Rockola M1 Carbine - CMP Update

[phillyd2]

LATEST CMP SALES NEWS:

JANUARY CARBINE RELEASE. Inspection & Repair and grading of M1 carbines is progressing faster than planned. In addition to the January 7, 2008 scheduled sale of carbines manufactured by Winchester, CMP will also accept mail orders for carbines manufactured by Quality Hardware and Rockola. For operational reasons, we have set a limit of one carbine per customer for each of these manufacturers until further notice. A small quantity of these carbines will be available at both CMP stores beginning January 9, 2008, while quantities last. For additional details, please see http://www.odcmp.com/rifles/carbine.htm

[Lambo]

Out of all Manufactures of the M1 Carbine who built the Best?

[phillyd2]

The theory behind USGI Mil Spec production is that all make the exact same parts from the exact same materials from the exact same specifications so all parts are completely interchangeable. Overall the theory works as intended so there is no "best" between manufacturers.

The reason you see different price points (other than current condition) from mfg. to mfg. is the rareness of each which comes from how many each mfg. produced. Here is the list of the amounts made during WWII

Rock-Ola Music Corporation (ROCK-OLA) = 228,500
Standard Products (STANDARD PRODUCTS) = 247,160
International Business Machines (IBM) = 346,500
Quality Hardware (QUALITY HARDWARE) = 359,666
National Postal Meter (NATIONAL POSTER METER) = 413,017
Saginaw (SAGINAW DIVISION,GENERAL MOTORS)S.G. = 293,592
Saginaw (Grand Rapids) S'G' = 223,620
Underwood-Elliot-Fisher (UNDERWOOD) = 545,616
Winchester (WINCHESTER) = 818,059
Inland (INLAND DIVISION, GENERAL MOTORS = 2,642,097

So, assuming the same condition a Rock-Ola is worth more than a Inland only because they are not as many out there.

That said, how can you not love a M1 Carbine made by Rock-Ola who stopped production of juke boxes to tool up to make Carbines? Remember that back then is was a different world and we were a different country. When WE went to war - we ALL went to war. Today we would be pissed if American Idol was interrupted for a war news update.