The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines

Basics

The Caliber .30 Carbine Manufacturers

The Basics Here
The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines	The Carbine Manufacturers	The Barrel Manufacturers	Parts, Variations & Markings
Carbine Nomenclature	The Serial Numbers	The Stocks & Handguards	Post WWII Ordnance Operations

Interesting & Helpful Facts Early in 1942 an advisory and oversight committee was created, consisting of personnel from U.S. Army Ordnance and each of the prime contractors. The committed changed names several times but is commonly referred to as the Carbine Committee. Out of ten primary contractors that manufactured .30 Caliber Carbines, Winchester was the only one with prior experience manufacturing weapons. When receiving their contract(s), not even one primary contractor had all the tooling necessary to build carbines. Date of initial contract is not the date actual production started. None of the ten primary contractors manufactured all of the parts that went on their carbines. The majority of parts were manufactured by hundreds of companies that served as subcontractors to each prime contractor. Each prime contractor had to provide spare parts in addition to the completed carbines. The amount of spare parts varied. As an example, for every 100 complete carbines NPM supplied 4 trigger housings (4% extra) and 40 firing pins (40% extra). For quality control purposes, all of the prime contractors and many of the subcontractors were assigned a letter code (manufacturer's mark) to place on their parts (discussed further on page regarding part markings)

Credits

Much of the information below was extracted, condensed, and placed in a table format with the permission of the author from his book "War Baby!, the U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine", Volume I, by Larry Ruth. This book is 495 pages of detailed research that was continued in "War Bay Comes Home!, The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine", Volume II, for a total of 846 pages of detailed information. The author would be the first to tell you the research was not complete, has some information that has since been found to be different than what appears in the book, and neither book should be viewed as 100% accurate. The nature of historical research is question everything and don't believe it 100% even if there's documentation. Larry is currently working on Volume III, which will include updating the earlier material and adding to it. Volume III should be available before Fall 2011, if all goes as planned.

Many average carbine owners and shooters prefer books less technical. For these folks, Larry Ruth and Scott Duff co-authored "The M1 Carbine Owner's Guide", which is paperback, 136 pages, and sells for under $20.00. It covers all the basics you need to know, plus some interesting basic history.

	Inland Manufacturing Division General Motors Corporation Dayton, Ohio
	Common Moniker Inland
Information of Interest: First to start production of the Ordnance approved Winchester design, as Winchester had other weapon commitments Manufactured 3-10x more carbines than all the other primary contractors Was the only manufacturer of the M1A1 Was one of only two primary manufacturers that made the M2 (some M1's were converted to M2 post WWII)
Overview			Model	Production January-February 1942 June 1942-August 1945
Background prior to WWII:	automotive products		M1	2,084,189
Date of 1st Contract:	November 14, 1941		M1A1	140,000
Manufacturers Mark:	I		M2	est. 400,000
Parts made in-house:	9 (includes receiver)		Total	est. 2,392,388+
Notes: M1A1's were manufactured during two separate time frames: November 1942 through October 1943, and May 1944 through December 1944. Records for quantity of M1A1 Carbines manufactured March and May through September 1943, and May 1944 through November 1944, were minimums estimated from a bar graph. Records for quantity of M1 & M2 Carbines manufactured June through August 1945 have not been located. Quantity is estimated assuming they continued production at the rate produced in the months prior. For a short period of time in 1943 Saginaw in Saginaw, MI provided receivers to Inland. These have the letters SG or SI on the left side of the receiver.

	Winchester Repeating Arms Company New Haven, Connecticut
	Common Moniker Winchester
Information of Interest: Winchester's production of the .30 Caliber Carbine was overshadowed by the production of many of the other companies as Winchester was unable to devote their full resources to the carbines alone. The Winchester name alone has increased the value of their carbines to be on a par with the company that made the fewest carbines, Rock-Ola. Was one of only two primary manufacturers that made the M2 (some M1's were converted to M2 post WWII)
Overview			Model	Production September 1942-August 1945
Background prior to WWII:	small arms and ammunition production		M1	809,541
Date of 1st Contract:	November 24, 1941		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	W		M2	17,500
Parts made in-house:	15 (includes receiver)		Total	865,394

	Underwood-Elliott-Fisher Company Hartford, Connecticut
	Common Moniker Underwood
Information of Interest: Manufactured more of their own parts than any other prime contractor Manufactured 1,706,436 carbine barrels; Enough for their own carbines, even more for other prime contractors and providing over 400,000 replacement barrel assemblies Received the annual Army-Navy Production Award for high achievement in the production of war material for their .30 caliber Carbine Model M1, in 1942, 1943, and 1944.
Overview			Model	Production November 1942-April 1944
Background prior to WWII:	typewriters, adding machines, cash registers, office equipment		M1	545,616
Date of 1st Contract:	March 25, 1942		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	U		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	35 (includes receiver)		Total	545,616
Notes: many of the Underwood parts were built at their Bridgeport, Connecticut facility opened a third facility in New Hartford, Connecticut, to help with the machining of parts

	Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation Chicago, Illinois
	Common Moniker Rock-Ola
Information of Interest: In August 1943 U.S. Ordnance personnel temporarily took over Rock-Ola management to reverse management problems that had resulted in unacceptable low production numbers the three months prior. As a result, management/employee relations improved significantly, resulting in increased performance that allowed Rock-Ola to continue carbine production. Produced the least number of carbines of any of the prime contractors, securing a higher value for their carbines in the future Stocks and handguards manufactured by Rock-Ola have been considered some of the best looking stocks and handguards made.
Overview			Model	Production November 1942-May 1944
Background prior to WWII:	coin operated phonographs, pinball games, parking meters...		M1	228,500
Date of 1st Contract:	June 22, 1942		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	R, RMC		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	13 (includes receiver)		Total	228,500

	Quality Hardware and Machine Corporation Chicago, Illinois
	Common Monikers QHMC, Quality Hardware
Information of Interest: The one and only part manufactured by Quality Hardware was their receiver. All other parts were provided by subcontractors and other prime contractors. The production of 28,949 receivers used by Quality Hardware was subcontracted to Union Switch & Signal. The subcontractor code assigned to Union Switch & Signal was UN. In a rare play with manufacturers markings, Union Switch & Signal placed the manufacturer name UN-QUALITY on the receivers, then sent them to Quality Hardware.
Overview			Model	Production December 1942-April 1944
Background prior to WWII:	manufacturing tools, dies, machinery, stampings		M1	359,666
Date of 1st Contract:	May 13, 1942		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	Q		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	receiver only		Total	359,666
Notes: All receivers used the detachable recoil spring tube, Receivers made by Union Switch & Signal (UN-QUALITY), the tube was integral

	Irwin-Pedersen Arms Company Grand Rapids, MI
	Common Monikers Irwin-Pedersen, IP
Information of Interest: Produced 3,542 M1 Carbines, none of which were accepted by the government. The Irwin-Pedersen contract was given to Saginaw Steering Gear, who moved into the Irwin-Pedersen facility in Grand Rapids and took possession of everything Irwin-Pedersen and their subcontractors had produced. See Saginaw Grand Rapids for further details. Irwin-Pedersen receivers and parts are some of the most sought after by collectors due to their limited production. Dishonest individuals have been known to place IP markings on non IP parts. Any carbine made up of all IP parts was very likely reconstructed into that configuration.
Overview			Model	Production January 1943-March 1943
Background prior to WWII:	new company specifically formed to manufacture M1 Carbines		M1	3,542*
Date of 1st Contract:	March 21, 1942		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	IP		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	7 (includes receiver)		Total	3,542*
Notes: *The quantity of Irwin-Pedersen receivers assembled into M1 Carbines by Saginaw Grand Rapids is unknown. None of these 3,542 carbines assembled by IP were accepted by U.S. Ordnance made no barrels

	National Postal Meter Company, Inc. Rochester, New York
	Common Moniker NPM
Information of Interest: At the time of their first contract, the company had no tools, no employees, and no location for building carbines. National Postal Meter's test fire range was built by raising the floor of the carbine manufacturing plant three feet above the buildings concrete floor and literally shooting under the feet of the production line.
Overview			Model	Production February 1943-April 1944
Background prior to WWII:	metered mailing machines, postal scales, postal equipment		M1	413,017
Date of 1st Contract:	July 16, 1942		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	N		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	4 (includes receiver)		Total	413,017
Notes: Had some of the finest walnut. Performance testing gave them the highest rating in adverse conditions. made no barrels On April 26, 1944, National Postal Meter Company became Commercial Controls Corporation

Commercial Controls Corporation Rochester, New York
Overview			Model	Production July 1944
Background prior to WWII:	metered mailing machines, postal scales, postal equipment		M1	239
Date of 1st Contract:	NPM contract		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	?		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	used NPM parts		Total	239
Notes: National Postal Meter Company changed the name of their company to Commercial Controls Corporation on April 26, 1944. The 239 Commercial Controls M1 Carbines were the last of National Postal Meter's contract. The Commercial Controls M1 Carbines are the rarest of all manufacturers. Researchers have been trying to locate them to examine and document exactly what they were, leading many to form unsubstantiated conclusions as to their existence. Their rarity has led to the forgery of their markings, requiring close examination by a group of experts to verify authenticity.

