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10-13-2009, 02:35 AM
| #1 |
| Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3
| Gun Conversion and Value
I have an original M1 carbine that I "inherited" from my grandfather who served in WWII. I've had the gun for about 10 years now and have maybe shot it a handful of times if that. However, one small problem is that when my father gave it to me, apparently he converted it to single shot so that I could use it as a 1st hunting gun. So undoubtedly I wanna restore it to its former glory and convert it back to semi-auto and maybe have a little fun with it. Unfortunately, my father is being a prick and is actually trying to get the gun back from me (because he knows its worth $, and I'm not parting with it!) so he won't tell me what I need to restore it and how to do it. I do not know enough about the gun to be able to convert it back myself without help. My question is, what do I need and how do I make it semi again? Or where should I take it to get this done? Here's a little more information on the gun: - It has SAGINAW S'G' stamped on the back-top with the serial number 3638990. - On the top of the barrel, it has stamped INLAND MFG. DIV. GENERAL MOTORS 11-43 (which I am guessing is saying that it was made by GM in November of 1943). - The gun has an army green sling with brown leather straps which looks old enough to be the original but i'm not 100% sure. - It also has a scope mount on the top left side (with a newer, non-original bushnell scope). - Other than the scope and it being converted to single shot, I don't believe anything else on this gun has been altered or replaced. - For the age of the gun and given the fact that it probably saw combat conditions, I would say the gun is in Fair to Good Condition. Here's some pictures (mediocre quality from camera phone): http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img123.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img124.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img125.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img126.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img128.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img129.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img131.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img133.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img135.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img136.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img137.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img139.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img140.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img141.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img142.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img143.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img144.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img145.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img146.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img147.jpg Lastly, just out of sheer curiosity, I'd like to know how much this gun is worth (after it is restored as a semi-auto of course) if possible. Sorry if this thread is a little long. Thanks in advance!! - Erik Last edited by xxlaugherteexx; 10-13-2009 at 02:52 AM. |
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10-13-2009, 01:49 PM
| #2 |
| Senior Member  |
Hi Erik welcome to G&G. Ok today I have good news and I have bad news for you. Your Carbine is a Saginaw SG. That is one of the more rare varieties of M1 Carbines. Carbines are whatever the reciever is not what the barrel says. There are a few problems I can see right away with your rifle. Someone in the past has put a sling swivel into the SLING SLOT of your carbine. This appears to have been drilled in. This will bring the value of your rifle down. The correct way to secure the rear of the sling is with an M1 Carbine oiler bottle. Believe it or not. Can you see any initials in the sling slot? They would probably be where the swivel is drilled into the wood. Your reciever has been drilled to allow the scope to be attached. This will significantly bring the value of your carbine down. Your rear sight is missing to allow clearance for your scope. This can be fixed by installing a new sight and really does not affect the value much. It has been refinished. This will lower the value as a collector but not as a shooter. Although we cant tell you exactly what is wrong with your rifle I would bet that dad took your op rod spring out. You will have to tell us what your rifle does that makes it a single shot. To me it looks like it had a bayo lug on it at one time. Cant really tell from your pics though. Is the wood kind of rough in the slot where the op rod slides? It would be the lower part of the slot in this pic.  One other thing is there any import markings anywhere on the rifle? This would say CAI or Bluesky or something like that. A very good rifle. I would say if all original at a gun show or most shops a SG would go for around $1200.00 to $1500.00. Maybe more. Yours would be in around the $400.00 to $800.00 range I would say. But you never know maybe someone likes a scope on an M1 Carbine.
__________________ Let's light this fuse and see what happens! Last edited by Capt'n Mil Coll; 10-13-2009 at 01:54 PM. |
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10-13-2009, 01:51 PM
| #3 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio
Posts: 703
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The fact that the receiver has been drilled to mount the scoupe mount severely impacts the value. It is probably worth around $400 if you can restore it. What we really need to see is the gas piston. That would tell us how the conversion was done and whether or not it can be easily restored to semi-auto operation.
__________________ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you! |
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10-14-2009, 01:31 AM
| #4 |
| Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3
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Capt'n Mil Coll & Jimb2, Thanks for your replies. With regards to the sling slot, there appears to be the number 10 inscribed into the wood right above the swivel (if this is what you meant by initials). If I were to replace the stock with a used one from another m1 that was properly drilled, would this increase the value or actually decrease it more due to the fact its not the original? I remember looking at a particular website that had rear sight replacements so I'm not too worried about that problem. Here is what I meant by the gun being single shot. I have to put a clip in, pull the action back to load the round into the chamber, fire the round, then pull the action back again to eject the empty shell and to load another one into the chamber, then repeat the process until the clip is empty. On the inside right of the stock, there is a thin lip of wood that does seem to have some waving markings like the spring was rubbing against the wood if that is what you meant by the wood being rough. I did not see CAI or Bluesky anywhere on the gun. When I took the gun apart, I did find several markings that I took pictures of along with pictures of the gun taken apart if they make a difference. http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...1013092158.jpg (marking 1 - some letters and numbers) http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...1013092150.jpg (marking 2 - the letters TK) http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...1013092201.jpg (marking 3 - a letter C with a wing above it) http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...1013092204.jpg (marking 4 - gun caliber info) http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img153.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img152.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img151.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img150.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img149.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...621/img148.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...1013092206.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...013092205a.jpg http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/...1013092205.jpg Hope all of this helps the cause. And again, thanks!! - Erik |
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10-14-2009, 07:20 PM
| #5 |
| Member Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 12
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Your gas piston was probably removed. If so, it's a simple fix. Order a piston and nut plus the special wrench. |
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10-14-2009, 09:53 PM
| #6 |
| Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3
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The piston and nut assembly is supposed to look something like this right? http://www.datazap.net/sites/junkyar...1250375435.JPG If so, then I am missing my piston like texas03a3 has pointed out. when i fully broke my gun down and removed the slide, all i can see is the 3 edges of the nut and no cylindrical piece in the middle. Btw, that isn't a picture of my gun, I found that online. Last edited by xxlaugherteexx; 10-14-2009 at 09:58 PM. |
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10-15-2009, 12:27 PM
| #7 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio
Posts: 703
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If the piston has been removed and that is all that is wrong, then its a 5 minute job to replace it. Pistons are fairly cheap too.
__________________ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you! |
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10-15-2009, 07:02 PM
| #8 | |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Texas
Posts: 121
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__________________ "I love the smell of napalm in the morning..."  | |
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10-15-2009, 10:25 PM
| #9 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Ohio
Posts: 703
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Same problem here.....
__________________ Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get you! |
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