Deliveries began in October 1942, with all of the guns being manufactured by the Inland company. A total of 140,591 were made in two batches (71,000 between October 1942 and October 1943 and another 69,000 between April and December 1944). Inland Paratrooper Serial Numbers Lookup What is the age and value of M-2 US Carbine caliber 30 manufactured by Inland Division which is paratrooper and folding model with serial number 4492683? If it's an M2, it means an automatic weapon. Check out legal issue on your gun in your state. Serial numbers of the Inland M1 carbine actions made during this period ranged from 70,000 - 950,000, and many of these actions were put into M1A1 stocks. Consistent features of the carbines in this range included a two-rivet handguard, narrow barrel band, flip rear sight, and push-button safety. The new Inland M1 Carbine (discussed on Wednesday’s blog article) is a true copy of the original M1 Carbines manufactured during World War II. Indeed, all parts going into Inland Manufacturing’s new iteration are compatible with U.S.G.I. Government Issue) examples made by Winchester, the original Inland division of General Motors, Rock-Ola, IBM, and others. M1A1 Serial Numbers. Inland Manufacturing Division of General Motors was the only manufacturer of the M1A1 and manufactured approximately 140,000 by the close of the war. The M1A1 was manufactured in two main production runs, both of approximately 70,000. The first was produced and delivered from late 1942 through until October 1943.

1. Inland Paratrooper Carbine Serial Numbers
2. Inland Paratrooper Carbine Serial Numbers

The U.S. Carbine Caliber .30

Model M1A1

Model M1	Model M1A1	Models M1E7 & T3	Model T4/M2	Model M3
Right click on the image to view the model

Background

Not long after the adoption of the U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine, Model M1, the need for a shorter version for use by paratroopers became evident. Early in 1942 U.S. Army Ordnance issued a request for submissions of designs for a shorter version utilizing a folding or collapsible stock. The Inland Division of General Motors submitted their first drawings for such a design during March 1942. Submissions by two other sources were found to be unacceptable. Revised Inland drawings were recommended for standardization as the Model M1A1 on 29 Apr 1942. The design was approved 12 May 1942. A patent application for the design was submitted 05 Aug 1942 and granted Patent# 2,405,758 13 Aug 1946.

The Inland design was simply a side-folding stock any carbine action could be placed into, in lieu of the full length stock of the Model M1 Carbine. The markings on the carbine receiver remained the same as those of the Model M1. No markings identifying the Model M1 from the Model M1A1 were added or changed anywhere on the carbine or its parts. ALL Model M1A1 Carbines made during WWII were carbine actions manufactured by Inland and placed into M1A1 stocks manufactured by Inland's subcontractors.

U.S. Carbine Caliber .30 Model M1A1
Number of Parts*	Early: 79-81 Late: 78-79
Barrel Length	18'
Sight Radius	21.5' @ 100 yards
Overall Length	35.63'
Overall Length-stock folded	25.51'
Weight	6.19 lbs
Trigger Pull	4.5-7 lbs
Stock Material WWII	walnut
Operation	semi-automatic only
*number of parts varied as minor changes were implemented and do not include a complete breakdown of the rear sight and barrel band
Data extracted from TM 9-1276 Cal. .30 Carbines M1, M1A1, M2, M3, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1953 (paragraph 6, pages 8 & 9)

Manufacturing

During the ongoing production of the Model M1 Carbines, M1A1 carbines were made by placing a complete M1 action into an M1A1 folding stock instead of the regular M1 stock. Serial numbers were whatever Inland serial numbers reached the assembly point at the time the stock was added. Whereas the features of the carbines that went into the stocks varied significantly over time and are still a subject open to some degree of debate, the M1A1 stocks were made in far fewer numbers with far fewer variations during a shorter period of time.

This section will focus on the chronology of M1A1 stock production with a general description of the carbines placed within the stock variations. The individual stock parts are described in further detail in the Parts Section below.

The manufacture of M1A1 stocks can be divided into three basic time periods with
the first three producing M1A1 stocks that were predictably consistent.

Inland's 1st Production Run:	November 1942 thru October 1943*
Inland's 2nd Production Run:	May thru December 1944*
Springfield Armory:	January 1945-1946

* Documents from Overton, Inland and U.S. Army Ordnance have conflicted with one another in regards to monthly M1A1 production and deliveries during WWII. The months and quantities presented on this page are best estimates based on reviews and evaluations of all available documents, interviews and experiences.

Inland's 1st Production Run

November 1942 thru October 1943

Inland subcontracted S.E. Overton of South Haven, MI, for the manufacture of all of their M1A1 stocks. For the first run, Overton manufactured the forestock and grip. Royal Typewriter Inc. of Hartford, CT, was subcontracted to manufacture all of the hardware, receive the wood components from Overton, then assemble and return the completed stocks to Overton. Rivets used on the first run were semi-tubular brass. The face of the rivet was often darkened with paint.

