Okay once the lust oil died I did a lil research and found out the Universal M1 carbine I was lusting over may not have been the deal I thunk it was, having only ever dealt with M1 Carbines in the service I was unaware universal had gone down the"On the Cheap" road. Now am in the process of saving my pennies towards a USGI model. I've looked at the CMP site and am convinced what they have is what I want. Does anyone know about any inherant preferances in manf. Not looking for a collector I want a shooter not a wall hanger. Thanks all!
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You are already too late for an Inland. They sold out almost immediately. The other makes won't be available until around Sept. Honestly, there isn't much difference between them. They were all built to the same specs. The parts are all interchangeable. And these are all arsenal rebuilds with a mix of parts. I suspect that the Underwoods will be the least expensive. I'd go for one of those. Besides, the barrels made by Underwood are supposed to be the best.
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Unfortunately for me DANA, I only had limited exposure to the M1 Carbine as they were being rapidly (or rabidly you pick) phased out of Naval inventory during my career but I've had a chance to shoot a few and loved em, every one (Hmm almost sounds like the title to a country song)
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Personally, I tend to like the Rockola or US Postal Meter manufactured ones. I have been eyeballing them for a while. The Universal models are current or recent manufacture replicas and I have not read anything positive about them except the price point. I have a Saginaw manufactured one, myself.
The Universals went thru about three (IIRC) major variations. The earliest used many GI parts, and are considered good Carbines. Then the mid model went the cheapo route, deviating from milspec. Finally, the last ones were totally non-milspec, with no parts interchanging with 'real GI' Carbines - they have two recoil springs and a VERY BAD reputation for unreliability. I found two late ones here in a pawnshop - they are still sitting there.
I bought the IAI M1 Carbine, which is supposed to be a fairly good milspec Carbine using some 'real GI' parts. The gun is good, but the ten-round mag that came with it is garbage, the latch nubs grinding down so the mag falls out when the gun is fired. My four aftermarket 30-rounders are much better though!
I need to get some original GI 15-round mags.
I'd really like an original surplus M1 Carbine, but the prices are stupid-high down here! $650 for a grungy one, and skyrocketing from there! The IAI was at the top end of what I'd spend, about $450.
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I just picked up the IBM manufactured M1 Carbine I purchased last week off of the internet. It was my first internet purchase and I was a little nervous.
I am really pleased. The carbine was exactly as described and the seller included a case, 5-15 round magazines and a WWII mag pouch.
It was likely remanufactured after the war because it has the bayonet lug and the adjustable sight; but the bbl (Stamped IBM Corp 9 - 43) and reciever seem to match. The stock is Inland and has the crossed cannon cartouche. I haven't had a chance to check the rest of the parts.
I'm going to the range on Memorial Day. I'm really looking forward to taking the carbine for a test drive.
Until now, the oldest IBM I had any experience with was a late 1980's 3090!!!
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My four aftermarket 30-rounders are much better though!
I actually bought a 40 round mag at a gun show recently but have not tried it out yet. I didn't know the carbines had after market mags that large.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Big Dog
the prices are stupid-high down here! $650 for a grungy one, and skyrocketing from there!
For some really nice Rockola and National Postal Meter, I have seen prices around $800. The last gun show I went to, a dealer had a bunch of shooter grade ones, but wouldn't even put out the price on them. Considering the price he wanted for a sling and oiler, I wasn't even about to ask. I found one on ebay for less than half his price, as I told him I would.
The 40 rd. Mags are POS...Junk... Every one I have had wouldn't feed, jammed up, and would not even seat tight or latch properly....Watch out for them.
Rich
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The 40 rd. Mags are POS...Junk... Every one I have had wouldn't feed, jammed up, and would not even seat tight or latch properly....Watch out for them.
Thanks for the heads up. So far, it seats well and latches OK when trying it out (not being used in firing). I appreciate the info.
Okay now I have a anuuder question here guys , not about a true M1 Carbine but....
Quite a number of years ago (over 20 now) Iver Johnson (theres a name ya don't hear much anymore) was making little replicas of the M1 Carbine chambered as I recall in 22LR and 22 WMR. anyone got any info on those always thought they'd make a fun lil soda pop can killer....
Thanks All
__________________ "You can have my Freedom when I'm done with it!"
Okay now I have a anuuder question here guys , not about a true M1 Carbine but....
Quite a number of years ago (over 20 now) Iver Johnson (theres a name ya don't hear much anymore) was making little replicas of the M1 Carbine chambered as I recall in 22LR and 22 WMR. anyone got any info on those always though tthey'd make a fun lil soda pop can killer....
Thanks All
Not to stray off topic,But another fine carbine was the Ruger 44 Magnum semi-auto,that Ruger stopped producing many years ago.
The Iver Johnson was the German-made Erma EM-1 in .22LR, and I have read there was even a .22WMR version (never seen one of those though!). I had the .22LR model, and I liked it. It was stolen several years back.
Spare magazines are hard to find and expensive if you do - $60 each last I priced them.
The recoil spring can lose tension, causing jamming and feed troubles - but it's a very easy fix! Mounting a scope requires a taller ring set, as the ejection is straight up - the shells hit the bottom of the scope, and if too low it will bounce the empties back down into the action.
It's a fun little gun though, light and handy like it's Big Brother. Accuracy was alright, better than some, worse than others.
I have 5 M1 Carbines and the IBM shoots the best and is most accurate. But the Rock-Ola is by far the best manufactured. The stock on it is really nice compared to the others. I just bought 2 30 round mags at a gun show for $35 for both and the seller tossed in a 15 round mag marked II.
Last edited by Capt'n Mil Coll; 03-27-2008 at 10:52 PM.
Okay did a lil research 
