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1/30/2010 11:44:34 AM EDT
I have a CMP M1 Carbine on the way and I am going to need some accessories for it (oiler, sling, magazines, butt-stock mag pouch). I would like to try for all original WWII items but I don't know how realistic that is without spending a fortune. Where are you guys buying your accessories? What is a fair price for the items I've listed? Anything special I should look out for or avoid? Thanks.



These are two of the websites I've found so far.



http://www.m1garandrifle.com/M1carbine.htm



http://home.att.net/~ra-carbines/parts9.html
1/30/2010 12:33:26 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted:
I have a CMP M1 Carbine on the way and I am going to need some accessories for it (oiler, sling, magazines, butt-stock mag pouch). I would like to try for all original WWII items but I don't know how realistic that is without spending a fortune. Where are you guys buying your accessories? What is a fair price for the items I've listed? Anything special I should look out for or avoid? Thanks.

These are two of the websites I've found so far.

http://www.m1garandrifle.com/M1carbine.htm

http://home.att.net/~ra-carbines/parts9.html


The butt-stock mag pouch, by virtue of its having internal snaps, will scar the stock of your Carbine.  Not a concern of most GIs, but maybe of concern to you.

Oiler is necessary to mounting the sling, of course.

One accessory that you didn't mention, but which will save you untold hassle is a bolt dis-assembly/assembly tool.  Trust me on this.  A reasonable supply of USGI spare parts, such as extractor, ejector, their springs, and firing pin is always a good idea, and will retain value always.  Unless the mags are brand-new, always consider their 70-year old springs suspect.  15-rd mags are usually trouble-free, but 30-rd mags are very troublesome for two reasons.  First is inferior OEM springs, and second is that lots of carbines do not have the 30-rd mag mag latch.  Lacking either will be very troublesome.  
Both problems are easily and inexpensively fixed

You left off a bayonet and scabbard, although some carbines were not originally equipped for them.  If yours was not, the original field knife issued with the early carbines in now quite expensive, and the later bayonets becoming so.

There are plenty of books on Carbines and their accessories.  some of them very detailed, and expensive, but the ones by North Cape  are fine for the owner seeking info but not yet obsessed.

FWIW, GI ball is much inferior to the round-nosed, exposed lead tip reloadable bullets for most intense social purposes.

Good little carbines, and well-suited to their original opurpose, which was to replace the hard-to-shoot-accurately pistol amongst second-line troops.  Jungle and very CQB environments, worked pretty well, except in intense, Korean cold––but perhaps that issue was user-induced.


1/30/2010 12:48:12 PM EDT
[#2]
^^^^ what he said, and if you can find an original carry bag, get it! If you get a repro, I wouldn't get the one that has the padding (not an original feature, anyways) that leaves little tufts of faux fur all over your carbine.








1/30/2010 1:13:21 PM EDT
[#3]



Quoted:



Quoted:

SNIP




The butt-stock mag pouch, by virtue of its having internal snaps, will scar the stock of your Carbine.  Not a concern of most GIs, but maybe of concern to you.



Oiler is necessary to mounting the sling, of course.



One accessory that you didn't mention, but which will save you untold hassle is a bolt dis-assembly/assembly tool.  Trust me on this.  A reasonable supply of USGI spare parts, such as extractor, ejector, their springs, and firing pin is always a good idea, and will retain value always.  Unless the mags are brand-new, always consider their 70-year old springs suspect.  15-rd mags are usually trouble-free, but 30-rd mags are very troublesome for two reasons.  First is inferior OEM springs, and second is that lots of carbines do not have the 30-rd mag mag latch.  Lacking either will be very troublesome.  

Both problems are easily and inexpensively fixed



You left off a bayonet and scabbard, although some carbines were not originally equipped for them.  If yours was not, the original field knife issued with the early carbines in now quite expensive, and the later bayonets becoming so.



There are plenty of books on Carbines and their accessories.  some of them very detailed, and expensive, but the ones by North Cape  are fine for the owner seeking info but not yet obsessed.



FWIW, GI ball is much inferior to the round-nosed, exposed lead tip reloadable bullets for most intense social purposes.



Good little carbines, and well-suited to their original opurpose, which was to replace the hard-to-shoot-accurately pistol amongst second-line troops.  Jungle and very CQB environments, worked pretty well, except in intense, Korean cold––but perhaps that issue was user-induced.





Thanks for the info, a few more questions if you don't mind.



