J&R Engineering M68

Howdy, all. I'd like to resurrect an old subject and a great gun: the M68 9mm carbine.

Would anyone here happen to know anything at all about these firearms? And more specifically, would anyone here know where a shooter and budding gunsmith might get his hands on a manual or disassembly instructions?

Any help would be appreciated. I have one that shoots like a dream (and I'd like to keep it that way), and another which has begun auto-firing in full auto whenever I try to chamber a round. This must be repaired and I'd like to give it a go myself, but info on these weapons is apparently elusive or perhaps non-existent.

Hoping to hear from someone, anyone who can help.

Dr. Rob, you're a prince. Anything you might come up with will be a big help. I've seen the M68 (Wilkinson Linda and Terry) discussed on other boards, but never by an authority of any kind. I did find one thread where some folks were having the same autofire issue that I am, and the suggestions there should prove useful. Still, these things are quirky, if nothing else, and I'd really like some kind of guidance before I start tinkering

Thanks, Larry. I'll look into it.

In the meantime, for anyone else who may be interested, J&R Engineering made the original M68, until they morphed into/were purchased by Wilkinson Arms, who produced the gun with slight modifications as the Linda (Terry was the pistol version). Wilkinson went under, but the factory and licenses have since been purchased by Northwest Arms, who still produce a hot rod version of the Linda called the LE-3.
Their website http://www.northwestarms-le3.com/ claims to sell mags and accessories, as well. There are very few pics of the weapon on the site, but under all the bells and whistles you can see the M68.
I've emailed them and no reply yet, but it's only been a couple of hours.

justashooter in pa said:

While not a factory owner's manual, the older Gun Digest Book "Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: Law Enforcement Firearms" Part Six, had a section on the Wilkerson carbine showing complete disassembly.

low price for a factory gun:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=364789387

sky high dreams for a poofter gun:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=380929961

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The top link is actually mine now. That's the gun that auto-fires, double-fires, call it what you will, but it's a freekin hazard! Wasn't doing that when I bought it.

The second link is a great example of a shooter with more money than sense.

Regarding the Gun Digest Pt. 6: Law Enforcement Weapons by J.B.Wood, holy cow, what a great book! It does have a complete disassemble walk-through for the Linda. However, the Linda differs internally from the M68, but there are enough similarities that the info may still prove useful. Just as importantly, it has disassemble diagrams for half the guns in my collection, including the rare Commando Mark 45, Ingrams 10 and 11, SW760, Uzi, Thompson 1927A1, Valmet, and of course, the Wilkinson. Also has sections on handguns and shotguns. Incredibly useful book - thanks for the tip!

hoobens said:

I had one of these once. I was able to get a limited number of spare parts from Northwest Arms of Pasco, WA. The biggest weak spot with these guns is the anemic twin recoil springs struggling to cycle the enormous telescopic bolt. The later Wilkinson Arms Linda re-design was a major improvement.

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Yeah, I keep hearing about what a superior weapon the Wilkinson is as compared to the M68. I do plan on acquiring one if I can find it at a reasonable price.

I've been in touch with Northwest Arms, and I can purchase a new LE-3 (sooped up Linda) for a mere thousand dollars. Regarding parts/accessories, they have nothing for J&R Engineering, but I happen to know that the mags for the LE-3 will fit the M68 without modification. I bought a used one off Gun Broker and it works.

Thanks for the info!

drewcoreen said:

Here is a link on that :
http://www.oocities.org/gunversation/m68carbine/m68.htm

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What a great article - thanks for the link!

DT Guy said:

I no longer have it, but one of Dean Grennell's books had some extensive reports on the Linda, if I recall. Maybe Google books can help?


Larry

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Larry, Grennell's Book Of Autoloading Pistols is the only one of his that I could locate, but sadly, it was of no assistance. He devoted a couple of paragraphs to Wilkinson, but only to mock and deride the gun and then question its' utility. Offputting in that instance, but a very informative book, otherwise.

Thanks again for the tip!