Overton inspected the finished stocks and forwarded them on to Inland. Ordnance acceptance marks in the form of the Ordnance crossed cannons were not added until after the stock was added to the carbine and the completed carbine passed a final Ordnance inspection. As with other carbine parts, a percentage of M1A1 stocks and parts were produced as replacements. These would not have had the Ordnance crossed cannons of the first production run.

Part	Manufacturer	Description
Forestock:	S.E. Overton	Walnut Highwood; OI stamped inside stock at rear of slide opening
Hand Grip:	S.E. Overton	Walnut; OI stamped in bottom of grip
Hardware:	Royal Typewriter
Final Assembly:	Royal Typewriter
Final Inspection:	S.E. Overton
M1A1 Carbine Assembly:	Inland Mfg.
Test Fire Proof	Inland Mfg.	a large circled P on rear of forestock (discontinued during the latter part of 1st run)
Ordnance Acceptance Markings:	Inspectors at Inland Mfg.	Ordnance cannons stamped on bottom of grip

Serial numbers of the Inland M1 carbine actions made during this period ranged from 70,000 - 950,000, and many of these actions were put into M1A1 stocks. Consistent features of the carbines in this range included a two-rivet handguard, narrow barrel band, flip rear sight, and push-button safety.

Inland's 2nd Production Run

May 1944 thru December 1944

The M1A1 stocks and parts left over from the first run at S.E. Overton and Royal Typewriter were used and intermingled with stocks and parts manufactured during the second production run until the inventory of the earlier parts ran out. Again, Overton manufactured the forestock. Initially Overton also made the hand grips but due to their workload and the complexity of manufacturing the hand grip, Overton subcontracted the J.S. Richardson Companies of Sheboygan Falls, WI, to manufacture the hand grip.

Poor quality control at Royal Typewriter prompted Overton to cancel their contract by May 1944. Overton purchased all of Royal Typewriter's equipment and inventory related to the M1A1 stock and relocated it to the Overton facility in Michigan. Royal Typewriter's inventory was sufficient to sustain the needs of Overton until the end of production, although Overton had to spend time and money to insure that the items manufactured by Royal Typewriter met Ordnance standards. Overton handled final assembly and inspection of the M1A1 stocks.

Rivets used during this time period were brass and later steel. Both were semi-tubular and were rolled over the plate on the inside. A few solid steel rivets have been observed. Brass rivets were often darkened with paint, and steel rivets were Parkerized.

Overton inspected the finished stocks and then forwarded them on to Inland. Ordnance approval marks in the form of the Ordnance crossed cannons were not added until after the stock was added to a carbine and the completed carbine passed a final Ordnance inspection. As with other carbine parts, a percentage of M1A1 stocks and parts were produced as replacements. These spares would not have had the Ordnance crossed cannons.

Part	Manufacturer	Description
Forestock:	S.E. Overton	-Walnut Highwood; OI stamped inside stock at rear of slide opening -Walnut Low Wood; OI stamped inside stock at rear of slide opening
Hand Grip:	S.E. Overton J.S. Richardson	-Walnut, OI on bottom of grip, Ordnance cannons on right side -Walnut, RI above 3 on bottom of grip
Hardware:	Royal Typewriter
Final Assembly:	S.E. Overton
Final Inspection:	S.E. Overton
M1A1 Carbine Assembly:	Inland Mfg.
Ordnance Acceptance Markings:	Inspectors at Inland Mfg.	Ordnance cannons stamped on right side of grip toward bottom

The serial numbers of the carbines placed within these stocks by Inland were mixed with Model M1 Carbine production generally in the 5,000,000 - 6,449,868 range. During this time Inland transitioned from:

• the rear flip sight to the adjustable rear sights
• the narrow barrel band to the wide barrel band and eventually to the barrel band with bayonet lug
• the two rivet handguard to the 4 rivet handguard
• the flat bolt to the round bolt
• the late cam cut for the type V slide (marked 7160091 on bottom)

The last shipment of M1A1 stocks made by Overton (4,529) was shipped to Inland in January 1945, a month after Inland had completed it's second run of M1A1 Carbines (December 1944).

Model M1A1 Carbine WWII Production Inland Manufacturing
1st Run	2nd Run
Nov 1942 - Oct 1943	May - Dec 1944
1942	4,300	-
1943	66,648	-
1944	-	69,052
1945	-	-
Sub Totals	70,948	69,052
Totals	140,000
Source: 'AGS Carbine History' by Smith & Davis, March 25, 1938 to July 1, 1944. Please keep in mind a number of reliable sources do not agree with these months and quantities.

