U.S. M1 Carbine Saginaw Serial Number: 3,404,0xx Gendarmerie Rural Police, Lower Austria

Background I purchased this carbine from a gentleman in New York on a Gunbroker auction in January 2004. The seller was representing the owner who had acquired the gun in a trade for a Bowie knife. The owner had gotten it for his grandson, but thought it too nice for the young man to use, and bought him another carbine instead. When I received it, there was a wooden dowel in the sling well, in lieu of the oiler. I'm told this was not uncommon with these guns. This gun is beautifully maintained, with all major components having the last four digits of the serial #. One of the nicest carbines I own. Barrel Group Barrel type 2 Inland Mfg. Div., General Motors, 10-43 Front Sight type 1 N (more than 4 manufacturers used this letter on the type 1 frontsight, including Inland) Barrel Band/Swivel type 3 MMQ on band/EMQ on lug (Quality Hardware) Gas Piston Nut     Barrel Skirt   shortskirt Slide type 5 PI inside (Inland), NG outside "INTRAC KNOX. TN" underneath the barrel, below the front sight. Last 4 digits of receiver serial number along the outside of the slide. Two (2) "P" proof marks on barrel. "BI" on gas cylinder identifies barrel as being manufactured by the B-L-C Division of General Motors Corporation. Ordnance bomb located on left side of barrel near the receiver, the letter F on top of the barrel above it. Stock Group Stock type 5 SA in barrel channel (Springfield Armory) Handguard type 2 Q-RMC(Quality Hardware) Buttplate   late Inland Last 4 digits of receiver serial number in slingwell and inside handguard, manufacturer markings in barrel channel. Of special interest is this stock was manufactured by Springfield Armory for the M2 rifle post WWII rebuilds and as a replacement stock, yet has the last 4 digits of the receiver serial number in the slingwell. The digits are of a type, size, placement, and spacing that are consistent with those made by the Austrians. This is consistent with other Austrian and Bavarian M1 carbines that were not sent back to the USA to be rebuilt, but have the same updated USA manufactured parts used on the post WWII USA rebuilds. This stock has no rebuild marking, which it would have if rebuilt in the USA after the war. (refer discussion on the mystery rebuild arsenal on the M1 Carbines Page). Sling came with rifle when it was purchased. Instead of an oiler in the sling well, there was a wooden dowel to hold the sling. Receiver Group Receiver type 2 Saginaw SG 34040XX Rear Sight type 3 IRCO 7160060 Operating Spring Tunnel Housing     Recoil Plate type 3 SG (Saginaw Gear) Manufacturer name obscured by rear sight. "SG" left front side of receiver. Bolt Group Bolt type 2 IO with sideways 2 (Inland) (see pic) Ejector type 1   Extractor type 3 / (Rock-Ola) Extractor Plunger type 2   Firing Pin type 1 NI (Inland) Bolt has last 4 digits of receiver serial number electro-penciled on top. Trigger Group Trigger Housing type 5 W (Winchester) Trigger   W (Winchester) Sear type 2 W (Winchester) Hammer type 2 W (Winchester) Trigger Spring     Trigger Housing Pin type 2   Safety type 4 SS encircled (see pic) Magazine Catch type 3 WA/M Magazine Catch Plunger     Trigger guard has last 4 digits of serial number on rear "T", bottom of trigger housing forward of trigger guard is stamped LGKNÖ with 2502 underneath the letters. The 2502 would be the inventory number assigned by the Austrians. Additional Information none Information and photographs courtesy of: Return to The Armory