fight this trait myself in the past when I was looking to buy something that I really really wanted.If you are well aquainted with the workings M1 carbines and know what to look for and what to shy away from this isnt nearly as much as a concern, but if your new to them do yourself a favor and take some time and do as much research on them as you can.This way you dont end up paying $800 or more for a Blue Sky Inland with a tweaked barrel or something ,only to find a nice non import NPM etc. for $550 a few days later. Your off to a good start by doing what you did here asking for advise.
John

jimb2 · 09-28-2009, 11:24 AM

I've got an NPM/U from CMP that I need to liquidate. Its a racker bacause of a poor condition M2 stock. Everything else is ok on it. I'm willing to let it got for $600 if you are interested. I can send pictures and spec if you want. Email me jimb16@hotmail.com

charles73 · 10-02-2009, 07:08 AM

I certainly appreciate the advice gentlemen! AZtrooper I do have a hair trigger when it comes to firearms. lol I can pull the trigger on a buy as fast as you can blink the eye. lol
Btw what is a npn carbine?

charles73 · 10-02-2009, 07:14 AM

Sent you a pm Jimb2. Thanks

tbird430 · 10-04-2009, 03:48 PM

I bet he meant to say, NPM = National Post Meter.

jimb2 · 10-04-2009, 07:26 PM

National Postal Meter with an Union Switch and Signal subcontract receiver....

rondog · 10-05-2009, 12:51 AM

I bought my IBM from jimb2, and it's a great little rifle! You can deal with him in confidence!

09-24-2009, 02:27 AM	#1
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	How do you go looking for a Carbine? Ok I was in my local gunshop today and saw a M1 Carbine. It is a Saginaw but I know nothing about the values etc. I plan on going back to look at it again. What do I need to look for? I don't have the throat and muzzle gauges so is there anything beside them that I could use? Any thoughts or tips will be greatly appreciated...

09-24-2009, 10:18 AM	#2
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 3,298	What was their price? If it's not close to the CMP price for carbines, I'd be careful....might be a great deal though. Certainly worth checking into, they're not making any more of them. They'll just get scarcer and more expensive. I just got my first carbine from another member here, and I love it! __________________ I child-proofed my house, but they still keep getting in!

09-24-2009, 02:14 PM	#3
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 703	Wow, that is a "loaded" question. Is it supposed to be "original", correct or rebuilt? The parameters vary with each as does the value. Use an M2 .30-06 round for muzzle wear. Insert it into the muzzle. The more bullet showing between the muzzle and the case mouth, the better the muzzle. Don't worry about throat erosion. It is almost never an issue with carbines since they operate at lower pressures than other rifles. BTW, a Saginaw SG will have a Saginaw barrel. A saginaw S'G' will most likely have an Underwood barrel. Look carefully at the receiver markings to determine which it is. And there is a significant value difference between the two; the S'G' having the higher value. __________________ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you!

09-24-2009, 02:43 PM	#4
DaTeacha Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: near Funk, Ohio Posts: 2,915	Ahh, the wonderfully confusing and convoluted world of collectibles. You just never know what to buy, especially from a dealer or store whom you think is going to be up on all the latest values and variations that are hard to find. __________________ Teach NRA -- If you're reading this, you should be a member. United, We Stand.

09-27-2009, 10:11 AM	#7
twtalbot Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 424	If you buy from CMP, you'll wait a long time; if you buy from someone else, you'll pay significanly more for a carbine in equivalent condition. __________________ My rifle and pistol are only tools. I am the weapon.

09-25-2009, 12:30 AM	#5
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Thank you so much gentlemen. It has a price tag of 648.00 on it right now. I imagine if I went in there and chewed a little Im pretty confident I could walk out with it for around 575.00 to 600.00 if I tried. I don't know though I might trade a Win mod 70 CLassic Featherweight in 30-'06 for it or atleast towards it.

09-25-2009, 12:31 AM	#6
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	The Win is a 1998 production year, and shoots like a house afire! So that might not happen. lol

09-27-2009, 12:45 PM	#8
roverboy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Moss,Tn. Posts: 1,588	Twtalbot's right if you buy from somebody else it will probably cost more. Maybe a lot more. I'd like to have one myself. I've never seen one I could afford. __________________ A redneck boy can survive.

09-28-2009, 01:41 AM	#9
AzTrooper Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 35	If you choose not to buy from the CMP and opt to buy from a dealer of private seller Id also like to add not to rush and buy the first one you come across, that is unless it is from someone that you can really trust. It is all too easy to jump at the first thing that you see when your really wanting something, Im only saying this because I have to fight this trait myself in the past when I was looking to buy something that I really really wanted.If you are well aquainted with the workings M1 carbines and know what to look for and what to shy away from this isnt nearly as much as a concern, but if your new to them do yourself a favor and take some time and do as much research on them as you can.This way you dont end up paying $800 or more for a Blue Sky Inland with a tweaked barrel or something ,only to find a nice non import NPM etc. for $550 a few days later. Your off to a good start by doing what you did here asking for advise. John

09-28-2009, 11:24 AM	#10
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 703	I've got an NPM/U from CMP that I need to liquidate. Its a racker bacause of a poor condition M2 stock. Everything else is ok on it. I'm willing to let it got for $600 if you are interested. I can send pictures and spec if you want. Email me jimb16@hotmail.com __________________ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you!

10-02-2009, 07:08 AM	#11
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	I certainly appreciate the advice gentlemen! AZtrooper I do have a hair trigger when it comes to firearms. lol I can pull the trigger on a buy as fast as you can blink the eye. lol Btw what is a npn carbine?

10-02-2009, 07:14 AM	#12
charles73 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Home On The Range Posts: 69	Sent you a pm Jimb2. Thanks

10-04-2009, 03:48 PM	#13
tbird430 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 121	I bet he meant to say, NPM = National Post Meter. __________________ "I love the smell of napalm in the morning..."

10-04-2009, 07:26 PM	#14
jimb2 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio Posts: 703	National Postal Meter with an Union Switch and Signal subcontract receiver.... __________________ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you!

10-05-2009, 12:51 AM	#15
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 3,298	I bought my IBM from jimb2, and it's a great little rifle! You can deal with him in confidence! __________________ I child-proofed my house, but they still keep getting in!