Is it worth getting a USGI M1 Carbine at the price they demand today

[Rockrivr1]

I've been wanting a USGI M1 Carbine for a while and now that I have an C&R FFL it makes it a little easier to obtain one.

The only issue = Price

Some nice examples I've seen are going for $600-$1000 depending on the maker.

At that price do you think it's even worth it? It could be an investment as I doubt they will come down in price anytime soon. But still.

 

[SomeKid]

Removed.

My bad, I misread and thought M1 Garand.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

SomeKid, I dont think the CMP is selling assembled M1 Carbines... and hasn't in many many years.

They do sometimes sell M1 carbine barrelled receivers, but these are usually in not-so-good condition.

 

[Father Knows Best]

At that price do you think it's even worth it?

Yes!

 

[DonP]

No CMP Carbines

The CMP had some M1 Carbine receivers, a few were barrelled but most were just the receiver. The ones that had barrels were all "burst" or otherwise unsafe barrels that needed to be replaced.

They sold out in about three days.

IMNSHO, the days of "cheap" carbines are gone friends.

I spent over three years looking for a carbine to add to my WW II collection with no luck. Oh, I found lots of carbines, but most of them were mixmasters of parts and they were all going for $650 up to over $800 for what I thought was a pretty "beat up and rode hard" Inland model..

The last one I saw was a well used Universal at a gun show, the third model with the stamped parts, and they wanted "$450 firm" for that!

I finally ordered a new Thompson/Kahr M1 Carbine for $545. It took about four months worth of waiting, but I now have a new "GI standard" carbine.

Sure, it's not a collectors piece but it's a great little shooter. All GI standard parts fit it and it will be around long after I'm gone.

All that being said, you may walk into that small town sports shop and find a Rockola or Saginaw with all matching parts for $300 tomorrow (unless I get there first!), but that's what makes collecting fiun doesn't it?

 

[pharmer]

Nomex please. Why pay all that dough for an underpowered, pistol cartridge firing rifle. Another caliber to stock ammo, no sane pistol chambered in it. If you have a .308, a .223 and a lever .44mag (to go with your M29) do you need a $500 carbine? Joe

 

[Limeyfellow]

If you want US surplus firearms you really have to pay for it. Shame since the M1 Carbine has more uses in the civilian market than it ever did for its original purpose.

There not had any full M1 Carbines at the cmp for many years.

 

[chestnut ridge]

One thing to consider. With your C&R, you can acquire a M-1 carbine
without the hassle of going thru a 01 ffl dealer. Carry it, shoot it, and
decide if it is worth keeping. Then with your C&R you could always
trade it for something else.
I have several, and consider them as keepers.

 

[Father Knows Best]

Three reasons

1. It's a piece of history
2. It's a dandy home defense rifle
3. It's fun!

You get a USGI M1 carbine because it is a piece of history. It may not be the most practical expenditure of $600+, but so what? It's a fine piece of machinery that may well have been carried in battle by American soldiers.

The new Thompson/Kahr models, as well as inexpensive mixmaster USGI versions, have another compelling reason for owning -- they make dandy home defense rifles. They are short and light for easy maneuverability. In fact, they're the original CQB rifles, firing perhaps the original "intermediate" cartridge. Sure, the .30 carbine round lacks the ability to drop enemy combatants at 500 yards, but it is significantly more effective at close range than most pistols, and easier to shoot accurately. That's the very reason it was adopted by the military!

Add to that the fact that a USGI M1 carbine will always be a lot more "p.c." than a shorty AR or AK or HK94/MP5 or other rifle commonly thought of as appropriate for home defense. If you have to use it some day, it will likely be shown to the media and perhaps to a jury. I'd rather be using the old wooden-stocked war relic bought for its historical/collector value and forced into duty against intruders, than a modern "evil" black rifle that will be used to portray me as a SWAT-wannabe with a Rambo complex.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the M1 carbine is just plain fun. It's kind of the ultimate centerfire plinking rifle (o.k., pistol caliber lever actions rank right up there, too). I've found that new shooters, especially women and children, really take to it. That's why I'll never get rid of mine -- it's great for introducing new people to the shooting sports.

 

[MudPuppy]

Korean returns?

I heard a rumor that a few hundred thousand M1 Garands and Carbines were up for sale by South Korea--wild speculation was they may end up back in the US?

Possible? Pipe dream? I want a $99 M1 Carbine from aimsurplus!!!

 

[HorseSoldier]

I'd personally say it's worth it, either in the form of an authentic USGI or on of the new Kahr/AO production.

a) It's a nice piece of history from an era when people still thought that wood and steel were what weapons were made of.

b) It's an entirely credible weapon for home defense and other CQB-range applications. In some places, that wood and steel construction may play better with authorities than a scary black rifle or tacticalled-up shotgun if it ever becomes an issue.

c) M1 Carbines are great "gateway drug" rifles for those who have never used firearms or long guns. Minimal recoil, relatively cheap to shoot, fun to shoot with a stack of USGI 15 round magazines, etc. Just the thing for making the uninitiated into the initiated.

 

[ArmedBear]

I heard a rumor that a few hundred thousand M1 Garands and Carbines were up for sale by South Korea--wild speculation was they may end up back in the US?

Possible? Pipe dream? I want a $99 M1 Carbine from aimsurplus!!!

If there's any truth to it, this is not the time to buy an M1 Carbine for a grand, that's for sure.

Even if they go for $350, you're out a lot of cash.

Remember, an old USGI M1 Carbine is a collector's item. That's what you're paying for. That's either something you are willing to pay for, or not. It's hard to say if it's "worth it."

Certainly, there are a lot of good guns you can get for under $1000, brand new, with warranties. A 10/22 is as good a "starter" long gun as any.