	The Standard Products Company Port Clinton, Ohio
	Common Moniker Standard Products
Information of Interest: One of the many challenges facing Standard Products was where to obtain the personnel necessary to manufacture their M1 Carbines. Port Clinton, Ohio was a rural area with other wartime industries competing for a workforce. Early in WWII units were commonly made up of enlisted personnel from the same towns and counties. At the Battle of Bataan units made up of male residents of the Port Clinton area were wiped out by the Japanese. The few survivors who survived became POW's whose next challenge was the Bataan Death March and all that followed. When Standard Products announced they needed employees to manufacture M1 Carbines, the call was answered by the wives, parents, grandparents and siblings who had lost loved ones at Bataan. Many of these workers already had jobs elsewhere. When an evening shift was started to boost carbine production, many residents stepped forward and took on the second job.
Overview			Model	Production April 1943-April 1944 July 1944
Background prior to WWII:	automobile trim accessories		M1	247,155
Date of 1st Contract:	August 6, 1942		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	S		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	4 (includes receiver)		Total	247,155
Notes: made no barrels

	Saginaw Steering Gear Division General Motors Corporation Saginaw, Michigan
	Common Moniker Saginaw
Information of Interest: In addition to M1 Carbines, during WWII Saginaw Steering Gear manufactured Caliber .30 Browning Machine Guns (i.e. M1919A4), Oerlikon and BOFORS guns, tanks, tank destroyers, vehicle subassemblies, and armor piercing projectiles.
Overview			Model	Production May 1943-April 1944
Background prior to WWII:	automotive steering gears		M1	293,592
Date of 1st Contract:	February 13, 1943		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	S.G.		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	17 (includes receiver)		Total	293,592
Notes: Receivers manufactured by Saginaw in Saginaw, MI July 1943 and later had a wide recoil plate tang, like the IBM receivers made by Auto Ordnance. For a short period of time in 1943 Saginaw in Saginaw, MI provided receivers to Inland. Some of these receivers were retained and used by S.G. and have the letters SG on the left side of the receiver.

	Saginaw Steering Gear Division General Motors Corporation Grand Rapids, Michigan
	Common Moniker Saginaw Grand Rapids
Information of Interest: When the Irwin-Pedersen carbine contract was given to Saginaw Steering Gear, Saginaw wanted to use the IP facility for manufacturing diesel parts. The Grand Rapids facility became a second Saginaw M1 Carbine production facility. Saginaw Grand Rapids inherited all of the parts made for, or by, Irwin-Pedersen. Saginaw inspected the IP parts and those that met Ordnance specifications were integrated into the carbines manufactured by Saginaw at Grand Rapids.
Overview			Model	Production May 1943-January 1944
Background prior to WWII:	automotive steering gears		M1	223,620
Date of 1st Contract:	March 20, 1943		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	S'G' or IP		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	7 (includes receiver)		Total	223,620
Notes: The total carbines manufactured includes those with Irwin-Pedersen receivers. Irwin-Pedersen parts that passed inspection included an unknown quantity of IP receivers with the IP markings. These were assembled into carbines by Saginaw Grand Rapids and retained their IP markings with no additional S'G' markings. Parts used on these receivers were the parts used by Saginaw Grand Rapids (S'G', IP, subcontracted parts, any of the parts provided to Saginaw Grand Rapids by other primary contractors) made no barrels

	International Business Machines Corporation Poughkeepsie, New York
	Common Moniker IBM
Information of Interest: Auto-Ordnance of Bridgeport, CT, was subcontracted to manufacture all of IBM's bolts and slides in addition to 50% of their receivers. Difficulties at Auto Ordnance caused IBM to assume control of the carbine parts program at Auto-Ordnance, while at the same time locating other subcontractors and sources for some of the parts. The IBM facility in Endicott, New York, produced 14 of the 19 parts used on the IBM carbines including the trigger housings. The stamped/brazed variation of the carbine trigger housing was developed at IBM's Endicott facility.
Overview			Model	Production August 1943-May 1944
Background prior to WWII:	business machines		M1	346,500
Date of 1st Contract:	February 16, 1943		M1A1	0
Manufacturers Mark:	B		M2	0
Parts made in-house:	19 (includes receiver)		Total	346,500
Notes: IBM receivers made by Auto Ordnance have a wide recoil plate tang. Receivers made by IBM and all other manufacturers (except Saginaw in Saginaw, MI July 1943 and later) have a narrow recoil plate tang. IBM receivers manufactured by Auto-Ordnance have the letters AO on top of the receiver on the bevel located below the serial number.

Locating the Manufacturer Name & Serial Number on the Receivers

Things you should know:

• Receivers that have a line going through the Primary Contractor name were provided from the company with the lined out name to another primary contractor, who would have added their name or marking.

