U.S. M1A1 carbine.
Early Serial number 123829.
Barrel dated 12-42
This is an excerpt from an article written for the American Rifleman by Bruce Canfield.
The MIA1 was officially standardized in May 1942, and the first deliveries began in October. The sole manufacturer of the M1A1 was the Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors in Dayton, Ohio, which was also the largest manufacturer of standard M 1 carbines. Inland produced about 43 percent of the total production of all carbines.The initial subcontractor for the special M1A1 stock was Royal Typewriters, Inc., in Hartford, Conn. The wooden components of the stock were supplied by the S.E. Overton Company of South Haven, Mich., and Royal produced the wire butt and assembled the completed stocks. Royal apparently experienced some problems in its capacity as the lead subcontractor, and eventually, Overton assumed responsibility for assembling the M1A1 stocks and shipping them to the Inland factory.
There were two separate production runs of M1A1 Carbines. The so-called "First Contract" carbines were shipped between October 1942 and October 1943, with approximately 71,000 MlAls delivered during the period. Serial numbers ranged approximately from 42,000 to 850,000. These MlAls had the same features as the standard Mls of the era, including non-adjustable, flip-up rear sights; "high¬wood" stocks (the area in front of the operating slide); narrow barrel bands (without bayonet lugs); and flat-top bolts.
The underside of the pistol grip on the First Contract M1A1 Carbines was also marked "01" along with a small Ordnance Department crossed cannons escutcheon.
The inside of the metal buttplate had a drawing number cast (not stamped). The number, "B257614," was followed by an asterisk¬shaped marking enclosed in a circle (sometimes described as a wagon wheel) followed by a one- or two-digit number. This marking is often rather indistinct and can be hard to read.
The early stocks typically had a circled “P" proofmark stamped on the rear of the stock.
The leather cheek pad was neatly attached to the stock and secured by rivets Some rivets marked "7/4" have been observed, and these are believed to have been automotive brake shoe rivets made by Inland Early rivets for the M1A1 cheek pad were typically made of brass.
David
Early Serial number 123829.
Barrel dated 12-42
This is an excerpt from an article written for the American Rifleman by Bruce Canfield.
The MIA1 was officially standardized in May 1942, and the first deliveries began in October. The sole manufacturer of the M1A1 was the Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors in Dayton, Ohio, which was also the largest manufacturer of standard M 1 carbines. Inland produced about 43 percent of the total production of all carbines.The initial subcontractor for the special M1A1 stock was Royal Typewriters, Inc., in Hartford, Conn. The wooden components of the stock were supplied by the S.E. Overton Company of South Haven, Mich., and Royal produced the wire butt and assembled the completed stocks. Royal apparently experienced some problems in its capacity as the lead subcontractor, and eventually, Overton assumed responsibility for assembling the M1A1 stocks and shipping them to the Inland factory.
There were two separate production runs of M1A1 Carbines. The so-called "First Contract" carbines were shipped between October 1942 and October 1943, with approximately 71,000 MlAls delivered during the period. Serial numbers ranged approximately from 42,000 to 850,000. These MlAls had the same features as the standard Mls of the era, including non-adjustable, flip-up rear sights; "high¬wood" stocks (the area in front of the operating slide); narrow barrel bands (without bayonet lugs); and flat-top bolts.
The underside of the pistol grip on the First Contract M1A1 Carbines was also marked "01" along with a small Ordnance Department crossed cannons escutcheon.
The inside of the metal buttplate had a drawing number cast (not stamped). The number, "B257614," was followed by an asterisk¬shaped marking enclosed in a circle (sometimes described as a wagon wheel) followed by a one- or two-digit number. This marking is often rather indistinct and can be hard to read.
The early stocks typically had a circled “P" proofmark stamped on the rear of the stock.
The leather cheek pad was neatly attached to the stock and secured by rivets Some rivets marked "7/4" have been observed, and these are believed to have been automotive brake shoe rivets made by Inland Early rivets for the M1A1 cheek pad were typically made of brass.
David
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