January 1945 thru 1946

With the completion of their M1A1 parts contracts, in November 1944 J.S. Richardson sold 8,000 M1A1 grips to Springfield Armory. In December 1944 J.S. Richardson sold all of their M1A1 tooling and custom machinery to Springfield Armory. Since Inland completed their second run production of the M1A1 in December 1944, it's likely the additional M1A1 stocks and parts at Overton and Inland were at some point also forwarded to Springfield Armory.

The M1 Carbine, A Revolution in Gunstocking, a book by Grafton & Barbara Cook, states that Springfield Armory manufactured 3,535 M1A1 stocks in 1945 and 3,773 in 1946 with no M1A1 stocks produced thereafter.

Springfield Armory production records found by Larry Ruth for the period January-June 1945 included the following M1A1 parts:

• 34,160 hand grips
• 93,000 locking springs
• 9,000 hinge screws
• 3,500 buttplate springs
• 2,535 M1A1 stocks assembled

Richardson contour grip manufactured by Springfield Armory 1945-1946 only

Due to texture of the wood, SA on the bottom of grip is often difficult to see. Sometimes only the S can be seen

During WWII the M1A1 stocks and parts in the possession of Springfield Armory, whether made by Springfield or another manufacturer, were for use as replacements. No information has been found as to how many of these parts were actually placed on carbines prior to the end of WWII, or as to whether any of these carbines with replaced parts were used late in the war. A number of authors have concluded that these parts were used post-WWII only. Also, some thought no barrel bands with bayonet lugs or M2 Carbines were used during WWII. Evidence has been found to prove both saw limited use in combat in 1945.

Inspect and Rebuild operations by or under the direction of U.S. Army Ordnance that included Springfield Armory will be covered in the next section below.

One of the functions carried out by personnel at Springfield Armory was the packaging/preservation of replacement parts for the carbines. Packages with these parts have been dwindling over time but are still in existence well into the 21st Century. One such parcel was located containing seven packs of eight M1A1 hand grips each. The packs were dated January 20, 1945 thru April 27, 1945. Markings on the bottom of each grip were either SA or P-SC. The grips marked PS-C had been noted prior but these packs were the first to establish their authenticity as genuine M1A1 grips. While no evidence has yet to be located to identify who manufactured the grips.

M1A1 Stocks Total Production
S.E. Overton	Springfield Armory
1942	31,885	-
1943	70,667	-
1944	132,666	-
1945	4,529	3,535
1946	-	3,773
Sub Totals	*239,747	7,308
Total	*247,055
Source: The M1 Carbine, A Revolution in Gunstocking by Grafton & Barbara Cook * refer narrative that follows

No evidence has been found as to whether Springfield Armory manufactured or contracted someone else to manufacture the forestocks they used in the assembly of M1A1 stocks. Ordnance contracts for parts routinely included a percentage of extras to be furnished for use as replacements. Thus, it would seem that Inland would have furnished some spare M1A1 stocks, in addition to the 140,000 they used in the assembly of their M1A1 carbines. Records at Overton indicated they manufactured 239,747 M1A1 stocks, which is significantly more than used by Inland and the normal percentages to be furnished as replacements.

While it is not known whether Ordnance contracted Overton to produce a large quantity of extras for use by Springfield Armory, it is obvious that the quantities manufactured by S.E. Overton were more than sufficient to meet the total needed for Inland's M1A1 carbines, a percentage for use as replacement parts, and the M1A1 stocks assembled by Springfield Armory. The only manufacture marks observed on forestocks are OI (IO), indicating they were manufactured by Overton for Inland. Therefore, it seems possible that Ordnance might have contracted with Inland to furnish a large quantity of M1A1 stocks in addition to the standard percentage of spare parts.

Early plans for Springfield Armory to take over the carbine program initially included plans for Springfield Armory to manufacture carbines. As the war and time progressed, the plans to manufacture carbines were dropped.

It is possible that some or all of the spare parts manufactured for use as replacements might have been assembled into complete M1A1 stocks by Springfield or other facilities.

U.S. Ordnance
Inspect & Rebuild Operations

Inland Paratrooper Carbine Serial Numbers

Inspect and repair operations were ongoing throughout WWII and afterwards by Ordnance field personnel. Repair operations in the field were limited to parts on hand. Field rebuild operations were limited in scope and also limited by the availability of parts.

Massive Inspect and Rebuild Operations under the management of U.S. Army Ordnance are known to have occurred post WWII and again at some facilities after the War in Korea. The exact dates of these operations at the various stateside facilities are not known. Ordnance contracted for Inspect and Rebuild operations to be done outside the United States as early as June 6, 1945 at Fabrique Nationale in Belgium, where it continued until June 23, 1946. Howa Machinery in Nagoya, Japan was also contracted from approximately 1947-1949.

