U.S. Carbines in Germany and Austria

U.S. M1 Carbine
in
Austria

The Gendarmerie: Carinthia (Kärnten)













National Agencies Additional Info
Gendarmerie Bundespolizei Accessories Oddities
Bundesheer Zoll Training Rifles

The Gendarmerie
Burgenland Lower Austria Steiermark Upper Austria
Carinthia Salzburg Tirol Vorarlberg

In 1958 the population of the Austrian state of Kärnten (Carinthia) was 485,600. Carinthia is 9533.92 sq. kilometers (5924 sq miles). The capitol of Carinthia is Klagenfurt.

In 1958 the Gendarmerie of Carinthia was headquartered in Klagenfurt with regional commands in:

  • Klagenfurt (312 personnel in 40 posts)
  • Wolfsberg (231 personnel in 29 posts)
  • Villach (297 personnel in 33 posts)
  • Spittal a.d. Drau (283 personnel in 37 posts & 1 border post)
    • [Almanach der österreichischen Bundesgendarmerie, 1958]

    Carinthia shared hundreds of miles of it's south border with the former communist country of Yugoslavia. During the occupation, Carinthia was under the control of Britain. During the occupation Carinthia was a staging area for covert ops by Allied Forces into Yugoslavia.

    LGKK U.S. M1 Carbines

    LGK K

    Landes Gendarmerie Kommando Kärnten

    Carbines with the markings of Carinthia have been found to usually have one of two marking configurations. The first group has the Gendarmerie markings on the bottom of the trigger housing, with the four digits of the inventory number stamped inside the slingwell. Usually, no other parts on the carbine have been stamped with any other numbers or markings.

    The second group have the Gendarmerie markings on the bottom of the trigger housing, and the entire serial number stamped in the slingwell, in the underside of the handguard and etched on top of the bolt.

    The majority of carbines used by this state have the original GI parts appropriate for the carbine manufacturer, with the exception of many with an adjustable rear sight and rotary safety.

    The inventory numbers are still being evaluated to determine the highest number. If a carbine with the Carinthia Gendarmerie markings is in the USA, it was returned by Austria to the U.S. Army and turned over to the Civilian Marksmanship Program in 2008. These carbines have no import marks.