New Member - First Purchase

I just joined the Carbine Collector Club and WOWZA!.....what a wealth of information!  Although I have owned many modern guns, the M1 Carbine was never on my radar until recently when a friend told me she had one for sale.  After reading through the forum and the history of the M1, I really want to own one now.  My friend doesn't know the value and I want to make her a fair offer, so I would appreciate your opinions.  Reading through the forum, I understand that just about every part has a maker's mark, but I have only captured some external pics for reference.  The receiver is a Standard Products and the barrel is a Buffalo Arms dated 9-1943.  The stock has a very faint crossed cannons cartouche.

The handguard and rear sight are not original to the rifle and suggest a rebuild of some sort. If you could get a picture inside the slingwell, that would let us know if it is a Standard Products stock. Knowing the internals would be beneficial but that would require a breakdown. 

If you haven’t read Standard Products history, it is worth the time. The history is what prompted me to actively seek out my first STD PRO carbine. 

Good luck!

Highwood stock many people prefer - so thats a plus on value for many.

Type I barrel band if original would also nudge the value up a little, especially for those into WW2 collecting. Some say the type II and III barrel bands help in accuracy, but IMO worry about that only once you've got consistant groups in the black (9 & 10s on the SR-1)

Flip safety is modification and adds to the impression it is very much a mix, and I would say a shooter unless you are takin gto some sort of event where it will get thrown in the mud or could break the stock.

It's my impression tha prices vary a bit depending on the region you live.

Painter777 - can you expand on the MRT stamp comment?  Is that an indication of a gun that saw action post-WW2? 

To add from a article from Mr. Bill Ricca:

We have seen examples of MFP ink stamps, see link:

HTH,

Ch-P777

I thought it was the early 50's when MRT started showing up. But after seeing that Mr Ricca stating 45 production heading for the Tropics got the early version treatment: FP or MFP it must have started earlier.

Then him saying the earliest he'd witnessed a MRT mark was dated 1947.

Seems to run about the timeline of the rebuild programs or maybe the bulk of the treatments, then storage.

45 - 47 Being Earlier than I would have thought.

I'll pay closer attention from now on.

Ch-P777