M1 Carbine, My "War Babies"

My Dad with his carbine just after the war.

For most of WWII my Dad carried an M-1 Carbine.  This fueled my interest in carbines and I bought my first one 30 years ago. I only wish that I knew then what I know now.  Now, if someone were to say "I just bought an Inland in the 6 million block with a round bolt, a stamped IBM trigger housing and pot-bellied stock."  I would understand every word, but at 16 years old, to me, a carbine was a carbine.  I put my 150.00 on what I thought at the time was a beautiful specimen, complete with 30 round clip, bayonet lug and metal ventalated handguard.  Made by Universal.  Sigh.  I owned one or two carbines over the years, I learned from my first mistake and made sure they were USGI.  I bought a National Postal Meter, and an Inland, both Blue Sky imports.  About 10 years ago I discovered The CMP and with the help of my good friend Ray I got quite an education about Garands.  I was still fairly ignorant about carbines.  I would ask lots of questions to Ray and he helped a lot.  One day, he suggested a book called "War Baby!" by Larry Ruth.  This book gave me quite the education.  I have bought several books on the carbine.

CARBINE BOOK LIST:
"War Baby!" and "War Baby! Comes Home" by Larry Ruth.
"Complete Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine" by Bruce N. Canfield.
"U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II" also by Canfield.
"U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production" by Craig Riesch.
"Comprehensive Guide M1 Carbine" by R.C. Larson.
I think War Baby! is the best, but Larson's is the one I use the most.
I now own three "War babies"
An Underwood from the CMP
A Rock-Ola that I have built as best I can from a barreled receiver I bought from gunbroker.com
And a Saginaw that I bought from my friend Ray.

Top-Rock-ola early war. Middle-Underwood mid war. Bottom-Saginaw Late-war, Korea

 My first rule is USGI Parts ONLY!!! I had a few repo parts but I got rid of them!  (Okay, So, two of the slings are repops. but other than that USGI)

Here are some of my favorite PLACES TO GET PARTS:
Gunbroker  A great auction site, but be CAREFUL who you buy from,  I've had Great experiences and a few less than great.  I've done well with parts but hit and miss with actual guns (more on that in later posts)  I have spent months trying to find a certain part, but my effort always pays off.
Numrich Gun Parts Wow! great site but it doesn't always have what you need, keep checking back if you can't find it because they are always adding new stuff.
Riverbank Armory Top Dollar but good stuff if you can't find it anywhere else.

M1 Carbines



Note the Rock-ola Recoil Plate