Workers at Fabrique Nationale during Inspect & Rebuild Operations 1945-1946

Ordnance directions for these operations called for complete disassembly of each carbine (M1A1 stocks included), after which the parts were forwarded to inspection stations specific to the parts. Some parts were upgraded, some passed inspection, some were replaced, and some were refinished. Rotary safeties, adjustable rear sights, and barrel bands with bayonet lugs were standard Ordnance upgrades for all carbines.

Inland Paratrooper Carbine Serial Numbers

When the parts met Ordnance specifications they were forwarded to a reassembly station from which carbines were rebuilt without regard as to who manufactured which part. Carbines were reassembled into M1A1 stocks without regard as to who originally made the receivers.

The degree to which this happened varied, depending on a number of factors that included the availability of replacement parts and deadlines that were sometimes altered to expedite the operations. Many M1A1 carbines that went into these operations came out with M1 stocks due to a lack of replacement parts and because there was no attempt to put an action into its original stock type.

After a carbine was completely re-assembled and passed a final Ordnance inspection, the stocks were stamped with the initials of the facility that did the inspection, whether it was a stateside arsenal, armory, or a contracted facility. On the M1A1's these initials normally appear on the left side of the forestock above the hand grip, but they may be found on the right side of the forestock above the hand grip. If the letter P appears anywhere on the hand grip, it was added at the time of the final Ordnance inspection after an Inspection and Rebuild operation. The P may be within a circle or box. (refer to the page on Post WWII Ordnance Ops for further details, facilities and their letter designations)

Companies outside the continental United States contracted for Ordnance Inspect and Rebuild operations were prohibited from placing any marks on the small arms they serviced.

Rock Island Arsenal rebuild with initials of Ordnance District Commander	Augusta Arsenal rebuild (3rd letter varied)
Rebuild Proof Mark (anywhere on grip, any size, circled, boxed or otherwise)

Rebuild markings and the arsenals and armories they represent are covered in further detail on the page devoted to Post WWII Ordnance Operations.

Part	Manufacturer	Description
Forestock*:	Any	Walnut or Birch; Highwood, Low wood, or Highwood cut to low wood may or may not have OI inside stock at rear of cut for slide
Hand Grip:	Any	Walnut, Birch or Mahogany OI or RI over 3, SA, P-SC, or unmarked on bottom of grip
Hardware:	Any
Final Assembly:	U.S. Ordnance facility
Final Inspection:	U.S. Ordnance
Ordnance Acceptance Markings:	Ordnance Inspectors	-Armory/Arsenal letters on left rear of forestock -any P in any form anywhere on the handgrip
* Original GI M1A1 stocks did not have a cutout for the M2 selector lever

Rivets used during the Inspect and Rebuild operations were brass. Some were marked 7/4 on their face. The rivets were semi-tubular and rolled over the plate on the inside. At least one facility contracted by Ordnance outside the USA (FN) is known to have used rivets obtained locally.

And Beyond ...

U.S. Forces

During and after WWII, any M1A1 needing service or repair at any point in time may have been serviced by U.S. Ordnance field personnel anywhere in the world. The parts used depended on the availability of replacement parts. Absent replacement parts, the carbine was simply placed into a full sized stock as a Model M1 or possibly a Model M2 conversion.

While the M1A1 was not built as a select-fire carbine, GI's have long been known for a variety of field expedient conversions of various types. Specialized units with special needs had the ability to modify weapons to meet their needs. During the Korean War, a number of M1A1's were converted to select fire capability and unofficially referred to as M2A1's.

Other Nations

During WWII U.S. M1A1 Carbines were supplied to allies under the Lend-Lease Program and dropped to resistance fighters in Europe by the Office of Strategic Services (O.S.S.) and their British counterpart, the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E.). Post WWII the Military Assistance Program provided M1, M1A1 and M2 Carbines to many nations as military assistance. Replacement parts were often included. A number of nations utilized local sources for replacement parts (Greece is known to have made forestocks and used post-war M1A1 buttplates having the part number followed by a circled P...see parts below).

Police Agencies - U.S. & Abroad

Police departments throughout the world have used M1A1's, including the Detroit Police Department during the 1960's. Replacement parts were sometimes obtained by cannibalizing existing stocks.

Commercial or Personal Reconstructions, Reproductions, Replicas, and outright Fraud

The Model M1A1 Carbine has been one of the most highly sought U.S. Carbines since WWII. The limited number of originals manufactured, their attrition due to losses and use during and since WWII, and their high demand by many collectors willing to pay top dollar have made most unaffordable to the average shooter.

Since the mid 1950's a number of private commercial companies have manufactured a variety of replacement parts that appear similar to the originals. Several companies have produced after-market M1A1 stocks that are now widely available. A number of companies have produced commercial versions of the M1A1 Carbine, including Auto-Ordnance (Kahr Arms), Fulton Armory and James River Armory (under the trade name 'RockOla Firearms'). Additional companies have produced M1A1 airsoft and/or air rifles, and some have produced non-firing replica M1A1 Carbines (Denix of Spain).

