U.S. M1 Carbine
National Postal Meter
Serial Number: 4299839
Austria Bundesheer

Background

Returned to the U.S. Army by the government of Austria. Provided to the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), by the U.S. Army. Examined at CMP, prior to the armorers.

This carbine has no markings on the carbine itself that would indicate use by the Austrian Bundesheer. Attached to the carbine is a hang tag issued by the Austrian Ministry of Defense (see below). This is what identifies the carbine as having been used by the Bundesheer.

The carbine has a non-GI barrel that is consistent with those manufactured by Erma Werke of Dachau, West Germany.

Barrel Group

Barrel non GI unmarked
Front Sight type I markings covered
Barrel Band/Swivel type III J.M.Q on band, lug unmarked (GI post WWII replacement)
Gas Piston Nut    
Barrel Skirt    
Slide M2 D-7161843-7 over HSA (unknown post WWII GI subcontractor)
Operating slide stop   late

Barrel is unmarked, appears to have been manufactured by Erma Werke of Dachau, West Germany. Front sight blade has been filed down, top of front sight, around blade, has been covered with black latex type paint.

Stock Group

Stock type III OI (Inland)
Handguard non GI unmarked
Buttplate   National Postal Meter

Round stickers on right side of buttstock and forend of stock indicate the number 23. This appears to be the equivalent of a rack number (storage rack visible inventory number). Bottom of stock behind trigger housing has what appears to be the number 80 or 60. Stock and handguard do not have any part of the serial number on them. Handguard has two brass rivets.


Bottom of stock between trigger housing and recoil plate estuncheon (nut)

Receiver Group

Receiver   National Postal Meter
Rear Sight type III I.R. Co. (International Register Company)
Operating Spring Tunnel Housing   attached
Recoil Plate type III PI (unk subcontractor for Inland)

Bolt Group

Bolt flat OI (Inland)
Ejector type II  
Extractor type II W (Winchester)
Extractor Plunger type II  
Firing Pin type III R.I. (Reece Button Hole Machine Company of Boston, MA for Inland)

Trigger Group

Trigger Housing type V SG (Saginaw Gear of Saginaw, MI)
Trigger    
Sear type I GE-Q (Gerrard Company of Chicago for Quality Hardware)
Hammer type III HI (Hemphill Company of Pawtucket, RI for Inland)
Trigger Housing Pin type II  
Safety type IV J.A.O. (J.A. Otterbein Company)
Magazine Catch type III HI (Hemphill Company of Pawtucket, RI for Inland)

The below hang tag was attached to the trigger housing. It appears to be a transfer document for an M1 carbine (K-M1) with one magazine.


TN - Einheit [Unit]    (Abgeber/Empfänger) [Giver/Receiver]
 
Kurzbezeichnung [Abbreviation]
 
Kennziffer [Index]    (Teil - Nr.) [Part #]
 
Beleg - Nr [Proof #]
 
RegNr. EDV: [Registration #]
 
DC
 
Geräteart: [Device Type]
 
GG/Z
 
Masseinheit [Unit]
 
Menge: [Quantity]
 
Kennziffer der Anforderung [Index Requirement]
 
Phrase - Code:
 
Kennziffer [Index] 7530-0-100-0204       Kurzbenennung [Short Designation] AnhK/AusgAnw

BMfLV    R 1158
(Bundesminister für Landesverteidigung) [Federal Minister for National Defense]