How to tell if an M1 Carbine is an import?

[Longbow]

I have a chance to buy an M1 Carbine from a friend. He said its a U.S. GI. I'm aware that there are some that were imported back from Korea(?) some years back. How can I tell if this one is legit? What are the markings of an import? I know Blue Sky is one, but are there others?
Asking price is $400. I think its marked Inland. Thanks in advance!

 

[Lone_Gunman]

If it is an import, it will be stamped with the importers name, usually on the barrel. The manufacturer of the barrel is also stamped, along with the date.

 

[bbrins]

Here's a couple pics:

 

[Chipperman]

Sometimes the receiver will be marked instead of the barrel.

 

[Longbow]

So an original MI Carbine will not have any markings on the barrel or anywhere else?
I think I remember him saying that there's an "Arlington" something marked underneath the barrel and a flaming bomb on the reciever.
Thanks again!

 

[Lone_Gunman]

A non-import M1 carbine will be stamped with the maufacturer's name and last two digits of the year of production on the barrel.

eg,

Inland
43

There will not be any other stampings on the barrel.

By the way, there is nothing in particular wrong with "imports". These guns can be just as historically significant as non-imports. They were probably used by US troops in WW2, then sold off to other nations during the Cold War. When these nations upgraded their weapons later on to more modern guns, the M1 carbines were sold to importers, who brought them back into the US. In general imports are worth less than non-imports, but it is for no particularly good reason.

 

[Longbow]

Okay, I think I'll go ahead and get it. I plan on having it as a shooter anyway. I think the asking price is fair enough.
Thanks to all of you!

 

[TODD3465]

Sounds like it's a import by Arlington Ordnance.

No matter what any collector says it's still made in the USA and former GI. That stamp does not have any affect on the workmanship that went into manufacturing it.

You can still find GI parts for them so any "Sout Korean" part can be replaced if need be.

 

[grendelbane]

I am the proud owner of a Blue Sky M1 and M1 carbine. Yes, I had to repace a few parts. I don't know that they were worn USGI or Korean parts, and I don't care. I bought both guns to shoot, not collect. If I shoot them so much that they have to be rebarrelled, they will no longer be marked as imports. My CMP Greek Service Grade M1 is already in this situation. It has a non-USGI stock, but everything else seems to be USGI. One would have to check CMP's database to determine that it had been loaned to Greece.

Collectors have their ideas about value, and I have mine. I guarantee that a few years after I am gone, some collector will be drooling over my "import" Blue Sky guns.

Prices are already going up on a lot of things that a few years ago were thought to be shooters, not collectors.

It was less than 20 years ago I bought my Blue Sky carbine at a gun show. I picked one from a dozen on the table, and I did not think it was any too pretty at the time. Still, judging from what I see on the internet, it has doubled or tripled in price in that time. Not too bad for a shooter.

 

[Onmilo]

Quite a few old Blue Sky and Arlington Import Carbines have had their barrels and a few other parts replaced that are being offered by the less than scrupulous as non-Import genuine USGI.
Unless the Carbine you are looking at has paperwork proving it's heritage and a price to go along with the documentation you may feel assured that the rifle is in all probability, an import.
Hefty price tag, no paperwork, Guarantee yourself it is an import.

 

[captain obvious]

I've got a blue sky M1 Carbine - the import mark is pretty conspicious (big letters on the barrel). It also clearly states that it was a Winchester manufacture, so (at least by Occam's Razor) came from the US initally.

Never had any problems with mine, though, and it's nothing if not in good condition.

 

[Trebor]

The last big importion of carbines occurred in the 80's. "Blue Sky" of Arlington, VA was, IIRC, the largest importer. I don't know the names of all other importers.

The carbines returned from Korea were all US manufactured and ex-USGI weapons that were sent to Korea as military aid and then bought by private importers when they were declared suprlus by the Korean govt.

The problem with the Korean imports is that the majority saw hard use in Korea and that maintainence standards weren't as high as in the U.S. I've seen some "Blue Sky" guns that were in very nice shape and others that I wouldn't fire on a dare.

For me, a "Blue Sky" marking is a detriment. It reduces the collector value AND indicates that the gun may be in questionable shape. I have bought "Blue Sky" carbines in the past, but I look them over very carefully first. You can still find some decent shooters in the "Blue Sky" and other Korean import guns, just check them out carefully for worn or broken parts and do a function check at minimum.