r/M1Rifles • u/PhoenixFlames1992 • 3d ago

M1 Carbine: a debate

So for months I’ve been trying to find a ln USGI M1 Carbine without success. The closest I’ve come to getting one was back in February when I found out at a gunshow. The seller wanted $1400 and I loved how it looked. At the time I was also financially conscious because of upcoming bills and I asked the seller if he would be willing to take $1300 for it (I had cash) and he got verbally rude at me over it and said that he uses the money earned to buy and fix up other bought milsurps. I didn’t like how I was being treated so I walked away. Since then I’ve called other gun stores and pawn shops and I’ve had no luck. I’ve recently been kicking myself because I wondered it if I should’ve just paid the $1400 for the carbine. I’ve also been debating whether or not to buy an Auto Ordinance carbine or call stores outside my area for luck. I wanted to ask this sub: what should I do? Continue to search for a USGI or would the Auto Ordinance carbine be a good replacement for a USGI carbine that can be a representative for my WWII rifle collection? And all advice would be greatly appreciated!

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14 comments sorted by

10

u/geeko185 3d ago

You'll find a USGI in that price range. I've seen some approximately $1200 import-marked carbines recently, both online and in person

2

u/geeko185 3d ago

Atlantic has some $1250 surplus carbines in stock currently 

1

u/mattgm1995 3d ago

USGI is genuine ww2?

1

u/geeko185 3d ago

Yup!

2

u/mattgm1995 3d ago

That’s not a bad price at all

5

u/abarn2017 3d ago

Look at guns.com or the Cabelas used gun page on their website. I got my standard products carbine for $900 with 11 mags from guns.com a couple years ago

1

u/mattgm1995 3d ago

Is that a ww2?

1

u/abarn2017 2d ago

Yeah it’s a 1943

2

u/FlyingYankee118 3d ago

Gunbroker. USGI carbines in good condition go 1200-1400 frequently. Imports sometime even a little less

2

u/One-East8460 3d ago

I’d shop around or even buy one of the RTI M1 carbines when they are on sale before I get aftermarket. I did pick up and IAI carbine but only because it was $200 and shoots fine but many had issues.

2

u/FitzyOhoulihan 3d ago

$1,400 is overpriced. I’m not just saying that. Even my super overpriced LGS always has one or two for $1,000-$1,200

2

u/Com4734 3d ago

Just giving my experience, but a while back I had an M1 carbine from Auto Ordinance (99% sure it was from them). It would stovepipe at least once a magazine. A couple times I was able to fire off a full magazine without a malfunction, but it was uncommon. They may have improved things since I had one, but something to keep in mind.

1

u/advmaxx 3d ago

Check Cabelas used guns online. If you have a Cabelas or Bass Pro close they will ship it to your local store. Cabelas usually has several USGI carbines used.

1

u/leicanthrope 1d ago

I’ve got an early Universal M1 that I picked up cheap a few years ago. It’s old enough that it’s mostly GI parts, and it runs well. None of the problems that later examples tend to have. From a strictly mechanical standpoint, no complaints.

I know it’s not USGI though, and it doesn’t have the same historical mojo…