M1 carbine info?

[kell2784]

I'm slowly making my way into the battle/black rifle world, and was looking into a commercial M1 carbine. Some people like the commercials, and some hate them. This one is a Plainfield carbine, and I assume a cast receiver. Are the original carbines welded receivers? What else should I know, and look at before committing? (I don't know the s/n, thusly the year of manufacture is unknown.)

Thanks for helping a new guy out.

 

[sunray]

"...welded receivers?..." Machined. Not welded.
"...assume a cast receiver..." Nope. Plainfields are the best of the commercial carbines. They are an exact copy of the military carbine. They take milsurp parts with no fuss and shoot well. At least mine does. Never had a problem with it that a bath didn't fix in 30 years. Never had to replace any parts either.
The only thing I've done to it was reduce the size of the grip area of the stock to fit my hand better, refinished the stock and reduced the thickness for the front sight. None of that is required to make it work or keep it working. It likes 110 grain HP's with IMR4227. Had to tweak the mag lips on the one evil 30 round mag I have open a tic to get it to feed properly too.
Plainfield Machine Co. was bought out by Iver Johnson in 1987. Iver Johnson was later bought out by American Military Arms Corp. who shut down in 1993. Does the one you're looking at have Plainfield Machine Co. on the receiver?
Remember that it's restricted just like any carbine.

 

[kell2784]

Thanks for clarifying all that Sunray. I'll check to see if it has the name stamp on the receiver. Also, it's listed as non-restricted. Sometime along the line someone must have installed a different barrel.
I see a well known dealer on this site has a repro strap for sale, but is it easy to find an oiler for it?

 

[kell2784]

What would many expect to pay for a commercial M1 carbine with decent wood and good metal? Are these climbing in value like it's big brother?

 

[contact148]

Not so much many guys cant be bothered with restricted firearms

make SURE the rifle does not just have an extension on the barrel as thats NOT legal anymore

I have orig USGI ww2 slings and oilers(most oilers are korea war era) (several hundred of each) slings are used but still useable

lots of m1 carbine parts out there

 

[kell2784]

I should correct my post, I found a ton of M1 parts out there readily available.
For it's value, I am thinking maybe 300-400$? Is this too low?

Thanks again.

 

[sunray]

"...listed as non-restricted...installed a different barrel..." Entirely possible. Iver Johnson made some 19" barrel carbines for a while. Just for Canadians too. (The Carbine has been restricted since 1978.) It might be one of those. However, like contact148 says, check it for an extension.
They are more expensive compared to what I paid( so long ago I forget what I did pay. Less than $150 though), but $300 to $400 is about right as I recall. Get yourself into the Exchange forum, here. You might find something there.
If it says Universal on the receiver, there were two models. Early and Late. The Early models are ok. The Late models are junk.
A Late model will have two return springs(requires removing the stock to see), a 'toggle' for the bolt hold open and a really badly stamped op handle(they break). Late models cannot use ANY military parts either. Universal thought they were improving the design and made a horrible mess of it.
"...year of manufacture..." There's no web site that has a list of manufacturing dates by serial number for any carbine. Milsurp or otherwise.