I was unaware of the butt-stock mag pouch issue and I don't wish to scratch up my stock any more than it most likely already is. Are there any repro pouches that have fixed this problem?



I will be picking up a bolt tool and some spare parts. Where would you suggest buying these from?



The first website I linked has a supply of new in wrapper WWII GI mags so I had planned on buying those and using the 15rnd mags mostly but the 30rounders might be nice for range days. How do I tell if my carbine has the 30rnd mag latch?



I would very much like an original bayonet but from what I understand they are getting pretty rare and expensive. As the carbine I ordered is a Bavarian return I am not sure if it will have the lug but if it does I plan on trying to find a bayonet.



The book I had looked buying is the The M1
   Carbine Owners Guide
by Larry Ruth with Scott A. Duff.



CMP charged my credit card yesterday so I think I have a few weeks to pick out accessories before my carbine arrives.




 
1/30/2010 1:20:28 PM EDT
[#4]
I purchased most of my M1 Carbine accessories, magazines, sling and oiler from a seller on .www.gunbroker.com. Sellers name is 81mm, he has some nice carbine stuff.
1/30/2010 1:59:33 PM EDT
[#5]




Quoted:





I was unaware of the butt-stock mag pouch issue and I don't wish to scratch up my stock any more than it most likely already is. Are there any repro pouches that have fixed this problem?



....







If you get repro that has the snap installed, you could just pry it out.



Do some looking and you might be able to find a USGI pouch that lost its snap already.



I just don't worry about it...










Olongapo Outfitters also makes a very practical, well designed, and modern, solution:

http://olongapooutfitters.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=22






1/30/2010 3:35:53 PM EDT
[#6]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:
SNIP


The butt-stock mag pouch, by virtue of its having internal snaps, will scar the stock of your Carbine.  Not a concern of most GIs, but maybe of concern to you.

Oiler is necessary to mounting the sling, of course.

One accessory that you didn't mention, but which will save you untold hassle is a bolt dis-assembly/assembly tool.  Trust me on this.  A reasonable supply of USGI spare parts, such as extractor, ejector, their springs, and firing pin is always a good idea, and will retain value always.  Unless the mags are brand-new, always consider their 70-year old springs suspect.  15-rd mags are usually trouble-free, but 30-rd mags are very troublesome for two reasons.  First is inferior OEM springs, and second is that lots of carbines do not have the 30-rd mag mag latch.  Lacking either will be very troublesome.  
Both problems are easily and inexpensively fixed

You left off a bayonet and scabbard, although some carbines were not originally equipped for them.  If yours was not, the original field knife issued with the early carbines in now quite expensive, and the later bayonets becoming so.

There are plenty of books on Carbines and their accessories.  some of them very detailed, and expensive, but the ones by North Cape  are fine for the owner seeking info but not yet obsessed.

FWIW, GI ball is much inferior to the round-nosed, exposed lead tip reloadable bullets for most intense social purposes.

Good little carbines, and well-suited to their original opurpose, which was to replace the hard-to-shoot-accurately pistol amongst second-line troops.  Jungle and very CQB environments, worked pretty well, except in intense, Korean cold––but perhaps that issue was user-induced.


Thanks for the info, a few more questions if you don't mind.

I was unaware of the butt-stock mag pouch issue and I don't wish to scratch up my stock any more than it most likely already is. Are there any repro pouches that have fixed this problem?

I will be picking up a bolt tool and some spare parts. Where would you suggest buying these from?

The first website I linked has a supply of new in wrapper WWII GI mags so I had planned on buying those and using the 15rnd mags mostly but the 30rounders might be nice for range days. How do I tell if my carbine has the 30rnd mag latch?

I would very much like an original bayonet but from what I understand they are getting pretty rare and expensive. As the carbine I ordered is a Bavarian return I am not sure if it will have the lug but if it does I plan on trying to find a bayonet.

The book I had looked buying is the The M1    Carbine Owners Guide by Larry Ruth with Scott A. Duff.

CMP charged my credit card yesterday so I think I have a few weeks to pick out accessories before my carbine arrives.

 


As mentioned, get a repro pouch, and remove the snaps.  Do NOT alter an original pouch.

Google William Ricca, or Bill Ricca, for parts.  Good man.  Numrich also has parts.

IIRC, the 30-rd mag latch (which also works perfectly with 15-rd mags) has an underlined letter "M" on the face of the button.  Your guide, which is a good one, will clarify this.

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