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U.S. M1 Carbine
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BackgroundPurchased from an internet auction in 2003. The Manufacturers name & original serial # were removed from the receiver. A new serial # of 255 was stamped where the serial number would be. The new serial # 255 is also stamped on the trigger housing, handguard, and slide. In the Centerfire Systems Inc. Catalog Volume M-1 January 1996, Centerfire had listed for sale several hundred of the M1 carbines that were imported by INTRAC. This M1 carbines appears on page 30 and is described as: Mfg. Unknown, Serial #255, Barrel by Rock-Ola with no date, I cut stock with no mfg stamp in the slingwell, "Serial & Name ground off & Reserialed", receiver marked Bavarian Rural Police, Trigger housing "stamped with number". Centerfire obtained these M1 carbines directly from INTRAC. Other carbines are listed with the manufacturer name and serial number removed, each having a new serial number stamped on it. Many were from the Bavaria Forestry Police. It is likely this obliteration was done in Bavaria, not Austria. All other carbines with this obliteration listed in the catalog were assigned a seven digit serial number. More need to be viewed to determine additional information.
Barrel Group
ROCK-OLA imprint behind front sight and on the side of the gas cylinder. Ordnance bomb on left side of barrel above the slide rail. "P" proof mark on the barrel 6 3/8" behind the front sight. INTRAC Knox, TN bottom of barrel opposite Rock-Ola mark. Slide stamped with serial # 255. All metal finished in a dull blue.
Stock Group
High-wood walnut stock. Stock has interesting old repairs including 3 brass pins on top right side adjacent receiver & a wooden dowel through wood side to side, in front of the mag well (see Additional Info at bottom of this page). Quality Hardware early ordnance cartouche on right side of stock between the handgrip and sling well. Stock left side of slingwell has been chiseled in an apparent effort to remove the manufacturer's ID marking and the 4 digits stamped there by the Bavarians/Austrians that would match the receiver serial number. The numbers were stamped deep enough that oblique lighting reveals them, 2776. Handguard has 255 serial number where the Bavarians normally marked it inside the handguard and 1336 in larger numbers in the bottom center of the handguard. Handguard is made from cherywood, which was used late in the war by several manufacturers, and after the war ended. THE rivets in the metal plate that guides the handguard into the front of the receiver are different than the usual G.I. handguard rivets. "Witness" marks on top of stock & lower rail of handguard indicate the two have been together for some time. Witness marks on stock under handguard clearly show the imprint of this specific Underwood buttplate, but it appears there is a horizontal pattern also, which would indicate a prior buttplate to the Underwood.
Receiver Group
"Bavaria Rural Police" milled in top of receiver along left side by bolt. Manufacturer's name and serial number obliterated. Serial number 255 assigned and stamped where old serial number was. Small R stamped on bottom of receiver that attached to forward part of the trigger housing. Assessment of receiver by panel of experts concluded it's a definite Rock-Ola receiver.
Bolt Group
255 electropenciled on top of bolt
Trigger Group
Outside bottom of trigger housing has LGKNÖ (LandesGendarmerieKommando NiederÖsterreich - Austrian rural police in state/province of Lower Austria) stamped along with the numbers 1485 stamped under the LGKNÖ. 255 stamped on the back of the trigger housing T. The 1485 is the inventory number used by the Austrians. Trigger housing has a "plum" color to it.
Additional InformationWood is finished in a fairly high gloss, as it was received by me, however I did refinish it. The problem was that the finish was extremely sticky & it was uncomfortable to even handle it (after all, what good is a firearm if you can't fondle it?). After much consideration & many test pieces, I removed the surface finish with solvents & sprayed it with several coats of acrylic clear. I know some folks will cringe, but it appears to be holding up well & the gloss finish is nicely restored. Aside from that, & the addition of the leather sling, the carbine is in as-received condition Why the serial number and manufacturer was removed from the receiver is not known. Same for the manufacturer mark in the slingwell. Leather sling marked "Stolla" (manufacturer) and "WIEN" (Vienna). These were the type used on the M1 carbine in Bavaria or Austria.
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