M1 Carbine Sticky Bolt?

[dubious]

Hi... I just received an Iver Johnson m1 carbine and the bolt sticks when I try to cock it with the slide lever. Once it's cocked it's easy to work back and forth. Pop the trigger and once again the bolt is sticky. I can work the bolt a few times real fast and it works again.

This is a post war commercial manufactured gun and I don't yet have a magazine for it. I'm just concerned. Any ideas?

 

[Tommygunn]

From your description I think what is happening is that you are cocking the hammer.
The M-1 Carbine has a hammer that normally rests against the rear of the bolt. If uncocked the mainspring that powers the hammer will resist the rear impulse on the cocking handle on the carbine. Once you cock it the hammer is held back on the sear and the bolt will reciprocate more freely.
Maybe I'm wrong .... it is often very difficult to properly diagnose a problem without actually examining a gun, but that's what I think is happening. If so it is normal.