Import marked M1 carbine

[Jkibler2]

What are the prices of import marked carbines in decent shape going for now?

[bruce]

Yes! Price! Enquiring minds want to know! Sincerely. bruce. :-)

[leecork]

There are a ton of variables involved in trying to determine the value of an imported M1 carbine. These are its condition, who was the manufacturer, what country was it imported from, how original/correct it is, working condition, etc. So without knowing more about this carbine, only a rough estimate can be made. I would guess a value between
$ 600.00 and $ 1,500. In my opinion, most imported rifles are worth less

[Tuna]

The average price for a decent Blue Sky import should be about the $800 range. Some others will be even more with small import stamps on them.
The prices are mostly treading upwards as there are few on the horizon left to come in. The ones from Ethiopia are pretty much NOT worth what is being asked for them. Even their very best ones are over priced. Some looking like they were dragged behind the preverbal donkey and others run over by huge herds of goats and at least one or two sat on by an elephant.

[Jkibler2]

The Carbine in question is Bavarian Police marked. Inland make witha tiny import mark on the bottom of the barrel. Forgive me if this repeated.

[Tuna]

Bavarian carbines are in a class all of their own simple because of their coming from Europe and their history. There are not many collectors of the Bavarian carbines but those that do seem to prefer a non import like the ones from CMP. Now how complete is this Inland? Are the marked parts matching or are they mismatched? Has it been updated with the last rebuild components? Are all the parts Inland marked? There are so many variables with these and all can affect the value. But the most important thing is over all condition, condition and condition. If it's be rebuilt and in excellent condition then it would be in the $1000 range BUT again the market for them is small. The less rebuilding the more the value.

[tmark]

Just read Reich's carbine book, again. He states import marked carbine tend to bring less than nonimport marked ones. Some importers wisely put their import marks on places where the wood hides them.

One importer, Blue Sky, tends to "over stamp" its mark on the barrel to cause a constriction in the barrel where stamped.

[Tuna]

Out of the many Blue Sky carbines I have seen including firing some, not one had any constrictions to the bore. Could it happen? Yes it could but I have not honestly found one yet. I really think this started when they were first imported by competitors of Blue Sky as they were wholesaling less then them. But what ever the reason they still shoot ok.

[lyman]

Out of the many Blue Sky carbines I have seen including firing some, not one had any constrictions to the bore. Could it happen? Yes it could but I have not honestly found one yet. I really think this started when they were first imported by competitors of Blue Sky as they were wholesaling less then them. But what ever the reason they still shoot ok.


Just read Reich's carbine book, again. He states import marked carbine tend to bring less than nonimport marked ones. Some importers wisely put their import marks on places where the wood hides them.

One importer, Blue Sky, tends to "over stamp" its mark on the barrel to cause a constriction in the barrel where stamped.

I rebarreled a few Carbines and many more M1's when the Blue Sky's were coming in,

only saw one (1) carbine that had been apparently stamped by a press, and the deformation was visible looking thru the barrel,

owner still shot it,



as far as import marks, they may be all over,

Samco imported a pile of them and marked the barrel on the bottom under the bayo lug

I've seen others stamped on the bottom behind the rear sight, on the sides, and even a few on the side of the recievers

[Jkibler2]

I was mistaken on the Carbine I just purchased today. The only German mark is a small eagle in the sling well. The import mark is on the side of the barrel. Not the bottom. EXEL GARDNER MA. I had to have another M1 Carbine to replace the one I sold off a few years ago.

[Tuna]

Exel imported a better grade then Blue Sky. Those were some of the better imported carbines. Could you post some photos of the eagle in the sling well??

[Jkibler2]

It is very small and I have to look at it with an eye loop. I’ll give it another look and see if it would come out in a photo.

[M1C]

Exel would be easy to read. The marks that take a loop typically are on bottom of the barrel. The INTRAC ones are right behind the rear sight on bottom. Not sure I've ever seen a tiny mark on the side of a barrel. There was one that starts with an O I think that wrapped around the barrel.

[Tuna]

I have seen some of the Exel that only look like a scratch in the finish. Without magnification its all but impossible to read. One of the theories about the Blue Sky stampings was that ATF did not like the idea of the import markings being so small and light, that they required the size markings used by Blue Sky and that one could not change the barrel on an import. That went over well, so now the importers are supposed to add a new serial number to anything imported and no changing barrels.

[lyman]

I have seen some of the Exel that only look like a scratch in the finish. Without magnification its all but impossible to read. One of the theories about the Blue Sky stampings was that ATF did not like the idea of the import markings being so small and light, that they required the size markings used by Blue Sky and that one could not change the barrel on an import. That went over well, so now the importers are supposed to add a new serial number to anything imported and no changing barrels.

on Mosin Nagants, I have seen both, form the same time and importer

Foxtrot brought in several containers of 91/30's a few years ago,
some have a new serial number on the receiver at the wood line, and the foxtrot info elsewhere, also in a very fine font,
some did not have a new serial and were sold using the original serial on the barrel,

guess some could have slipped thru the system, but you would think it would have been caught as some point,

[Tuna]

The biggest importer in the US is Century and all of their imports have the dot matrix new serial numbers on them. Must put big smiles on the faces of ATF.

[Art]

Where I live (greater Houston) an Inland mixmaster "beater" carbine with a good barrel runs about $750.00 - $850.00. You can go from there.

[PaFrank]

I got one marked Exel Gardner MA. about 20 years ago.. I think they came frok Lorea.. excellent shape. excellent barrel, and excellent shooter. I wouldn't sell it for a grand.