M1 carbine

[joerowlands]

Thank you. I'm sure it will be worth a lot of bucks one of these days.

 

[molsonxxxtoo]

My M1 carbine serial #

I just pulled a mint M1 carbine from the cedar chest which included the sling and oiler - the serial # under the rear sight is 1226352 - I can see the letter W under the rear site but not much more. Also the carbine has the # 1A195165 on its side just above the stock directly under the rear sight.

Anyone know anything about this carbine - I purchased it about 30 years ago and never fired it - appears not to be refurbished.

I just unpacked my other carbine - its # is 3860171 - has a marking of "AO" on the receiver and an "H" in a crest on the site - the bolt also has an "X" on it - under the rear sight the last letter (and only one I can make out appears to be a "P") .

Can anyone steer me in a direction to find something out about these particular carbines.


Thanks

Molson

 

[Reloadron]

First one should be an early Winchester in the 1,000,000 to 1,349,000 serial number range block. That also explains the W.

The second one should be IBM in the 3,651,520 to 4,009,999 serial number block. The original barrels were marked IBM with some dated. The receiver should be marked IBM. I am not sure about the other markings on the latter. The info I provided assumes a GI carbine.

Auto Ordnance did manufacture after market versions which could be the AO if the latter rifle is not original GI. Does it have a flat bolt and folder and sans a bayonet lug?

Ron

 

[molsonxxxtoo]

Thanks Ron,

The carbine has bayonet lug and a round bolt - I think it might have had a government refurb at some point as the carbine looks like it has never been carried. It was a direct government surplus purchase. The carbine is absolutely mint less the butt plate which was not on the carbine at time of my purchase around 30 years ago. (a little finish worn off the bolt so its been fired a bit)


I'm going shooting at the Grand River range down the road from you in the morning and might take it.

I have a few hundred rounds left over from back in the day - man is ammo expensive for that unit now!

 

[Reloadron]

So you are going shooting in Grand River and I am going to work in Euclid. We should trade!

Hope you have a nice day of shooting. Yeah, that lil' .30 carbine ammunition has gone up a tad.

Ron

 

[Clermont]

I just unpacked my other carbine - its # is 3860171 - has a marking of "AO" on the receiver and an "H" in a crest on the site - the bolt also has an "X" on it - under the rear sight the last letter (and only one I can make out appears to be a "P").

Your IBM receiver was manufactured, for IBM in WWII, by Auto Ordnance(AO), a sub-contractor for IBM. IBM also manufactured their own receivers but, sometimes, in order to meet production schedules, sub-contractors were needed. Other, prime manufacturers of the M1 carbine used, at times, sub-contracters to manufacture receivers and other parts for M1 carbine production. Both your IBM and Winchester M1 carbines were refinished at some time. Your early Winchester originally had the "flip up" rear site which allowed WINCHESTER, on the barrel, to be completely seen. When it was overhauled, the later adjustable rear sight was installed, which is what is on your carbine now. If either of the stocks, on your IBM or Winchester carbines, lack the stamped crossed cannons on the right or the circled P beneath the pistol grip, it's more evidence of being refinished.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I suspect that well over half of all carbines that still exist from WWII manufacture were rebuilt, refinished or at least had the flip "L" sights, plain barrel band, pushbutton safety, and two nib magazine catch upgraded to the adjustable sight, band with bayo lug, flip safety and three nib catch. What is a real disappointment for some is that Inlands originally issued with M1A1 folding stocks were often "upgraded" to standard M1 or M2 fixed stocks.

I have an IBM which is one of the "Blue Sky" Korean re-imports from the late 1980s and I consider it an example of the Korean War/VietNam War issue carbines and have resisted (so far) the temptation of searching gun shows and the internet for "correct" parts to restore it to as-issued. ADDED: as-issued for 1943.

 

[molsonxxxtoo]

Thanks to all - I was lucky to find this site and the knowledgeable guys on it - now I know some of the history of my carbines.

Do any of you folks know if the Winchester M1A1's were issued with folding stocks?

 

[Clermont]

If I could find a gun show GI folder I'd change over the Winchester. I'm thinking the probability of an original GI folder (which I don't know if it was marked by Winchester somehow is probably low).

Only Inland originally produced M1A1 carbines with the folding, or paratrooper stock. There were two production runs of M1A1 carbines using early type I and later type II stocks, so a certain range of Inland serial numbers would be correct for the type I stock and a later range of Inland serial numbers would be correct for the type II stock. Any Inland serial numbers outside both ranges would be incorrect for a M1A1 carbine. And, an original M1A1 carbine stock, by itself, is worth more than a standard Inland M1 carbine. Be careful, there are a lot of repro M1A1 stocks, out there, being sold as original USGI. You have to know what to look for.