WTB: M1 Carbine parts

[mtgrs737]

I am thinking about building a M1 Carbine but have been having a hard time finding good used parts or new made parts at reasonable prices. I am looking for a complete trigger housing and a slide (operating handle) and most all the other parts for a Military m1 carbine. I was hoping to find a parts kit but those don't seem to be available. A member here contacted me some time ago but I had given up on finding enough of the parts at a reasonable price. Anyway if you have any parts and would like to part with them P.M. me with what you have and what you need for them. Thanks!

[beltfed]

Prices for Carbines and parts are absolutely Crazy.
Buy a commercial M1Carbine. It will be just as good as a parts assembly and much cheaper
beltfed/arnie

[georgerkahn]

I am thinking about building a M1 Carbine but have been having a hard time finding good used parts or new made parts at reasonable prices. I am looking for a complete trigger housing and a slide (operating handle) and most all the other parts for a Military m1 carbine. I was hoping to find a parts kit but those don't seem to be available. A member here contacted me some time ago but I had given up on finding enough of the parts at a reasonable price. Anyway if you have any parts and would like to part with them P.M. me with what you have and what you need for them. Thanks!

I might suggest you contact Michael Pucci at Orion7 Enterprises on Long Island, New York. This business, started by his dad, Anthony Pucci, Jr., has -- at least the last time I was there -- what appears to be enough parts to put together more than a few U S M1 Carbines. Their URL is: https://www.m1garand.com/
Sadly (in a funny way) I recall a great Country Western song vis putting together an automobile "one part at a time". Believe it or not, through the years, I have had to buy parts and the like who's cost were equal or higher than that which I was putting together or attempting to fix. For what it's worth, I'd suggest you look into obtaining the cheapest, ugliest hoe-handle carbine you might find, and then simply replace parts as required. My late friend Hughie bought one for less than $100.00 which had the muzzle end -- about 3 to 4 inches -- as PURE rust and crud. At a gun show in Syracuse, NY he bought a barrel -- and albeit he never shared exact amount, proudly exclaimed that, after barrel instal and sale -- he "made more than five hundred dollars." Again, just a suggestion .
geo

[deltaenterprizes]

One Part at a Time by the great Johnny Cash, funny song!

[460S&W]

If you’re not a member Weapons guild is a good spot if you’re looking to get parts, kits etc

[Der Gebirgsjager]

I'll give a plus one on the commercial carbines, with a couple of cautions. Several companies started making carbines using left over WW II spare parts stockpiles, among them being Plainfield and Universal. Both were very good guns originally, but as parts supplies diminished they began making parts as needed. Universal eventually redesigned the gun's mechanism and ended up with a two spring recoil system that caused problems. Another company, Alpine, began making cast receivers and the steel was softer than the G.I. bolts which caused the guide slot inside the left side of the receiver to gall and eventually make the gun become useless. I worked on more than one, and just stripped them for salvageable parts. There were several other makers including IMI, new Plainfield, etc., and most of the newly made carbines seem to be satisfactory. You can self-educate on the subject by reading a few articles on the internet. I own 3 carbines, an Iver Johnson (AMAC), a S. Korean return stamped Blue Sky Imports Winchester, and a Standard Products (authentic WW II mfg.) IJ was purchased and produced by the same fellow, Lou Imperato, who eventually started Henry Repeating Arms. He had the IJ Company up and running, producing lots of carbines, and then sold out to American Military Armaments Corp. They seemed to flounder, so he bought it back again. My IJ is from the AMAC era and is a top notch carbine, and is the one I keep handy. I had one that was post AMAC and never could get it to shoot well, although it was reliable-- so it went down the road. There is a lot to know about them. I have a few parts, and I'll see what I can find and send you a PM.

DG

[mtgrs737]

Thanks guys for the info! This is a great place for good information and ideas. I am thinking this is going to be a long road to completion due to availability and costs. Thanks again!

[Sig556r]

CMPForum has a sub-forum dedicated to M1 carbine (Q&A as well as Sale/trade)
FYI
Sig

[barnabus]

Prices for Carbines and parts are absolutely Crazy.
Buy a commercial M1Carbine. It will be just as good as a parts assembly and much cheaper
beltfed/arnie

but it will be a commercial repro with no class.... most have terrible resale as they are plagued with problems

[georgerkahn]

I'll give a plus one on the commercial carbines, with a couple of cautions. Several companies started making carbines using left over WW II spare parts stockpiles, among them being Plainfield and Universal. Both were very good guns originally, but as parts supplies diminished they began making parts as needed. Universal eventually redesigned the gun's mechanism and ended up with a two spring recoil system that caused problems. Another company, Alpine, began making cast receivers and the steel was softer than the G.I. bolts which caused the guide slot inside the left side of the receiver to gall and eventually make the gun become useless. I worked on more than one, and just stripped them for salvageable parts. There were several other makers including IMI, new Plainfield, etc., and most of the newly made carbines seem to be satisfactory. You can self-educate on the subject by reading a few articles on the internet. I own 3 carbines, an Iver Johnson (AMAC), a S. Korean return stamped Blue Sky Imports Winchester, and a Standard Products (authentic WW II mfg.) IJ was purchased and produced by the same fellow, Lou Imperato, who eventually started Henry Repeating Arms. He had the IJ Company up and running, producing lots of carbines, and then sold out to American Military Armaments Corp. They seemed to flounder, so he bought it back again. My IJ is from the AMAC era and is a top notch carbine, and is the one I keep handy. I had one that was post AMAC and never could get it to shoot well, although it was reliable-- so it went down the road. There is a lot to know about them. I have a few parts, and I'll see what I can find and send you a PM.