And if the gun is a truly nice collector piece, you probably shouldn't go shoot with it a lot. The reason it's "worth" the price is that it will go up in value in the future, if you don't mess it up.

Depends what you want, and whether you need to money for food and rent.

 

[George S.]

Apparently the CMP has looked at some of the Carbines in South Korea to see if it would be feasable to get them back and the consensus was that most all were junk and the SK government wanted an obscene price for them.

For whatever reason the Carbine has had a harder life in the hands of the foreign countries that got them.

Do current laws even allow for for private companies to purchase US military weapons from governments and re-sell them in this country? I know the CMP can do this but I was under the impression that was only for rifles that were originally loaned or given outright to allies or governments needing military weapons.

 

[usp_fan]

Reading this makes me very greatfull that my Father-in-law had the foresight to buy one of these from the NRA waaaaay back when they were cheap, and then promptly forget about it behind the water heater untill 2 years ago. I cleaned it up (no rust to speak of) and he passed it on to me along with the 03A3 he bought at the same time and found again in the same place. These will never be sold, but it's nice to know what they're worth. I need to add an M1 Garand to the batch to make a nice set I think.

--usp_fan

 

[dmckean44]

That's not too bad of a price considering a newly manufactured one sells for nearly $700.

 

[Diomed]

I finally ordered a new Thompson/Kahr M1 Carbine for $545.

Dude, where did you find one for $545? I've been on the waiting list for four months for a $575 one! Of course, I wanted the fancy walnut, that may have something to do with it...

Rockrivr1 - as for buying an original, unless you're prepared to spend a lot of time, gas money, and shoe leather out looking for a bargain, $600 is the entry level for a GI carbine. That's for a worn out bitser. One of these days I'm going to bite the bullet and get a decent GI, and I know I should wait much longer because the prices aren't ever coming down.

 

[Dienekes]

I passed on them when the DCM was selling them for $20 in the early 60s. Other than the fact I could have eventually sold it for a lot more by now, I have no regrets. Carried one about 8 hrs a day for a couple of years in the AF where I did appreciate the light weight and handiness, but never learned to love it.

Bought a GI one for some vague reason in the 80s but no matter what I did it wouldn't stay in a hat at 100 yards (or even less). Finally dumped it.

On the other hand I love the M1 Garand.

 

[hso]

MilSurp M1 Carbine prices seem high?

Just remember they ain't making any more of them, milsurp M1s that is.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I paid $650 for a Rock Ola M1 back in May. It's in VG condition and I'm happy.

 

[Sunray]

"...most of them were mixmasters..." That's not surprising considering that 99.99% of all carbines went through an arsenal refit. There are very, very few that didn't and those command premium prices.
If you do find one with 'matching parts' it's most likely been put together by somebody with too much time and money.
"...want a $99 M1 Carbine..." Don't hold your breath.
If you want a carbine, buy one. They're not going to come down in price. Ever. Look at a Plainfield, if you don't want to pay for a milsurp. Forget the Universals, unless it's an early one. Even then the Plainfield is better.

 

[MechAg94]

I expect I'll get one of the AutoOrdinance carbines eventually. It has collector value for me. I am a couple rifles short of having a civilian legal example of every major rifle the US used in the last hundred years. However, the CMP is currently selling some 1917 Enfields so that will come first.

 

[johnmcl]

Did The Kahr/AO Version

Hi all,

As a student of history and a shooting kind of guy, I'd been after a M1 Carbine for several years to no avail. The last straw was a walkthrough of a major gun show in northern Virginia.

The condition of the M1 Carbines at the show was appalling as a function of price. The lowest I'd seen was $700 and it was in horrible shape. There was a general sliding scale to $900 for what appeared to be Carbines in only moderate shape.

I drove from the gun show to Virginia Arms, plopped down my six bills and walked out a happy owner of a 'to-spec' M1 Carbine. The gun's a ton of fun to shoot and I get the same historical reflection on the men carrying a weapon such as this one as I get from my Garands.

The moral of the story? Don't think high prices for poor guns is the only answer.

John

 

[Coronach]

Unless someone, somewhere, comes up with a stash of them and can re-import them, they aren't going to get any cheaper. Even if that happens, think of it like a stock market crash...you'll take a paper loss, unless you freak out and sell your carbine while prices are low. Wait a few years and prices will be back up where they are now, or above.

Of course, that is only relevant if you intend to sell. If you intend to just keep it, or keep it and shoot it, it doesn't matter, except in the "oh I could kick myself" department. However, unless there is some indication that there is a really good chance that supply is about to open up, I'd just buy one and forget about it. Why? Because worrying about prices dropping for something is a sure-fire way to never buy anything, and you have to attach a value to having and enjoying something now as opposed to waiting and dreaming and hoping to own it in the future. Life is short.

If you want one, buy it.

Mike

PS the real question is whether or not you consider USGI to be worth it, vis a vis a new reproduction. That's something only you can decide. Are you looking for a piece of history, or 'just' a shooter, or both? Me, I went with both. I found a heavily used, but not abused, carbine that had much of its historical value 'lost' via a refinished stock and being a mixture of parts. To me it was perfect- history, without the pricetag. Shoots ok.

 

[sarge83]

I bought an S'G' in 2000 good condition for $339 and an Inland in good condition but for some reason the sights had been butchered, which was corrected easily enough, a year later for $329 at the local pawn shop. Since then the price have gone up-up-up and GI carbines have grown scarce around here. Currently they have one which is beat up for $700.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

I was talking to Bryan at AIM a month or so ago about the rumoured importation of thousands of Garands and carbines. He told me it is true but not to expect them this year. Of course, condition and pricing are anybody's guess at this point even if it does happen.

-jagd