Import marking on M1 Carbine???
- Thread starter G-DOG58
- Start date
speedyjerry
Moderator
Thats where it was manufactured, everyone made Carbines back then.
I'll probably get flamed on this, but here goes. It is my understanding that after the end of WWII lots of M1 rifles and carbines were exported to our allies in asia and south america. Recently, some of these weapons have been imported back into the U.S. For example my boss recently got an M1 Carbine imported from the Philippines. So it is entierly possible that you could have an U.S. made carbine with imports marks on it.
Dfariswheel
New member
That's an importers mark.
As I recall, it was imported or re-imported by Blue Sky of Arlington, VA from Korea.
As I recall, it was imported or re-imported by Blue Sky of Arlington, VA from Korea.
+1 import marking, and it's not likely a recent one. As others have suggested, our carbines have been coming back "post war" dating way back. Blue Sky/Arlington to date has been the predominate. Historically, "imports" have been considered lesser value than ones that have not been through the import/arsenal process, ie, ones that came back with our troops or never made their way overseas in the first place. Doesn't mean they're bad guns; they can be perfectly fine and I think I'd still (almost automatically) pick an (apparently) decent one vs a commercial copy. It's just that "imports"--or more accurately re-imports--suggest that, for whatever the intervening period has been (since WWII or Korea for many), the use, mis-use/abuse or storage conditions are largely unknown...so you often takes yer chances. But you can say that about a lot of things, so...
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stickhauler
New member
National Postal Meter carbines were made in Rochester, New York, and as has been said, if it's import marked with what you say, it would be a Blue Sky import. "Everybody" didn't make carbines, there were 10 (really 9 if you count all the production by Saginaw Gear plants in Saginaw & Grand Rapids, MI as one). The Saginaw Gear carbines made in Grand Rapids were ones made after Saginaw Gear took over Irwin-Penderson's contract.
Out of around 6 million made, better then 2 million were made by Inland Division of General Motors.
Out of around 6 million made, better then 2 million were made by Inland Division of General Motors.
Inland Manufacturing Division (GMC) 2,632,097 43%
Winchester Repeating Arms Co. 828,059 13.5%
Underwood-Elliot-Fisher Co. 545,616 8.9%
Saginaw Steering Gear Division (GMC) 517,212 8.5%
National Postal Meter Co. 413,017 6.8%
Quality Hardware & Machine Co. 359,666 5.9%
International Business Machines Corp. 346,500 5.7%
Standard Products Co. 247,160 4%
Rock-Ola Co. 228,500 3.7%
Winchester Repeating Arms Co. 828,059 13.5%
Underwood-Elliot-Fisher Co. 545,616 8.9%
Saginaw Steering Gear Division (GMC) 517,212 8.5%
National Postal Meter Co. 413,017 6.8%
Quality Hardware & Machine Co. 359,666 5.9%
International Business Machines Corp. 346,500 5.7%
Standard Products Co. 247,160 4%
Rock-Ola Co. 228,500 3.7%
campperrykid
New member
Here's a pretty good overview on the exporting and importing of the USGI M1 Carbines:
www.bavarianm1carbines.com/imports.html
The Carbines started coming back in the early 1960's .
Here's an over view of where the Carbines went:
www.bavarianm1carbines.com/carbinesnara.html
From 'A' for Angola ( UNITA ) to 'V' for RVN .
www.bavarianm1carbines.com/imports.html
The Carbines started coming back in the early 1960's .
Here's an over view of where the Carbines went:
www.bavarianm1carbines.com/carbinesnara.html
From 'A' for Angola ( UNITA ) to 'V' for RVN .
campperrykid
New member
Most of the Blue Skys had been used pretty hard and were reparked prior to sale . The wood was often beat up , oil soaked and still had 1940's rebuild stamps under all the grease , dings & gouges.
Most military organizations tend to surplus their beat-up stuff first .
It's possible/probable that some of the Blue Skys were Homeland Defense Reserve Force guns that were used during the DMZ Conflict circa 1968 and 1969.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/178039005x
A super condensed version of the book is on Wiki:
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_DMZ_Conflict_(1966-1969)
It takes an extra click to get to the right page.
