My guess is that you or someone you know has already visited this site but just in case I'm wrong. For all things Saiga http://forum.saiga-12.com/
After many a 2:30 meeting, we've sat in the MO's office pouring over ideas, parts, suppliers, etc.. We've been to saiga-12 and then some... Great deal for anyone considering. The MO wanted me to do most of the work (not because he didn't want to, but because he wanted me to learn). Then he realized that I'm better with computers/google searches than I am with metal work. We fell into our roles quite nicely. I don't have any magazines yet (that's the MO's 40 round that he lent me), or ammo (the MO lent me the magazine with 40 rounds in it, and is expecting it back empty), but that will be rectified shortly...
There are a thousand places to buy AK mags of course but AIM has some slightly used Romanian mags that have worked great for me. (never used them in a Saiga though). On the off chance your AK fails to go bang when you pull the trigger you can always beat the hell out of the bad guy with one of these mags. They are rugged as hell. http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Surplus_Steel_30rd_7.62x39_Magazine_for_AK_type_Rifles.html
40 rounds!?! You'd better watch out, with all those extra bullets in that high capacity mag you might go ballistic and shoot 10 extra people!
M1 Carbine I just got a new carbine from CMP. It's matching Feb, 1945 production. I couldn't be happier...except when I picked it up out of the box the rear sight fell off!! Does anyone know of a way to attach it back on? Welding just doesn't seem like a good idea.
The rear peep sights are peened into place, IIRC. That's a job for a competent gunsmith, unless you want some sloppy divots in your nice new Carbine. Is it one of the former Italian Carbines? Manufacturer?
I concur w/ Hacker, I'm sure a good gunsmith would be able to help you out. Also try calling the CMP customer service, they are pretty helpful if you can get through. What make is your Carbine? My Inland is 1944.
The CMP forum is very active as well. You may find comfort there. I used to have an M1 Carbine until I let my daughter shoot it. If I ever see it again I'm going to steal it back. (Be sure you are sitting down when you price ammo for it.)
Good thing I followed my own advice and sat down before I hit that url. I'm on CMP's waiting list at half that price but I've been waiting for a couple of months........a bird in the hand. Nobody else has it in stock cheaper that's for sure. AIM had some in stock at a reasonable price a week or so ago. I slept on it and it was gone before morning.
I believe that is correct but I'm no Carbine expert. The sights on the right kind of remind me of the updated rear sight that was added to the WW I Springfield 03 design to make them into the 03 A3 version used in WW II.
Yes, original design ... and original to your carbine unless you can detect 'stake' marks on the dovetail cut for the rear sight ... then it's been 'restored' ...
If it 'fell out' ... and I can't BELIEVE it just 'fell out' (but I believe you -- just sayin') ... then the retro-job @ DCM/CMP Arsenal was crap -- as it should have been 'staked' or hand-peened ... I'd shoot it past a qualified 'Smith to stake it properly.
Oh I know mine is all original, but I wasn't sure if it was a newer generation of original or older (example: an m16a2 as opposed to an m16a4). I know my Garands and M14s but the Carbine is an animal I am not knowledgeable about. My father received it from a close family friend who carried it in his corsair during WW2. It followed him home and he passed it to my dad before he died. I don't actually own it but my dad says he will pass it on to me when I'm winged.
Looks 'all correct' from your pix .... rear sight, stock, upper handguard, front barrel band, mag release, etc .... any cartouches, i.e. arsenal markings or inspector stamps?? What's the manufacturer and serial # just behind the rear sight ... at least all except for the last 3 or 4 #'s ... ??? What month/year/manufacturer markings are on the barrel just behind the front sight?? Carried in a Corsair??? That's unusual, to say the least. Interesting, though ... do you know who/what/when/where .. ??? If your Dad could sign an affidavit or something notarized as to the provenance of the carbine ... it would enhance any intrinsic $$$$$ value of it from a straight collector standpoint. Not that you're going to 'sell' it ... as it looks like you've in line to inherit a VERY nice 'keeper'/collectible M1 Carbine ... but everything has its price ... and someday, you MIGHT want to sell it when you're down to your last dime and the question is: "Should I sell the carbine or eat it ... "?
I'll have to get that info tomorrow from my father. I know there is a picture of said pilot carrying this carbine in front of his corsair. If I can get my dad to scan it I'll post it. This one will be staying in the family as long as there are sons to pass it on to.
Your carbine has the basic features of the early to mid war carbines. Flip sights, push button safety, and no bayonet lug. The bayonet lug didn't come around until after the War. The artist who created the Iwo Jima momument used a post war carbine as his guide which is why there's a bayonet lug on the statue.
OK, here are the markings I can read. On Barrel behind front sight it says On the right side of the stock just an inch from the inlet for the sling it has a seal with two rifles or cannons crisscrossed? I'm assuming that's the Springfield Armory seal, right? On the left side of the stock within the inlet for the sling it is kind of rubbed out but it appears "O-RMO" On the front metal band that holds the stock to the gas cylinder? it has a "U" on it. That is all I can make out without breaking the rifle down.
Check this out. http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=28254 Researching these this stuff a lot of fun if you have time. I know there are better places to search for information but the url above came up first and has some neat stuff on sn's and stock cartouches. CMP Forums and M1 Carbine sites are helpful and Scott Duff has a couple of books out that are very good as well. Just like with Garands what seems to be the "correct" parts and stocks may not be and vice versa. Many of these weapons were made during some pretty dark times in our history when we were fighting for our lives. The manufacturers weren't paying much attention to anything other than producing as many working weapons as possible. If they screwed up a reciever they reassigned the same serial number to another forging and moved on. Whole blocks of serial numbers were lost etc. If it was in the parts bin it went on a weapon and if they ran out of a particular part they did what ever it took to keep production going. Depot level field maintenance sometimes consisted of just turning a big pile of broken rifles into a much smaller pile of serviceable weapons. I always wanted a Winchester Garand. When I got one I was disapointed with the reciever. Compared to others I have it's rough as hell, with tool marks everywhere. Once I started doing some research I learned that many Winchesters and other early war weapons are like this. Not because Winchester was sloppy but because at the time it was made no one knew if there would even be an America in the next couple of years if they didn't push weapons out the door. Very interesting stuff.
New Baby Look what came home with me today. Springfield XDM 40 for $620 out the door. I will let you guys know how it shoots after I take her out tomorrow.
They copied a lot of features from the M&P, so you are going to like it. I never saw the point of that grip safety, but it's not like it is a problem either. Nice gun.