DG

I had a Universal M1 Carbine which had me almost afraid to shoot -- when it did . A couple of range buddies also had Universals, which were problem-free and great functioning carbines. HUH? Turns out mine -- easy to tell by the Hialeah, Florida address on firearm -- was the last rendition before they went belly-up or stopped making them. I do not wish to bad-mouth anything, but if someone offered me a Hialeah Florida made Universal free of charge -- I'd not waste more than one micro-second before I passed on it.
I have/own a carbine made by Israel Arms International -- IAI -- which functions quite well and sports a metal hand-guard as one distinguishing feature. With no disrespect to DG, I have never heard of an "IJ" brand, and would love to know more about this? (I'm guessing it is a typo, perhaps, for an IAI?)
Anyhoos -- a really GREAT page with tons of info on the M1 Carbine may be worth a gander? http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/index.html
geo

[Der Gebirgsjager]

George--
IJ is/was Iver Johnson, trademark the owl's head. Here's mine:


DG

P.S. If you view the link you posted, look down the index bars at the left of the page, near the bottom "Commercial Carbines." IJ will come right up.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

mtgrs737-- Here's what I've still got from "back in the day".



I would have sent this via PM, but PMs require a URL and I do JPG which the PM system won't accept.

Top is a trigger housing, like new, maybe refinished. I'm not certain what make it is, could be commercial. There is a marking to the rear of the trigger guard resembling a house with a sloped roof, but it's mostly obscured by the Parkerizing.

Below the trigger housing are 3 barrel bands, the original style before they redesigned them to take a bayonet.
The one on the left is an original part, but it appears that the threads in the clamping hole are worn out and
the screw is tightened with an ordinary nut. The other two are commercial carbine takeoffs, like new.

To the right of the barrel bands are two front sights. The one on the left appears serviceable and original, the one on the right was cut off and has a cut running through the top near the sight blade. It could be welded up and probably be reused. These are held onto the barrel with a key that runs through both a slot in the top of the barrel and in the bottom of the sight, and is then secured with a cross pin through the sight that passes through a notch in the top of the key. There is a used key present, and it has punch marks on the ends where it was driven out, but could probably be reused.


Below the sights is a bolt. It appears serviceable, but no guarantees. It may be commercial--I see no markings on it. The bolts were originally flat, but they later changed to round. The ejector is still in the bolt. If you proceed with the project you would do well to obtain a bolt assembly/disassembly tool. The originals are very scarce, but replicas that work are usually available from SARCO, Gun Parts Corp., or e-bay. It isn't strictly necessary, but it is a 3-handed job without one.

To the right of the bolt is an ejector, unknown if serviceable, would have to put the bolt together and install it to find out for certain. It seems to have enough lip on it to engage cartridges.

Below the bolt are two firing pins which seem serviceable--again no guarantees.
A spring which might be a firing pin return spring, but it seems a bit short.

Below the bolt and to the left are two barrel band retention springs.

Below the barrel band springs is an ejector and two small springs which are probably extractor springs-- not sure, it's been too long since I worked on carbines.

To the left of the ejector and springs are 4 pins which I believe hold the trigger housing into the receiver,
two small pins, one solid and one roll pin, that are most likely for securing the front sight to the retention key.

Lastly, a stock screw escutcheon that goes into the bottom of the stock forward of the pistol grip for the screw that holds in the recoil plate.

Also, not shown, a serviceable 15 rd. magazine.

______________________________

It is possible that I've got an original part takeoff stock, but the one I'm thinking about had a notch cut out of the left side to accommodate a scope side mount. It might still have the butt plate and screw on it, but I might have given it away in the past. I'll have to climb a ladder and go through a couple of boxes of misc. old stocks to find out, so we can save that for later. No promises about the stock still being there. J&G Sales seems to have an inventory of used stocks.

_______________________________

So, are you still wanting to do the project, and are you interested in these parts?

DG

[georgerkahn]

George--
IJ is/was Iver Johnson, trademark the owl's head. Here's mine:


DG

P.S. If you view the link you posted, look down the index bars at the left of the page, near the bottom "Commercial Carbines." IJ will come right up.

I've been having more and more brain farts of late; I "shoud've" known Iver Johnson. THANKS for reply -- now I may sleep tonight as the answer was graciously provided by you! Again, I appreciate -- including, too, the photo. Fine looking firearm!
geo

[johnly]

Another place to look are the "GunBuster" sellers on GB.
They sell firearm sets after the receiver has been chopped.

[mtgrs737]

Again Guys, Thanks, I am putting together a list of what I need.