CMP M1 Carbine (pic heavy)

[sofrosune]

Got lucky and received my first M1 Carbine from the CMP. After ten weeks I'd given up hope and forgot about it, but received an email on Friday and a Fed Ex delivery today. What I know about the M1 Carbine is limited to what I was able to look up today. It appears it was a return from the Austrian "Bavaria Rural Police." I don't know if it's correct or as-issued, but it seems pretty close. The serial numbers I could find all seem to match, and the makers' marks seem appropriate. Would love any additional input anyone may have. Thanks in advance...

 

[citizenkane]

Very nice.

I sent an order along with two friends and none of us have heard anything.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Congratulations!

I'd like to know where my application/order is in that stack.

 

[BogWalker]

Yeah it's nice.... I guess.


(BogWalker is actually totally jealous.)

 

[Clay]

Lucky dog!! Looks great!

 

[timeforchili]

Sorry to thread jack but could you give me some more details on this specifically how did you find out they had these how much did you pay and is it too late to get in on this My garand collectors membership is still good for a few more months I think haha

 

[sofrosune]

Notice from the CMP by email on 1/28 I think, and all orders had to be received by 2/1. From there it was just a waiting game and luck of the draw.

 

[johntheplinker]

Much nicer condition than I thought these would be. Read someplace there were over 20,000 applications for carbines, and there were only a couple thousand available. Oh, BTW, Bavaria is in Germany, not Austria.

 

[sofrosune]

That was my initial thought, too, until I read this...
U.S. Carbines in Germany and Austria
Based on the trigger guard marking it looks like this was used in the Steiermark region of Austria, but still under the Bavaria Rural Police.
Edit..upon closer reading, looks like it was initially used by the Bavarian Rural Police before being turned over to the Austrian Gendarmie in Steiermark.

 

[sofrosune]

And mine was rated a Field Grade, the Service Grades must have been very nice.

 

[Winamac]

Very nice and historical carbine you have. Congrats! From the pictures that you have posted here. It appears you have some Winchester parts on your what appears to be a Quality Hardware manufactured carbine.Not 100% sure as the rear site blocks the full manufacturer's name? The recoil plate which is W marked is Winchester and it looks like your magazine release is also Winchester. Now something that is kind of "UN-common" to see is your op-rod spring looks to be the old "spring-tube" type which was a feature on M-1 carbines VERY,VERY early in their production. The ordinance dept. stopped using the spring-tube feature because the metal tube was known to crack. Those in UN-cracked condition are somewhat desirable in the collectors arena. Your stock looks to be the Korean war "pot belly" type 2, it should have a cut-out in the wood to accommodate a M-2 carbine full auto selector switch on the inside left edge? Which a large percentage of M-1 carbines after WWII were converted to have full auto capability ergo M-2 carbine which was used in Korea. Your top hand-guard appears to be a two rivet early type, however I do not see a manufacturers stamp on the underside?Late in WWII the Ordinance dept went to a four rivet type. It appears you have a round bolt which is generally a post WWII change, although Winchester did start the change over to the round bolt very,very late in WWII. Hope this helps some?Much of my information comes from a book by Dr.Larry Ruth on the M-1 carbine. Enjoy your carbine.

 

[seedubs1]

 

[sofrosune]

Thanks Winamac. I appreciate the information. The detective work on milsurps is always my favorite part. So many rabbit holes to go down. I never would have given a second thought to the spring tube.
The stock does appear to have the selector switch cutout, but I haven't found a single mark on the upper handguard or stock.

 

[youngda9]

It would be nice to see a picture of an assembled rifle instead of a bunch of parts and numbers. Or are you having trouble putting it back together

 

[Winamac]

Thanks Winamac. I appreciate the information. The detective work on milsurps is always my favorite part. So many rabbit holes to go down. I never would have given a second thought to the spring tube.
The stock does appear to have the selector switch cutout, but I haven't found a single mark on the upper handguard or stock.

Sofrosune, There is a chance the upper hand-guard just didn't get stamped? That did sometimes happen.or it cold be very faint I have seen that as well. Or as it was used by a foreign country the hand-guard could be aftermarket? With regard to the stock, most M-2 stocks were not marked. Springfield Armory(Massachusetts not Illinois)) made some Korean War era ones that were marked, but they are somewhat scarce. Did yours have a bayonet lug on the barrel? I do not recall seeing that in your pictures? Also it appears some of the stampings/markings on your parts were done by the foreign country that they were used in VS actual manufacturers markings or a combination of both.

Never mind the question I asked on the bayonet lug. I see from your picture that you have either a type 1 or type 2 barrel band which would be WWII correct. The 1 is more narrow than the 2 however I cannot tell for sure from the angle of the photo. Type 3 would have the bayonet lug and be post WWII. Either way 1 or 2 that is a good thing.

 

[indyjohn]

Yeah it's nice.... I guess.


(BogWalker is actually totally jealous.)

actually totally jealous too.

I don't know as much about these as I would like to. This is what my father was issued when he went to Europe. 72 years ago.

 

[TheJoker]

Very nice. You did great.

 

[Reller39]

Wish i had tried but was worried about conditions but looks great