M1 Carbine experts - help please!

[absolute0]

Hi fellows,

Long time lurker here (and TFL before) but this is my first post. I've wanted a shooter M1 carbine for quite some time and happened accross one at local pawn shop for $250 - seemingly a good enough deal to grab since the rifle is in good overall shape and I'm looking primarily for a shooter.

However, I'm having a tough time identifying exactly what I've got here. I'm guessing it's of the post-war civilian ilk due to it's lack of familiar M1 carbine manufacturers trade marks and low (12,XXX) serial number. Other distingushing characteristics as follows:

Gloss finished (Beachwood?) stock with no upper - either wood or perforated barrel shroud

usual "US Carbine Cal .30 M1" in front of the bolt

"I.R CO." stamped on the right rear sight aperture guard

Serial number 12,XXX stamped on the reciever in front of the rear sight assembly

What looks to be the manufacturers stamp of "NAT***ORD INC" partially obscured by the rear sight assembly at the back of the receiver.

Many thanks for any info or informed guesses!

Kurt

 

[Fly320s]

I am not an expert, but I can tell you a bit about the rifle.

National Ordnance made rifles in the 60s and 70s from a variety of parts. The rifles have little to no historical or collector value, but seem to be pretty good shooters.

A bit of a Google search will help.

 

[dfariswheel]

A little more info.

National Ordnance was a commercial company that made up 1903-A3 Springfield rifles, and M1 Carbines back in the 1960's.

They made their own receivers from cast steel, and assembled complete rifles with used/refinished GI parts.

About the best that can be said of them is, they're usually OK shooters.
They have no value beyond what the parts would bring.

 

[absolute0]

Thanks for the info guys!

I must say I'm pretty pleased with the purchase overall. In fact I'm actually extremely impressed by the trigger on this thing, just a tiny bit of creep and a pretty crisp break at about 8 lbs or so. Got a 15 rd Seymour Smith and a 30 round unmarked mag with the deal too

It's been a good day...

 

[M2 Carbine]

$250 is a decent price for a good shooter.
You can get a wood or metal handguard for $8 to $10 at most large gun shows.

A couple things you can check.
See that the gas piston nut is tight. They are staked to keep them from turning but some loosen up.

Check for cracks around the gas piston housing.

Look real close at the front of the extractor for cracks. Sometimes they will crack and break after a lot of shooting.
Next gun show pick up a spare extractor for about $8. You may never need it but they always break in the middle of a fun Carbine shoot.

Enjoy, they are a fun gun.