M1 Carbine question...

M

Mike Davies

New member
I have just bought a Winchester M1 Carbine.
I read that Winchester produced about 800,000 of these Carbines. If that is so, how can my Winchester Carbine have a serial number in the 6 million range? (Ser#6519xxx)
Is one of the numerics a 'check digit'?
 
There was only one serial number series for the M1 Carbine (and other military arms). Blocks of serial numbers were assigned to each manufacturer so that there would not be duplication (There were some slipups anyway.).
 
Thanks! I now realize that these Carbines werer built by MANY different manufacturers, so serial numbers would have caused a logistical nightmare had they not been issued in 'blocks'.
Much appreciated, thanks again.
 
Mike,

The reason your serial number is so high is that your gun is a phony! :) I suggest you package it up right now and send it to me.
 
John:
Heh, heh...trust you. :D
I was trying to figure out how the hell the sling would attach to the slot in the buttstock...bothered me all night...with the oiler...how jolly clever of you Yanks... ;)
 
You can spend about an hour trying to figure out that dumb rear sling attachment. There has to be a trick that I just don't know yet. My main trick for the rear sling is not to ever take it off.
 
The only trick I found for the rear sling attachment was brute force. It's an interesting attachment, and I'm sure not going to ever take it off. I wonder how those guys ever used the oiler with it stick in the stock like that? :)
 
I have wanted a M1 Carbine for a long time. My gun shop stocks a remanufactured IAI that is beautiful! It has one of the nicest looking wood stocks that I've ever seen. I always thought the stocks were walnut, however I read a post from a fellow on another board who stated that the IAI M1 Carbine stocks were Birch. Which ever type of wood it is, it's beautiful.

Will
 
The stock on my Winchester carbine is probably made by Underwood..it has the "U" cartouche. It's very dark wood, and looks more like walnut than birch...however, that could be age and oil.<g>
Anybody know which wood was used for these M1 Carbine stocks?
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WLM:
I have wanted a M1 Carbine for a long time. My gun shop stocks a remanufactured IAI that is beautiful! It has one of the nicest looking wood stocks that I've ever seen. I always thought the stocks were walnut, however I read a post from a fellow on another board who stated that the IAI M1 Carbine stocks were Birch. Which ever type of wood it is, it's beautiful. Will[/quote]

I read somewhere that the IMI M1 Carbines are available in both birch and walnut stocked models, with the latter being more expensive. I'm pretty tempted by these myself.

Doug
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by WLM:
I have wanted a M1 Carbine for a long time. My gun shop stocks a remanufactured IAI that is beautiful! It has one of the nicest looking wood stocks that I've ever seen. I always thought the stocks were walnut, however I read a post from a fellow on another board who stated that the IAI M1 Carbine stocks were Birch. Which ever type of wood it is, it's beautiful. Will[/quote]

I read somewhere that the IMI M1 Carbines are available in both birch and walnut stocked models, with the latter being more expensive. I'm pretty tempted by these myself.

Doug
 
DougB,
It certainly looks like Walnut. Fairly dark, incredibly smooth. I think I hear it calling me...Take me home, take me home. :)
Seriously though, it will be the next rifle I buy. The price was slightly over $400.00. Anybody know if this is a good deal?

Will

------------------
Mendacity is the system we live in.
 
The carbine sling problem is the result of the stock cut being made for a thinner (WWII) sling than was later issued post war. While some will berate me, I just use a file to take a little off the wood inside the cut. It is never noticed and eliminates the problem. This is what we armorers did in the service, and I consider it better than such alternatives as beating the heck out of the sling tab or flattening the oiler (original oilers are approaching $10, so why destroy one). If one does not have an oiler, the alternative (common in the service in WWII and later) is a fired .30-'06 cartridge case. Works fine.

Jim
 
It's probably a good idea to take a little material out of the stock, I'm amazed that I didn't think of that! :) I did get both of my carbines put together without wrecking anything, but I'm sure not going to be in a hurry to take the slings off either of them! :)
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mike Davies:
John:
Heh, heh...trust you. :D
I was trying to figure out how the hell the sling would attach to the slot in the buttstock...bothered me all night...with the oiler...how jolly clever of you Yanks... ;)[/quote]

Heck, it took a Yank to give us the Carbine, but it took a Canuck to drop the Garand on us, Eh?
 
I have an IAI. The stock was a little rough, so I sanded it with some fine grit and oiled it. It's beautiful, now. It shot well, until the 3rd firing session, when firing pin stopped impacting primer. IAI got it back to me in about 2 weeks. Haven't had a chance to shoot it since.
 
Oh, yeah- I have a sling for it, and no idea how to attach it. I'm missing something that fits into the stock?
 
The sling attaches with the small oiler into the cut near the but of the stock. I solved the problem of getting it on and off. Put it on once and leave it there. ;)

I have been told by WWII G.I.'s that the little oiler was almost NEVER used.

[This message has been edited by Nestor Rivera (edited September 26, 2000).]
 
Ths stocks on the original GI carbines were both birch and walnut. Out of the ones we had on base the majority were walnut.

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Carlyle Hebert
 
Drill a big hole thru your stock and tie the sling in a knot. Throw away the oiler and fill the slot up with Black Magic body filler.
 
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