Authentic vs. Reconstructions

Reconstructions using original parts with after market parts have become common. Some are sold as what they are, and some are represented as all authentic (intentionally or unintentionally). Fortunately, the original M1A1 stocks have a number of unique features that have not been replicated accurately. These features are included in the parts section that follows. Buyers would do well to get to know these features along with historical data provided above.

The Parts Forestocks Highwood Walnut used during Inland's 1st production run and at the beginning of their 2nd production run. Some had the highwood cut to the low wood at some point after leaving Inland. May or may not have the large circled P on the rear of forestock used as a proof test fire mark. Arsenal letters, usually on left rear, indicate the stock was on a carbine subjected to a stateside U.S. Ordnance inspect and rebuild program. Low wood Walnut used during Inland's 2nd production run. Arsenal letters, usually on left rear, indicate the stock was on a carbine subjected to a stateside U.S. Ordnance inspect and rebuild program. Inset for tubular stock was milled, leaving pronounced edges as opposed to smooth curves (white arrows). Wear from contact with the buttplate (black arrow) Note the shape/contour of the rear of the forestock ALL forestocks manufactured during WWII were manufactured by S.E. Overton for Inland and marked OI (IO) inside at rear of slide channel cut, just forward of cross support. Hand Grips Manufactured by S.E. Overton Manufactured by J.S. Richardson & Springfield Armory Note both have relatively straight backs Bottom of hand grips were often rough and unfinished making markings difficult to see. This area was often smoothed by repeated folding of the tubular stock, removing part or all of any markings. Mark Manufacturer Wood OI S.E. Overton for the Inland Division of General Motors walnut RI 3 J.S. Richardson for the Inland Division of General Motors walnut S or SA Springfield Armory 1945-1946 walnut & birch PS-C replacement grips * birch (none) replacement grips walnut & birch * manufactured during WWII in 1945 and possibly post WWII. Manufacturer MAY have been Frank Purcell Walnut Lumber of Kansas City, KS, a WWII subcontractor for stock manufacturer Sprague & Carlton of Keene, NH. Information from The M1 Carbine, A Revolution in Gunstocking by Grafton & Barbara Cook indicates some late manufactured grips were made from mahogany. U.S. Ordnance Acceptance Marks were for completely assembled M1A1 Carbines that passed final inspection. Replacement parts, M1A1 stocks absent a carbine, and M1A1 Carbines assembled that were not inspected by U.S. Ordnance did not receive these marks. Handgrip Ordnance Acceptance Marks Mark Location Time Period Small Crossed Cannons Bottom of Handgrip Inland 1st Production run: November 1942 thru October 1943 Medium Crossed Cannons Right side of Handgrip Inland 2nd Production run: May thru December 1944 P alone, encircled or within square Anywhere on Handgrip Rebuild proof mark Post WWII Manufacture markings and Ordnance crossed cannons have intentionally been omitted from this web page. Dies for replicating these marks are widely available but authentic parts had variations in fonts, size, location, etc. that we do not wish to share to educate those who seek to accurately replicate them. For questions regarding authentic manufacturer and Ordnance marks please post your queries with pictures on one of the Carbine Discussion Forums indicated at the bottom of this page. Tubular Bar Extensions, Upper & Lower The bar extensions were constructed using .312' diameter hollow metal tubing into which the solid steel Lock and Hinge were welded (not brazed) onto the ends that attached to the Hinge Screw. The Tubing, Lock, Hinge and their weld were then case hardened and parkerized. The top extension tube includes a detent (arrow) for proper positioning of the Cheek Rest Plates. The general shape and size of the weld marks where the tubes were attached to the solid metal Lock and Hinge pieces are consistent in appearance on all GI bar extensions. The color of the parkerized welds should match the tubes and end pieces. Cheek Rest Plate & Cheek Rest Cover Retaining Plate Together the Cheek Rest Plate and Cheek Rest Cover Retaining Plate served as a mount for the leather cheek piece and strengthened the stock tubing extension. The plates were placed over either side of the center of the tubing extension. The leather cheek piece was placed over the Cheek Rest Plate. Rivets were placed through holes in the leather, Cheek Rest Plate and Cheek Rest Cover Retaining Plate then peened to secure the three pieces to the tubing extension. Neither plate has a manufacturers mark. Both were parkerized the same as the extension tubes. Cheek Rest Plate Outside Inside Cheek Rest Cover Retaining Plate Outside Inside The black arrow indicates the location of the nub that mates to the indent in the upper tube for proper placement of the plates. The width and height of the openings to either side of the oiler retention piece (white arrows) are worth examination. They're size was consistent throughout production. The width and height of these openings can vary with reproductions. Leather Cheekpiece & Rivets The Leather Cheekpiece was constructed from smooth or very lightly textured cowhide having a thickness of 2-3 oz. (1/32'-3/64'). The leather was dyed medium to dark brown or black. The leather covered the entire exterior surface of the Cheek Rest Plate wrapping over its edges. The leather was secured by pressure exerted on the edges of the leather when the Cheek Rest Cover Retaining Plate was secured to the Cheek Rest Plate with rivets. The fit of the leather between the plates left no visible gaps, folds or binding. A unique feature of all M1A1 cheek rests was the head of each rivet was inset into the leather and sat flush with the surface of the leather. None of the head protruded beyond the surface of the leather. Rivets were automotive brake shoe rivets with a solid head having a diameter of 3/8' that tapered sharply to a shank diameter of .191'-.010'. The overall length of the rivets was 9/32'. The majority of rivets used on the M1A1's were semi-tubular having a hole 3/16' deep in the rear of the shank. Solid rivets have been occasionally observed but were rare. When the shank of each rivet was peened it rolled over the rivet hole forming the shape of a donut, not flattened. Semi-tubular rivets have a donut 'hole' that is absent with solid rivets. Rivets during the period of Inland's first production run were brass. Brass rivets were common throughout production. During Inland's second production run steel rivets were also used. The heads of brass rivets