I have a M1 Carbine with the paratrooper stock. The serial number is103xxx. The barrel is stamped Inland Mfg Div., General Motors 12-42. It is in excellant condition but some things don't seem right. The bolt is round, it has a bayonet lug and the barrel band is marked KI. The folding stock seems correct including the oiler and the cast butt plate and the grip is stamped with a large P and a smaller P. The left side of the stock is stamped A A W. The magazine release is stamped with a single M and just forward of the trigger guard is a flaming bomb. Does anyone know if this is an original paratrooper carbine or just a shooter some one constructed?
Carbine-collector or shooter
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Tommygunn
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Don't know if it's real -- if it is, it's a rarity these days and worth real $$$$$$$$$
The round bolt will be from arsenal refurbishment, most likely. Many M1s were fuxed up after the war. if it's a '42 it probably saw a lot of heavy use in WW2.
The round bolt will be from arsenal refurbishment, most likely. Many M1s were fuxed up after the war. if it's a '42 it probably saw a lot of heavy use in WW2.
Your carbine was rebuilt post-war at the Augusta Arsenal ("AA") and inspected by "W" (W_hoever that was). The bayonet band was likely installed then. Much other parts swapping likely occurred at that time too. So collectors consider would it merely a shooter. Even so, if your's hasn't been "restored", such rebuilt ones are currently selling at auction for between $1500-2000 at the CMP ($ mainly for their original USGI wire stock). Hang onto it, shoot it, you won't hurt it or its value, and enjoy it. It looks like a nice gun.
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bannockburn
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Douceme2
Bruce Canfield's book "A Collector's Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine" might help with some of your questions. Inland Manufacturing was the only manufacturer of the 140,591 M1A1 carbines built. Deliveries began in October of 1942; approximately 3000 were delivered in the month of December 1942. An original M1A1 stock will have the code marking OI which stood for Overton Lumber-Inland, and it will be located inside of the floor of the stock well. The bottom of the pistol grip should also have the OI marking or else RI/3 (Royal Typewriters-Inland). The Ordnance Department marking should also be found here. The side of the pistol grip should also be stamped with the letter P, either in a circle or by itself. The metal buttplate will have a cast in marking inside the buttplate of B257614 which is followed by a one or two digit number, typically ranging from 3 to 12. These numbers must be cast in the buttplate; if they appear to have been stamped in, then they're fake. The leather cheek piece should be thin leather and the rivets should be totally flush with the leather surface.
Bruce Canfield's book "A Collector's Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine" might help with some of your questions. Inland Manufacturing was the only manufacturer of the 140,591 M1A1 carbines built. Deliveries began in October of 1942; approximately 3000 were delivered in the month of December 1942. An original M1A1 stock will have the code marking OI which stood for Overton Lumber-Inland, and it will be located inside of the floor of the stock well. The bottom of the pistol grip should also have the OI marking or else RI/3 (Royal Typewriters-Inland). The Ordnance Department marking should also be found here. The side of the pistol grip should also be stamped with the letter P, either in a circle or by itself. The metal buttplate will have a cast in marking inside the buttplate of B257614 which is followed by a one or two digit number, typically ranging from 3 to 12. These numbers must be cast in the buttplate; if they appear to have been stamped in, then they're fake. The leather cheek piece should be thin leather and the rivets should be totally flush with the leather surface.
mljdeckard
Member
Just shoot the sucker.
Not sure of the details, but reports are South Korea wanted to export approx 750,000 M1 and M1A rifles of Korean War vintage to the US. The Obama administration approved back in March, but for some reason has recently reversed that decision. Anybody know anything about this?
Sorry, I'm seeing this all over now. Ooops.
Sorry, I'm seeing this all over now. Ooops.
Thanks for the info. Took it apart. Does have IO inside the stock well and I can make out the 0 but no I on the bottom of the pistol grip and no other marks. The number is cast inside the butt plate with what appears to be a wagon wheel between the Bxxxxxx and the single digit which appears to be a 3. No P on the side of the pistol grip. Leather is thin and the rivets are absolutely flush. Nothing is easy with these things I guess. Guess I'll have to assume the bolt and bayonet lug were added post war. Thanks again to you all. Will shoot it. No use having it if I don't.
bannockburn
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Doucme2
Not sure about the "PU" code; might be Underwood but their letter code was just the letter "U". The two rivet handguard would be an early type found on early production carbines. From your photos you have the milled rear sight assembly. The original one would have been the L type non-adjustable rear sight. Like the later Type 3 barrel band with bayonet lug and the round bolt, these were probably added when it was rebuilt at Augusta Arsenal after the war. So what you have is one very nice M1A1 carbine that has its original stock and its original barrel, and was updated after the war with improved parts at a government arsenal. A very desirable gun to have and to shoot. Enjoy.
Not sure about the "PU" code; might be Underwood but their letter code was just the letter "U". The two rivet handguard would be an early type found on early production carbines. From your photos you have the milled rear sight assembly. The original one would have been the L type non-adjustable rear sight. Like the later Type 3 barrel band with bayonet lug and the round bolt, these were probably added when it was rebuilt at Augusta Arsenal after the war. So what you have is one very nice M1A1 carbine that has its original stock and its original barrel, and was updated after the war with improved parts at a government arsenal. A very desirable gun to have and to shoot. Enjoy.
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