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Thread: Which M1 Carbine would you choose?

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy sirgknight's Avatar
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    Which M1 Carbine would you choose?

    If you had the choice of purchasing only one of these carbines, which one would you rather have? I'm assuming that the Rockola is the hardest to find and probably worth more than the Inland since there were 10 times more Inlands, but all WWII Carbines have drastically increased in value. Would you be willing to pay $800-900 for either one? more? less? Oh, each one has the bayonet lug and comes with an era correct sling.

    1. Inland s/n 535xxxx

    2. Rockola s/s 453xxxx

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Both???
    Don Verna


  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy sirgknight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by dverna View Post
    Both???
    wish I could afford both.....

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    ShooterAZ's Avatar
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    If it's going to be a shooter, I would probably go with the Inland. They made the most M1 Carbines and had the most experience building them and are arguably the best made carbines. The Rockola would probably be more $$$, though it's likely that it's a mix-master anyway.

  5. #5
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    TNsailorman's Avatar
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    I had an Inland that I bought in the mid 60's from old NRA run program and paid a whopping $20.00 for it. My Dad bought one at the same time and price and it was a Saginaw(if I remember right). Both shot and operated just fine. Wish I still had mine, I sold it to a veteran who wanted a carbine like the one he carried. The agreement was the rifle was to be returned to me for the same price when he passed on. The family did not know what I was talking about when I later contacted them.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    From what ive seen at the gun shows $800 for any M1 carbine is a deal. I haven't seen one go for less than $1000 in a long time.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy sirgknight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ebb View Post
    From what ive seen at the gun shows $800 for any M1 carbine is a deal. I haven't seen one go for less than $1000 in a long time.
    One of the employees at our LGS says they won't sell any .30 carbine for less than $1200. The last one they had sold for $1400 and it wasn't a USGI carbine.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    I have bought two DCM Carbines in 1965 for $20 each and have the DCM paperwork. Both were good farm guns until in 1992, I bought a few SKS arms for $90 each in New condition. I retired my M1 carbines because the SKS is a better farm gun.

    I have many historical arms I will donate to my county Historical Society for all to see in the future.

    Adam

  9. #9
    Boolit Master

    TCLouis's Avatar
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    800 900 for a Carbine?
    They are neat little guns an at 3-400 may well be worth it, but not 8-900 in my book.
    Of course one must consider, they are not making any more.
    Amendments
    The Second there to protect the First!

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    I've had excellent service from my Inland. I updated it and an Underwood and warm both of 'em up regularly.
    Ed <><

  11. #11
    Boolit Buddy tigweldit's Avatar
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    I'd go with the Rock-Ola. More rare (valuable) and shoot as well, if not better, than any of the carbines. I have owned many carbines. The Rock-Ola I got from the DCM for $20.00 has always been my favorite. The last Rock-Ola I saw sold on Gunbroker went for over $1600.00.

  12. #12
    Boolit Master Murphy's Avatar
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    Those old War Baby's are some fine guns. I owned a few over the years (military issue). I recall back in the 90's a company imported a batch and they had Blue Sky stamped on the barrel. They were going for $225 each at that time. Of course nothing today costs what it did in the 90's. Being in a rural area, they were a great truck gun. Not at todays prices though.

    As to the question between the two mentioned by the original poster. I would say the Rockola if you're looking at it from an investment. The Inland if you're looking for one you won't mind taking out and shooting from time to time.

    Murphy
    If I should depart this life while defending those who cannot defend themselves, then I have died the most honorable of deaths. Marc R. Murphy '2006'.

  13. #13
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    ShooterAZ's Avatar
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    An all original Rockola M1 Carbine would fetch far more than $1600, try doubling that and then some. Most M1 carbines have gone through ordnance rebuilds at one time or another, and typically have a mix of different manufacturer parts. There's nothing wrong with that from a functionality standpoint, as it was common practice after WWII. If you want the added cool factor of a carbine with a Rockola receiver, then yes you will need to be prepared to pony more $$ for it. I don't own a Rockola carbine, but one of my Inlands has a Rockola stock marked RMC. The history of these little guns is extremely fascinating.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master

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    If I wasn't a collector, I'd buy the Rock-Ola, sell it on GB for a small fortune, then buy the Inland and pocket the difference! But being a collector with a couple of Inlands already, I'd grab the Rock-Ola for that price and chuckle happily all the way home!

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy
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    Go for the one in best condition. It will probably make you the most happy in the long run.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by TCLouis View Post
    800 900 for a Carbine?
    They are neat little guns an at 3-400 may well be worth it, but not 8-900 in my book.
    Of course one must consider, they are not making any more.
    Point me towards the $400 USGI carbines and I will empty my bank account(s) and head that way. They didn't exist before the riots/ covid/ stolen election/ Socialist occupation and they still don't.

    Sent from my SM-A716U using Tapatalk

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy school of mines's Avatar
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    I bought an USGI Inland for $1000 and was glad to get it. They aren’t getting any cheaper.

  18. #18
    Boolit Buddy sirgknight's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by school of mines View Post
    I bought an USGI Inland for $1000 and was glad to get it. They aren’t getting any cheaper.
    Well....you make an interesting point. I, too, purchased an Inland from the CMP a few years ago for $450. I gave it to my son. I have been out of the loop for a few years and when I started looking for another carbine was amazed at the no-supply and high-demand. The CMP not only doesn't have any carbines for sale, but don't even have any for auction. The prices being fetched on GB are insane. It seems that $1000 would be a fortunate purchase. It's probably going to go downhill from here....

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy
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    IN 1965 I was in Viet Nam and on a three day pass I stopped at Na Trang to see a old friend at the 5th SF. He sold me an M2 carbine that had no serial number for $25! We went into town and hoisted a few, when I came back, the First Sgt had had a gang go thru the barracks and collect all the loose guns. I was late to get on a C123 for Saigon and was pointed to a conex that had ~199 carbines in it. "Pick one," the duty Sp 4 said. I looked for my M2 and ended up with an M1 that looked good and went on my way. When I got back to my unit in Quin Nhon, I was so pissed, I sold the M1 for $30.
    5th SF had a mess of un-numbered arms they gave out to their Indigenous forces and Nungs. I really want that M2!

  20. #20
    Boolit Master

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    Saginaw. Born & raised there. Family worked for GM. Mom was 1st woman electrician there! My house was less than a mile from the “Gun Plant”.


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