M1 Carbine/General Motors

K

kashmir

Inactive
I am thinking of purchasing M1 Carbine made by General Motors in 1944, condition is excellent. How much should I pay for it. Were the carbines made by General Motors any good quality. Thanks
 
Price depends on many factors. Check the Gun List, and online: gunsamerica.com, gunbroker.com, and Auctionarms.com.
Also check the Blue Book of Gun Values, and The Standard Catalog. These should give you a good idea.

GM carbines were made at Inland, and Saginaw divisions.
Which division made it will be stamped under the rear sight.

General Motors Inland, made the majority of carbines, and almost certainly the best quality.
 
Like most stuff asscocciated with WWII, prices on Carbines are going up. I've been shopping them at gunshows for the last couple of years. Depending on condition and correctness of parts the asking price on a USGI Carbine will typically be in the $400 to $600 range. Nearly twice what they sold for 5 or 10 years ago. Under $400 starts to get into "beater" territory, though if you're lucky there are deals to be had from uneducated sellers.

Carbines can be fun to collect because there are so many variations, regarding quality IMO there's not much difference between manufactures. All things being equal Rockolas command a premium because they had the lowest production numbers and GIs like them because of the nostalgic name recognition with the Juke Box. Inland had the highest production, they set the baseline price because they're so common.

For a collector the two most important things to look for are the correct markings on the barrel & stock that match the receiver's mfgr date, overall finish is secondary to those two things. Once you get the correct barrel & wood it's pretty easy and affordable to gather up all the other small parts to assemble a "correct" Carbine.... if you're into that kinda thing. My Carbine is a total Mixmaster with nearly one part from every major manufacture except Singer. Very handy, 100% reliable, and a ton of fun to shoot. -- Kernel
 
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