were commonly painted black, steel rivets were parkerized. The black paint was commonly obliterated with use and time. Brass rivets marked 7/4 on the head were used during inspect and rebuild operations. The 7 indicated a head diameter of 3/8', the 4 indicates an overall shank length of 4/16'. Replacement Rivets At any point in the life of an M1A1 stock, if the M1A1 buttplate, metal extension bar(s) or leather cheekpiece required replacement it was necessary to remove the rivets and cheek plates. Reassembly required the use of new rivets. Recoil Plate The M1A1 Recoil Plate was machined from solid steel and parkerized. It has no manufacturers mark. Recoil Plate Cover The Recoil Plate Cover was made from sheet metal and parkerized. It has no manufacturers mark. Recoil Plate with Recoil Plate Cover Mounted on an M1A1 Carbine Grip Screws An early wood grip screw that saw limited use was approximately 2.125' in length with threads .870' in length. This screw extended only .870' into the handgrip. When pressure was applied to the handgrip it tended to crack due to lack of support. The vast majority of wood grip screws were 2.75' in length with threads 1.80' in length. The threads engaged both the handgrip and forestock. The head diameter and angle of both wood screws matched the depth and angle of the hole in the top of the recoil plate so that the screw head sat flush with the top of the recoil plate with no lateral movement when the screw was fully inserted. Hinge Screw The Hinge Screw was 5.2' in length with a .50' in diameter head. The diameter and shape changed at various points along the screw to accommodate the various parts that fit onto the screw at various points along the shaft. The main shaft was .290' in diameter that was reduced to .250' in diameter 3.15' from the top for proper positioning of the Washer. Hinge Screws were parkerized and unmarked. Washer Washers were .505' in diameter and .062' thick. The center hole was .254' in diameter. They were unfinished and unmarked. Locking Spring The Locking Spring was 1.310' in overall unassembled length with 9 coils in a right hand twist having an outside diameter of .50'. The wire was .076' thick providing approximately 93 lbs. of pressure when fully constricted. The ends were both squared and ground. They were unfinished and unmarked. Hinge Screw Spacer The Hinge Screw Spacer was 1.14-1.5' in length with an outside diameter of .31' and inside diameter of .25'. It was hardened, parkerized and unmarked. The dimensions of this part mates to those of the Hinge Screw, Locking Spring and inside of the Lower Hinge Assembly. These parts are usually not interchangeable with their commercial equivalents. Lower Hinge Assembly The Lower Hinge Assembly was one unit assembled using three separate parts: the Lower Hinge Shell, Rear Sling Eyelet and Lower Hinge Nut. After assembly the group was parkerized and left unmarked. The manufacture of these three parts and the manner in which they were assembled to one another helps to identify them from their commercial counterparts. The Rear Sling Eyelet was 1 11/32' wide and 3/32' thick. The eyelet opening was 1 1/32' wide and 1/4' deep with slightly rounded inner edges. The top of the Rear Sling Eyelet has two studs that mate to holes in the Lower Hinge Shell to prevent the Rear Sling Eyelet from rotating. On the inside of the Lower Hinge Shell these holes appear as circles. On the bottom of the Rear Sling Eyelet these are oval in shape (see pics above and below). The Lower Hinge Nut consists of two pieces that screw together to hold the assembly in place. Inside the Lower Hinge Shell the nut is countersunk on the inside to hold the Hinge Screw Spacer. Note the angle of the walls on the inside of the nut. Commercial replicas are absent this feature. The lower half of the Lower Hinge Nut has 2 short bullet shaped spanner wrench notches. Non GI Lower Hinge Assemblies are absent the spanner wrench notches. A few unscrupulous people have attempted to replicate these notches. Lower Hinge Screw The Lower Hinge Screw of the M1A1 stock is the buttplate screw of the M1/M2 stocks. Buttplate Spring The Buttplate Spring consists of two coiled ends approximately .38' in diameter with each having a length of approximately .30'. At the outer end of each coil the wire made a 70 degree turn stopping at the outer diameter of the coil. These ends engaged slots in the tubes that held the spring in place. Between the two coils the .036 diameter wire was straightened approximately .66' to engage the buttplate to place tension on the spring. The springs were parkerized. Replacement springs were unfinished. Over time the spring and coils commonly stretched beyond their original width. Replacing the spring requires removal of the rivets and leather cheekpiece. Buttplate The M1A1 Buttplate was cast using a sand/resin squeeze mold having multiple cavities to produce 12 buttplates at a time. All markings were part of the mold and imprinted during the casting process. The buttplates these molds produced have a sandy texture on the inside often making the markings difficult to identify. The markings started with the part number B257614, followed by what appears to be a spoked wheel, then a number from 1-12 (indicating the mold position). The spoked wheel identifies the foundry as Saginaw Malleable Iron in Saginaw, Michigan. All authentic WWII M1A1 buttplates were cast by this foundry. Part number B257614, Foundry symbol, number indicating the mold position (1-12) The M1A1 buttplate below has been found on some of the M1A1's returned to the U.S. Army by Greece. Greece is known to have arranged for the production of replacement stocks for the M1A1. It is absent the sand texture consistent with the sand/resin mold and the number used to indicate the mold position. It indicates part number 6257614. The spoked wheel is absent and in its place is an encircled F. Part number B257614 followed by encircled F The B257614 on GI M1A1 buttplates during WWII was the U.S. Ordnance drawing and part number used under the U.S. Standard Nomenclature List (SNL). This inventory system was replaced with the U.S. Federal Stock Number (FSN) system in the 1950's. Under the FSN system the M1A1 buttplate designation became 6257614. No documentation has been found to indicate who manufactured this buttplate. However, the encircled F was used by Ferro Machine Company, a subcontractor for Ford, on M1 Garand barrels manufactured circa 1956-57 as well as U.S. Carbine Flash Hiders and Recoil Checks manufactured sometime during the late 1950's and mid 1960's. It's possible U.S. Army Ordnance or the U.S. State Department contracted Ferro Machine Company to manufacture these M1A1 buttplates which they provided as military assistance or aid to Greece.

