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Posted: 2/14/2004 12:06:05 PM EDT
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Stay away from Plainview and Universal unless you can fire them first. Watch out for worn out military guns that are way too expensive. Blue Sky and Arlington Va Imports can be either very good or real dogs, they were imported in the mid-late 80s from Korea, some were reparked that were really worn out. Usually a straight military decent shape US gun is about $400-$500 up. Israeli Arms Industries (IAI)is making and selling new ones, seem to be good guns. rk |
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Inspect the muzzle carefully, as many have been damaged by improper cleaning technique. Good news is that a simple, inexpensive re-crowning may restore original level of accuracy. Get only USGI mags; 15-rd mags seldom have problems while 30-rd mags are somewhat more troublesome, especially if the carbine has not been upgraded with the later style mag catch which solves most 30-rd issues. On some mags, regardless of size, the springs are tired. Replacements are available from Wolff.z If your carbine shoots high, replace front sight with a NIB GI unit and file down the blade to re-establish vertical POI. Test at 100 yds, using USGI ammo or equivalent. |
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I'm also on the look out for a nice USGI M1 carbine. Couldn't find one at the gun show today for less than $700. I see them selling for $400 - $500 usually. Here are the USGI's: Winchester Rock Ola Saginaw S'G' Inland Irwin Pederson Underwood Standard Products National Postal Meter Quality Hardware IBM Saginaw Gear Check the barrel for an importation stamp. |
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The carbine market has really gotten crazy in recent years. Prices have gone through the roof and availibility has gotten spotty. Any of the USGI makes are good. Civilian aftermarkets are usually not so hot. Avoid Universal at all costs. Plainfield slightly better. The IAI units are very hit or miss, mostly miss from my information. A carbine under $500 in these parts is almost unheard off. I bought my extremely nice Inland rebuild for $400 a couple of years ago and consider it one the greatest buys of my gun collecting career. If someone offers you an "original" for a premium price walk away. It is almost certainly a gun someone has "restored" back to "original". This seems to be a real mania among carbine people. Doesn't make it original, its just a rebuilt rebuild. M1A1, the paratroop version, is best avoided all together. A lot of fakes out there. Maybe more fakes than originals. Good shooters? Well depends on your definition. Do not expect tack driving accuracy on any of them. They're just not built for that. |
You did well, even for twelve years ago. I've been buying guns for the better part of thirty years and I don't ever remember carbines being either common or cheap. Its just worse now. In these parts Garands are actually more common and usually cheaper. The last gun show had maybe three of them, starting at the upper $500 range and escalating. |
Only problem the Gun cabnet is closinf or something they have no inventory. I am not a fan of sportsman link have had some negative expierances, no good ones there. |
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