Advice for selling an M1 carbine

[Pyroponce]

Hello,

Long time member, but I've been lurking for several years now.

My wife's aunt's husband died several years ago and he left behind a small collection of firearms. One of them is an Inland M1 Carbine with a serial number below 1000000 which I understand places its manufacture between 5/1942 and 9/1943. I suppose that makes it a collector's item.

I was just wondering what I should tell her to do with it because first and foremost I don't want her to get screwed on value, but I don't know how to value it because of its condition. Any advice?

 

[BigRed]

If I were you I would give it to @BigRed!

 

[2in1evtime]

Looks to have been stored very poorly- lots of surface rust, butt stock looks to have issues, value is going to depend a lot on how much other damage is under the wood and on internal workings, no bayonet lug so it isn't a refurb i doubt.

 

[Robert Richardson]

Well, once it was a collectible.
Spray that thing down with some penetrating oil before it gets any worse.

 

[FNparabellum]

Clean that thing and hope the pitting isn't to bad. It could be fairly valuable if its in decent condition.

 

[Fallschirmjaeger]

Agree with the thoughts on rust control. That should be priority number one. It’s been many years since I was into M1 carbines, but it does appear to have some early features (peep sight, early barrel band with no bayo lug). Those can be pretty desirable. Depending on how many parts come back as original, that could be worth quite a bit when it gets cleaned up.

 

[Rookie]

Any information on this M1?

 

[wcd]

Any information on this M1?
View attachment 223216

Well no but I am curious it appears there are sight alignment marks? The M1 is on my list to learn more about.

 

[Hkindiana]

Any information on this M1?
View attachment 223216

Yes, we need more pictures to tell you anything

 

[Hkindiana]

Hello,

Long time member, but I've been lurking for several years now.

My wife's aunt's husband died several years ago and he left behind a small collection of firearms. One of them is an Inland M1 Carbine with a serial number below 1000000 which I understand places its manufacture between 5/1942 and 9/1943. I suppose that makes it a collector's item.

I was just wondering what I should tell her to do with it because first and foremost I don't want her to get screwed on value, but I don't know how to value it because of its condition. Any advice?

It looks like it WAS a nice one and STILL COULD be it it cleans up well

 

[Rookie]

 

[rob63]

Hello,

Long time member, but I've been lurking for several years now.

My wife's aunt's husband died several years ago and he left behind a small collection of firearms. One of them is an Inland M1 Carbine with a serial number below 1000000 which I understand places its manufacture between 5/1942 and 9/1943. I suppose that makes it a collector's item.

I was just wondering what I should tell her to do with it because first and foremost I don't want her to get screwed on value, but I don't know how to value it because of its condition. Any advice?

Given the photos provided and considering what I see at auctions, I think I would give $1000 for it in its current condition and feel like I was coming out ahead. As others have noted, if it cleans up nicely it could be worth quite a bit more than that. Rust is a funny thing, sometimes it leaves almost no damage behind, sometimes a lot.

If you do clean it, be very gentle. You can easily destroy the value by being overzealous. It's kind of hard to offer advice here. I am sure you could get more money for it if it was properly cleaned and offered to serious collectors. However, I have seen so many collectible guns destroyed by overzealous cleaning that I would prefer your aunt sell it in its current condition to somebody that knows what they are doing. Just my $.02.

 

[maxipum]

This^^^

 

[Mij]

Unless you or someone you know, knows about restoration “and” you don’t want to pay for that. Then ^^^^^^^. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Winamac]

It has a rare "I" cut stock so it is probably a "I" cut high wood. That is a early feature. very desirable to collectors.Along with the rear "flip" site and having no bayonet lug.The top hand guard is the two rivet type. Again, early carbine features.Flat bolt which is indicative of WWII era M1 carbines. If you remove the top hand guard it should have a IO stamped on it on bottom. IO is the most common Inland marking. Inland made the most M1 carbines during WWII. To include the paratrooper folding stock version and ONLY Inland made the paratrooper version. All these are good things. The sling however is Korean war vintage. How do i know that? WWII vintage slings have the "C" shaped metal tips on the ends. Your sling is solid metal which is indicative of post WWII carbine slings. Does it have any car-touches stamped in the wood? either on the stock or in the sling bevel in the stock? if you take the gun apart it should be IO marked in about all the internal parts. Cleaned up and if all parts are Inland. I would say value at between $1400-$1800. Hope this info helps. if you want more ID help PM me. Good luck.

 

[Mij]

It has a rare "I" cut stock so it is probably a "I" cut high wood. That is a early feature. very desirable to collectors.Along with the rear "flip" site and having no bayonet lug.The top hand guard is the two rivet type. Again, early carbine features.Flat bolt which is indicative of WWII era M1 carbines. If you remove the top hand guard it should have a IO stamped on it on bottom. IO is the most common Inland marking. Inland made the most M1 carbines during WWII. To include the paratrooper folding stock version and ONLY Inland made the paratrooper version. All these are good things. The sling however is Korean war vintage. How do i know that? WWII vintage slings have the "C" shaped metal tips on the ends. Your sling is solid metal which is indicative of post WWII carbine slings. Does it have any car-touches stamped in the wood? either on the stock or in the sling bevel in the stock? if you take the gun apart it should be IO marked in about all the internal parts. Cleaned up and if all parts are Inland. I would say value at between $1400-$1800. Hope this info helps. if you want more ID help PM me. Good luck.

Great research, thanks

 

[two70]

Blue Wonder rust remover, 0000 steel wool, and some elbow grease will take off most rust with minimal time and effort. Anything beyond that, I'd leave alone.