Folding stock carbine (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Gideon
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binder001
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It's clearly been modified. A "true" WW2 M1A1 would not have the vented handguard - to my knowledge that is only a civillian item. I've never seen a vented handguard on a carbine in US military service. Another clue to rebuilding is the bayonet lug. WW2 carbines did NOT have bayonet lugs before 1945-ish. The part was approved for production but as of this date I have not seen a carbine with bayonet lug in a WW2 vintage photo. It's been a while since I owned an M1 carbine, but I remember that the sights changed during WW2 production, and I can't remember all the other changes. There are books and websites that go into detail about the carbine. I do remember reading that real M1A1s were only made by a couple of the dozen carbine manufacturers and that there are certain serial number ranges assigned to them. A "true" factory M1A1 is a fairly valuable item.
Gary B.
Gary B.
DMNamiot
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Hi Guys,
I am pretty sure the vent rib was done by Auto Ordanace in the post war years and it could well be post Korea I am unsure. I have seen them with this feature but it was long after WWII. Gary is also correct on the sights and of course the bayonet lug which was added as the weapons came in to the warehouses for refurbishment. I havent had one of these babies for a while either but they were very fun to shoot and back in the old days the ammo was cheap. Anyway take a look at the sites out there and yoiu can probably find out a lot about this weapon. If you can find the maker mark and or company name and serial number there are sites that can tell you a lot about the weapon.
Dave
I am pretty sure the vent rib was done by Auto Ordanace in the post war years and it could well be post Korea I am unsure. I have seen them with this feature but it was long after WWII. Gary is also correct on the sights and of course the bayonet lug which was added as the weapons came in to the warehouses for refurbishment. I havent had one of these babies for a while either but they were very fun to shoot and back in the old days the ammo was cheap. Anyway take a look at the sites out there and yoiu can probably find out a lot about this weapon. If you can find the maker mark and or company name and serial number there are sites that can tell you a lot about the weapon.
Dave
Terp152
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Gary, the Johnson rifle, which lost out in competition to the Garrand, had the vented handguard. I've seen some at gun shows. Marine paratroopers used a few in WWII. Do not believe US
M1 carbines used this feature during WWII. Chris
Gideon
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Well, I suggested to my friend that it may not be an original model. He got a little defensive and said that they were often turned in and upgraded during the war and that this could be the case with this one.
I'm not pushing it. People don't like hearing that something they think is authentic really isn't
I'm not pushing it. People don't like hearing that something they think is authentic really isn't
binder001
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Right, the carbines didn't but the Johnson rifle and LMG had some interesting "modern" features to them. They were interesting designs.
Gary B.
binder001
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Right, you can have your friend or you can be right, but it looks like you may not be able to have both. It happens
Your friend is partly right, the carbines got production upgrades during the war, but the great Mass rebuilding came after WW2. The Army and Marines had millions of carbines on hand. Carbines were turned in and run through government arsenals. The carbines got the bayonet lugs, the later sights, and other upgrades. That's why it is hard to acquire an unmodified WW2 carbine. Reenactors and collectors "unmodify" the weapons with older parts. Back in my reenacting days I had a Rock-Ola carbine that had been backdated with all original GI parts. It was a hoot to shoot with a very smooth action. Such a light weapon after carrying around an M1 rifle. My problem back then was that the carbines don't like blank ammo and it required modifications to get them to shoot blanks and I wasn't willing to ruin that nice original carbine so I sold it. Another of my regrets in life (sigh).
Gary B.
Terp152
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Right, you can have your friend or you can be right, but it looks like you may not be able to have both. It happens
Your friend is partly right, the carbines got production upgrades during the war, but the great Mass rebuilding came after WW2. The Army and Marines had millions of carbines on hand. Carbines were turned in and run through government arsenals. The carbines got the bayonet lugs, the later sights, and other upgrades. That's why it is hard to acquire an unmodified WW2 carbine. Reenactors and collectors "unmodify" the weapons with older parts. Back in my reenacting days I had a Rock-Ola carbine that had been backdated with all original GI parts. It was a hoot to shoot with a very smooth action. Such a light weapon after carrying around an M1 rifle. My problem back then was that the carbines don't like blank ammo and it required modifications to get them to shoot blanks and I wasn't willing to ruin that nice original carbine so I sold it. Another of my regrets in life (sigh).
Gary B.
I also have a Rock-ola, with Rock-ola barrel, bought thru CMP at very low price compared to retail. Lucked out and got a quality firearm (it's luck of the draw with CMP). Had a Nat'l Postal Meter carbine barrel converted to shoot blanks during my reenactment days. Like you said Rock-ola is to valuable to mod. Chris