• Altered Primary Contractor receiver markings ordered by, or done with the approval of, U.S. Ordnance may increase the value of the carbine. Sometimes significantly, depending on rarity.

• Anytime the value goes up, so does the possibility of forged markings. Authenticating these markings requires examination by a competent collector or authority on U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines.

• Just because something appears out of the ordinary does not mean it was not done, and does not mean the carbine is very rare and therefore highly collectible. The number of legitimate variations are what makes these carbines interesting and collectible. Knowing legit from illegit requires someone with knowledge specific to the question being asked.

• Altered serial numbers are covered on the page devoted to serial number assignments

• Use, time, and/or other nations may have worn down, removed, or altered the receiver's primary contractor name

Location

The primary contractor's name was always stamped on top of the receiver behind the rear sight. The serial number was always stamped directly below the primary contractor name.

The adjustable rear sights often obscure part or all of the primary contractor's name. If you don't see the name, look close under both sides of the adjustable sight. You can usually make out the first and last letter or two. Compare the marks you find with the serial number assignments.

Adjustable Rear Sight obscuring QUALITY H.M.C.

Adjustable Rear Sight partially obscuring I.B.M. CORP.

Markings on the Receiver Bevel

The receiver bevel is located on top of the receiver at the rear, below the serial number. Several subcontractors who manufactured receivers for the primary contractors placed their subcontractor mark on the bevel. Several primary contractors who obtained receivers from other primary contractors placed their mark on the bevel. Countries other than the United States occasionally placed unit markings on the bevel.

Things you should know:

• Underwood receivers frequently, but not always, have the flaming Ordnance bomb on their receiver bevel

• Receiver bevel Primary contractor or Subcontractor markings may increase the value of the carbine. Sometimes significantly, depending on rarity.

• Anytime the value goes up, so does the possibility of forged markings. Authenticating these markings requires examination by a competent collector or authority on U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines.

The information below starts to go beyond the basics and for this reason the depth of content has been intentionally limited. Further information is available in War Baby! and other books, as well as the internet discussion forums related to the U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines.

Receiver Bevel Primary Contractor and Subcontractor Marks
Name on Receiver	Bevel Mark	Subcontractor	From Primary Contractor	To Primary Contractor
IBM	AO	Auto Ordnance		IBM
Winchester	A B W	Singer Manufacturing Co. *	Underwood	Winchester
Underwood	A W		Underwood	Winchester
Winchester	A W		Underwood	Winchester
Underwood	B	Singer Manufacturing Co. *		Underwood
Underwood	S	United Shoe Machinery Co. *		Underwood
Underwood	T	Intertype Corp.		Underwood
Winchester	T	Intertype Corp.	Underwood	Winchester
National Postal Meter	U	Union Switch & Signal		National Postal Meter
Underwood	W	Universal Winding Co.		Underwood
Underwood	W A		Underwood	Winchester
Underwood	W T A	Intertype Corp.	Underwood	Winchester
Underwood	W W A	Universal Winding Co.	Underwood	Winchester
* NOT Singer Sewing Machines

Underwood receiver with flaming Ordnance bomb and Singer Manufacturing B subcontractor marking.

Markings on the Left Side of the Receiver

The table below is not all inclusive but includes the markings used to identify receivers made by one prime contractor for another and the most commonly encountered additional markings.

Receiver, Left Side Marks
Name on Receiver	Mark	Signifies
Inland	SI	made by Saginaw S.G. for Inland
Inland	SG	made by Saginaw S.G. for Inland
Irwin-Pedersen	3	possible significance only within IP or S'G'
Irwin-Pedersen	J	possible significance only within IP or S'G'
Saginaw S.G.	J	possible significance only within IP, S'G', or S.G.
Saginaw S.G.	SG	made by Saginaw S.G. for Inland, but retained & used by Saginaw S.G.
Standard Products	3G, 6T, 8U, etc	believed to be lot codes, increase numerically and alphabetically as serial numbers increase

Markings on the Bottom of the Receiver

These are most always located on the bottom of the front lug the trigger housing attaches too and/or the area in front of this lug. These are markings that had meaning to the manufacturer internally within their operation.

Where and Who to turn to for More Information and Further Assistance

I wish I could help everyone, but with over 6 million U.S. Carbines and almost 1 million post war commercial carbines one person can't handle all the requests for assistance. However, there are a number of resources available that can answer any question you might have, including groups of knowledgeable collectors and shooters on discussion forums. The internet is ripe with experts on almost every topic, so you would be wise to get opinions from more than just one person.

This Website & it's Sister Website		Discussion Forums
Links Page		Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) M1 Carbine Forum
Books Page		M1 Carbine Forum
		MilSurps Forums: M1 Carbine
Post War Commercial Carbines		Military Surplus After Hours
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