Most military organizations tend to surplus their beat-up stuff first .
It's possible/probable that some of the Blue Skys were Homeland Defense Reserve Force guns that were used during the DMZ Conflict circa 1968 and 1969.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/178039005x
A super condensed version of the book is on Wiki:
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_DMZ_Conflict_(1966-1969)
It takes an extra click to get to the right page.
Wrong, but a fair enough guess. Manufacturers of M1 carbines:http://www.bavarianm1carbines.com/manufacturers.html
SurplusShooter
New member
It is probably a Carbine sent to help out some allies over seas and then imported back as stated by others.
campperrykid
New member
Some of the post-WW2 re-arming of various countries was done very quietly , Austria is one example . The real meat of the page starts about half way down the page . The biigest eye-opener is around 3/4's down :
www.bavarianm1carbines.com/austria.html
" ... American troops literally walked away from a large amount of military equipment , leaving it for the Austrian Bundsheer. "
"... when the Americans departed Austria , they left behind the material of three infantry divisions. "
That's a lot of guns and gear , completely off the books.
www.bavarianm1carbines.com/austria.html
" ... American troops literally walked away from a large amount of military equipment , leaving it for the Austrian Bundsheer. "
"... when the Americans departed Austria , they left behind the material of three infantry divisions. "
That's a lot of guns and gear , completely off the books.
campperrykid
New member
The Carbine Club and 1 Gentleman in Particular ...
The gentleman who runs both www.bavarianm1carbines.com
and www.m1carbinesinc.com has done a huge amount of very high quality research . He clearly has the right connections with the right people. Both sites also have The Carbine Club's fingerprints all over them .
The Carbine Club is smaller than the Garand Collectors Association , but the quality of their work and depth of knowledge is amazing . It's likely not a huge surprise that the founders and prime movers of the two organizations overlap somewhat.
The address for The Carbine Club is www ( dot) carbineclub (dot) com .
The website states that " New members are welcome... both novices and advanced..."
" Members are expected to share the information they observe or discover from seeing or owning Carbines and related accessories .That is usually done by sending in a data sheet , or by writing a spotter's report and maybe sending photos covering items that would be of interest to other collectors. "
The Garand Collectors Association's " The Best of The GCA Journal - Book One " includes some detailed info about the Blue Sky imports : " From South Korea - Selected Articles from the Fourth Estate " pages 57 through 61. The first printing sold out fast but the book is available again. Well worth the money for over 160 pages of solid history and trends in the Garand collector's world , IMO anyway.
The gentleman who runs both www.bavarianm1carbines.com
and www.m1carbinesinc.com has done a huge amount of very high quality research . He clearly has the right connections with the right people. Both sites also have The Carbine Club's fingerprints all over them .
The Carbine Club is smaller than the Garand Collectors Association , but the quality of their work and depth of knowledge is amazing . It's likely not a huge surprise that the founders and prime movers of the two organizations overlap somewhat.
The address for The Carbine Club is www ( dot) carbineclub (dot) com .
The website states that " New members are welcome... both novices and advanced..."
" Members are expected to share the information they observe or discover from seeing or owning Carbines and related accessories .That is usually done by sending in a data sheet , or by writing a spotter's report and maybe sending photos covering items that would be of interest to other collectors. "
The Garand Collectors Association's " The Best of The GCA Journal - Book One " includes some detailed info about the Blue Sky imports : " From South Korea - Selected Articles from the Fourth Estate " pages 57 through 61. The first printing sold out fast but the book is available again. Well worth the money for over 160 pages of solid history and trends in the Garand collector's world , IMO anyway.
Gunplummer
New member
I can remember an import/export company from way back located in Virginia. It actually was supplying small armies in foreign governments. I believe it eventually became Numrich Arms or The Gun Parts Corporation.
*Also there were recent caches of weapons that were in the Soviet Block countries the CIA had stashed after WWII that came to light in the last 10 years.
*Also there were recent caches of weapons that were in the Soviet Block countries the CIA had stashed after WWII that came to light in the last 10 years.