U.S. M1 Carbine Winchester Serial Number: 1,073,3xx BAVARIA BORDER POLICE

Background This carbine is an all original Winchester from the first 73,000-74,000 Winchester manufactured. It has a number of rare original Winchester parts that accurately match the serial number and other parts. Purchased from a private party. It has no import mark or any of the usual German markings on the stock, handguard, trigger housing, or bolt. Barrel Group Barrel type 1 W & WP proofs, no date Front Sight type 1 exterior right upright: L (Winchester) Barrel Band/Swivel type 1A unmarked Gas Piston Nut type 1   Barrel Skirt     Slide type 1 W (Winchester) Operating slide stop type 2   Slide has last 4 digits of receiver serial number. Front sight is a very rare Winchester marking. Barrel is not dated or marked behind the front sight, it has the Winchester proof mark in an oblong circle just forward of the stock and barrel band and the letter W in top of barrel closer to the front sight. Stock Group Stock type 1 slingwell unmarked, WRA on right (Winchester) Handguard type 1 W (Winchester) Buttplate Early model (Winchester) WRA GHD (no box) with crossed cannons on right side of stock. Slingwell and handguard do not have last 3 or 4 digits of receiver serial number. Winchester type 1 stocks were left unmarked in the slingwell. Receiver Group Receiver type 1 variation C Winchester Rear Sight type 1 S on left, right base and leaf unmarked Operating Spring Tunnel Housing type 2   Recoil Plate type 2 W (Winchester) "Bavaria Border Police" milled in top of receiver along left side by bolt. This is a rare Winchester type 1C receiver with detachable main spring housing. The receiver ring has had "U.S. Carbine Cal .30 M1" professionally ground off and buffed out. The rear sight platform has grooves cut/milled from left to right to reduce glare. A number of the M1 carbines used by Bavaria have this rear sight platform alteration. This Bavarian alteration is usually accompanied by the addition of a V notch rear sight assembly welded to the receiver ring (see "Mysteries"). The V notch rear sight was standard on military rifles used by the Germans. With the exception of the bolt, rear sight, and magazine, all parts of the carbine have been parkerized. It is not known who refinished the rifle with the parkerized finish. Bolt Group Bolt type 2 W (Winchester) Ejector type 1   Extractor type 3 W (Winchester) Extractor Plunger type 2   Firing Pin type 1 W (Winchester) Bolt does not have the last 3 or 4 digits of the receiver serial number etched/stamped on top. Trigger Group Trigger Housing type 2 W (Winchester) Trigger type 2 W (Winchester) Sear type 1 W (Winchester) Hammer type 2 W (Winchester) Hammer Spring type 1   Safety type 1 unmarked, checkered ends Magazine Catch type 1A W (Winchester) Magazine Catch Plunger type 1   Rear T of trigger housing does not have last 4 digits of receiver serial number. Information and photographs courtesy of Mike Luse Return to The Armory