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U.S. Carbine Caliber .30, M1, M2, and M3

ABOVE: Circa 1950, an Air Force officer with his modernized version of the M2 carbine featured an in-line stock, raised sights, muzzle brake and bipod.

Most readers of SAR are familiar with the current U.S. military issue M4 carbine, but some may not know why it was designated as the M4. This article is a brief history of the M4’s predecessors.

In 1938, as a result of numerous surveys of the U.S. Army Field Forces, the Chief of Infantry outlined to the Adjutant General, and the Chief of Ordnance, certain weapons requirements of the infantry. In these requirements he stated that the advisability of equipping ammunition carriers, machine gun crew members, mortar crews and administrative personnel, with a light-weight shoulder weapon. The document dated September, 1938 requested consideration by the Office of the Chief of Ordnance. An evaluation of the Chief of Infantry’s request was made in November of 1938. The use of a new light rifle was not favorably considered at that time.

With the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Chief of Infantry resubmitted his request for the development of a light rifle. This time the suggestion was considered and by June of 1940 the War Department acted to initiate a weapon development program. By directive 00 474.5/120 from the U.S. Secretary of War, the Chief of Ordnance was ordered to undertake the development, testing, and selection of a light rifle. It was estimated that 500,000 of the new light rifles would be needed, which turned out to be a very conservative figure.

The Chief of Infantry submitted general requirements for the proposed weapon, these were:

Not less than .27 caliber.
Not more than 5-pound weight with a loaded twenty round magazine.
Effective range not less than 300 yards.
Operating system to be semiautomatic, bolt or lever action.
Five or seven round capacity, seven rounds preferred.
Fixed aperture sights, effective to 300 yards.
Ammunition to have mid-range ordinate of no more than eighteen-inches at 300 yards.
Barrel should be short.
A 1903 type sling should be used.

The Cavalry (Armored Forces) and other combat units concurred with the Infantry’s requirements. The Chief of Infantry specifically recommended that each of the following be developed for possible use:

A light semiautomatic rifle
A submachine gun type
A bolt action rifle

The desired characteristics for the light weight rifle were prepared by October of 1940 and were approved at an Ordnance Committee meeting. The requirements were presented to eleven manufacturers and individuals by the end of 1940 including:

The Auto-Ordnance Corporation
Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company.
Hi Standard Manufacturing Company.
Johnson Automatics.
Marlin Firearms.
J.D. Peterson.
Remington Arms Company.
Savage Arms Company.
Smith & Wesson
Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

Each concern received a circular listing weapon requirements, a drawing of the new .30 carbine caliber cartridge and minimum chamber requirements. Within a few months, twenty-five corporations and individuals were invited to submit a design with testing scheduled for 8 May 1941 at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Several weapons that were submitted were immediately rejected. As a result of the preliminary testing certain changes were recommended in the original requirements. The weight was increased to 5.5 pounds and the full-automatic requirement eliminated.

