M1 Carbine NR Question

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M_User

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I recently walked into a non-shooting store and saw they had a small gun rack filled with rifles. I spotted a M1 carbine that appeared to be labelled as a johnson on the tag but I believe it said inland on the receiver.

When I inquired about its classification of NR or R, the clerk stated that they don't take restricted only NR guns. However, I always thought that the M1 Carbine was Restricted in Canada due to its barrel length.

Unfortunately I was unable to get a great look at it because I would have to pay for it or at least had a guarantee if I liked it I would have bought it right there.

My question is did they make some M1 Carbines non-restricted or are they all restricted? And if they did make NR how can you tell the difference between the two and is there a service that allows you to check that its NR other than a gunsmith?

I personally believe someone screwed up the classification on that rifle but I would like some input before going back.
 
All USGI made M1 carbines were fitted with 18" barrels originally. So if it is a GI receiver with a GI barrel, it's restricted.

Iver Johnson made a copy of the M1 carbine, post war. That might be what you are looking at. I don't know enough about them to say whether or not they installed barrels over 18" in length.

You would hope that the owner of the store would have confirmed the length of the barrel before advertising ...but you never know.
 
After WW2 some companies like Iver Johnson and Universal, and some others, made M1 carbines for the civilian market. These usually come with 19inch barrels to comply with barrel length restrictions. Some were "mixmasters" meaning they used as many USGI parts they could get their hands on and what parts they couldn't find, they made themselves. The rifle you saw was probably one of those, So yes, it probably is non-restricted.
 
Big thing to do was to install a 18.5 inch or 20 inch barrel on your restricted GI M1 and have it reclassified to nonrestricted, very very common, If you are buying be sure to measure to confirm at least 18.5 inches of barrel.
 
Lots of NR M-1 carbines out there. Many were rebarreled with NR barrels. Still available and for sale from some of the site sponsors. This is not uncommon to see, as it lets people actually use and shoot their M-1's, just by installing a new barrel that adds an almost unnoticeable 1/2" to the rifle. It does, however; destroy most of the "collector" value and is generally frowned upon by mil-surp collectors
 
gunsdora said:
Was the price $ 950.00 on the tag.
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I believe so, I thought it was $925 actually; In N. bay right? I didn't get a good look at it I just saw it in the case. I went looking for deals at pawn shops and thrift stores around N. Bay while I'm here and came up with nothing but window shopping and wasted hours. There aren't any deals on anything up here.

Tell me where and I will go "check it out"
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I think gunsdora beat me to it. I saw a R in Windsor if your interested in original but a range only gun. :p

Lots of NR M-1 carbines out there. Many were rebarreled with NR barrels. Still available and for sale from some of the site sponsors. This is not uncommon to see, as it lets people actually use and shoot their M-1's, just by installing a new barrel that adds an almost unnoticeable 1/2" to the rifle. It does, however; destroy most of the "collector" value and is generally frowned upon by mil-surp collectors
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I didn't know anything about the M1 carbine but when ever a see a rifle that not common I get interested and ask about it. Its good to know that there are NR rifles that have a slightly longer barrel length.
 
There is not "lots of NR M1 carbines out there". What in fact is "out there", lots of, are ones with barrel extensions soldered or brazed on to make them NR back in the early days of the change of firearm legislation in Canada. Of course the extension design was eliminated, requiring the barrel length to be determined based on full rifling, measured muzzle to closed bolt face. Lots of these are "out there", still unregistered.

Iver-Johnson exported their commercial M1 carbine to Canada in the late 1980's with 20" barrels, to avoid the Restricted classification. Auto Ordnance has more recently done the same with their 18.6 " barrel version of the M1 carbine. Criterion now makes 18.6" barrels for export to Canada. Never come across a Universal with a factory installed NR barrel (yet?). Pretty amazing when you think how small a market is in Canada, compared to the US, where 18" barrels are OK (as long as the state/local law has not banned M1 carbines as assault rifles). I-J's with factory 20" barrels are rare. If it's one of those, buy it.
 
I guess I should clarify that statement. When I say "lots out there" I'm talking about the many that have been rebarreled to NR, or even the Auto Ordinance that are available. NR M-1 carbines come up very regularly in the EE. To me that means that they are not that uncommon, at least no more so than Garands. Not as common as the M-305 / M-14 copies, but more common than the VZ-52/57, FN-49, or the Rashids
 
M_User said:
I believe so, I thought it was $925 actually; In N. bay right? I didn't get a good look at it I just saw it in the case. I went looking for deals at pawn shops and thrift stores around N. Bay while I'm here and came up with nothing but window shopping and wasted hours. There aren't any deals on anything up here.



I think gunsdora beat me to it. I saw a R in Windsor if your interested in original but a range only gun. :p



I didn't know anything about the M1 carbine but when ever a see a rifle that not common I get interested and ask about it. Its good to know that there are NR rifles that have a slightly longer barrel length.
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Manteo97 said:
There is not "lots of NR M1 carbines out there". What in fact is "out there", lots of, are ones with barrel extensions soldered or brazed on to make them NR back in the early days of the change of firearm legislation in Canada
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Unfortunately mine was deformed in this way.
 
gunsdora said:
No I did not beat you to it. I'm not interested in it but can try & get some info on it if your interested in it send me an email. Not sure if he would let me check the H/S on it ??.
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Nah don't worry about it, as much as I would like it, my wallet probably won't and I have had bad luck with used guns before. If its still there in the summer time when I'll have cash I may ask you though.
 
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