Questions on Iver Johnson M1 Carbine

[Ermac]

So my dad just gave me his unfired (yes unfired) Iver Johnson from 1979. It is in perfect shape and I took it for a test run and fired 150 rounds of various ammo...PMC, UMC, Magtech and Winchester with no problems. I have heard some good things and some bad things about Iver Johnson. First, mine has the New Jersey stamp right underneath the site. I also took out the bolt (rounded) and found it is the true style bolt - the bolt has the original firing fin with no spring inside it - it moves freely around. The end of the firing pin is also not rounded like some other Iver Johnson's I saw. My questions are:

1.) should I replace any parts with any USGI parts?
2.) how is the metal strenght compared to a USGI? For the most part, some of the bluing is comming off, but other than that, it seems ok
3.) can I replace the stock with a usgi? I think the whole weapon is USGI compatible comparing it to my dad's IBM he has
4.) what mags are best?
5.) The blade site kinda moves a little - can I lock-tite this?

Thanks!

 

[ball3006]

If it runs fine.....

leave it alone. The IJ were one of the better commercial versions of the M1 carbine. A GI stock will fit. My bud has one that had a beat up stock and it dropped right in a GI stock. As for the parts, wait until something breaks, then fix it.......chris3

 

[Ermac]

thanks for that
that is pretty much the consensus on what i heard
although, the metal handgaurd has to go