U.S. Carbine, Caliber, .30 M1

The Winchester Repeating Arms entry was the eventual winner of the light rifle trials. The Winchester carbine used a unique short-stroke tappet gas system, and was adopted as Carbine, Caliber .30, M1 in October of 1941. By the war’s end there were more carbines manufactured than any other U.S. small arm. A number of diverse companies manufactured the carbine during the war; these prime contractors were supported by hundreds of subcontractors. Many of the prime contractors involved in the carbine program had no previous gun making experience, many of them manufacturers of music boxes, automotive parts and business machinery, rallied for the war effort to manufacture 6,079,648 carbines by 1945. Although the price of the carbine varied by contractor and contract, the average cost was approximately $50 per weapon. M1 Carbine prime contractors were: Winchester, Inland (Division of General Motors), Underwood-Elliot-Fisher, National Postal Meter (A very limited number were made under the name Commercial Controls Corporation), Rock-Ola, Quality Machine and Hardware, Standard Products, Saginaw Steering Gear (Division of General Motors), International Business Machine (IBM), Irwin-Pederson Arms Company (their contract was taken over by Saginaw).

Years manufactured: M1:1941-1945 (M2: 1945 only)
Magazine capacity: fifteen and thirty round box
Caliber: .30 carbine, 110 grain round nose bullet, 1,970 fps
Cyclic rate (M2 only): 750-775 rounds per minute
Operation: gas operated, closed locked bolt, select-fire (M2)
Weight: 5.2 lbs. (M1A1 model 5.5 lbs.)
Barrel length: 18 inches
Overall length: 35.75 inches (M1A1 length, stock folded 25.75 inches; stock extended 35.75 inches)

U.S. Carbine, Caliber, .30 M1A1

To make the carbine more compact for paratrooper use, the M1 carbine was fitted with a side-folding metal buttstock and wooden pistol grip. Carbines in this configuration were designated as the M1A1. With the stock in a folded position the overall length was reduced to 25.75 inches. With the stock unfolded, the overall length of the M1A1 was the same as an M1 carbine. The M1A1 was specifically designed for airborne troops and the action was the same as an M1 carbine. The only manufacturer of the M1A1 was the Inland Division. A total of 140,591 were manufactured from 1942-45. There were no M1A1 carbines originally manufactured as select-fire M2s.

Cartridge, Carbine, Caliber .30

Winchester had also developed a new mid-range cartridge to be used in the new “light rifle.” The cartridge was designated as, Cartridge, Carbine, Caliber .30 M1 and was approved as Standard on 30 September 1941. The Ordnance Department awarded contracts to the Western Cartridge Company, Winchester Repeating Arms, Remington Arms Company, Lake City Ordnance Plant and the Kings Mills Ordnance Plant. While corrosive primers were used in World War II .30-06 and .45 ACP caliber U.S. service cartridges, the .30 caliber carbine rounds all utilized non-corrosive primers. The decision to use non-corrosive primers greatly extended the service life of the carbine’s barrel.

The original configuration of the .30 caliber carbine cartridge was changed early in 1942. The original .30 caliber 110-grain projectile had a cup style base, which tests had shown was unstable during firing, and would often leave a ring of gilding metal in the forward end of the chamber. A new flat base 110-grain projectile was designed to eliminate the problem. The type of powder used in the carbine cartridge was also changed. The original DuPont powder proved to be too bulky for the small case. To achieve a higher projectile velocity a new DuPont powder was introduced. The new powder increased the carbine’s muzzle velocity to 1,970 feet per second and raised the chamber pressure to 40,000 psi.

In September of 1944, the nomenclature of the .30 carbine round was changed to Cartridge, Ball, Carbine, Caliber .30 M1. The change, adding the word “ball,” was to avoid confusion with the newly adopted tracer and grenade launching cartridges developed for the carbine.

The early characteristics of the new cartridge were:
Bullet weight: 110 grains.
Charge weight: 14.5 grains of IMR 4227
Primer: Winchester No. 116
Pressure: 31,000 psi
Muzzle velocity 1,860 feet per second.

The new specifications for the improved carbine cartridge were:
Bullet weight; 110 grains
Charge: DuPont 4809 or Hercules 3950.8B (alternate)
Primer: commercial non-corrosive
Pressure: 40,000 psi
Muzzle velocity 1,970 feet
per second

In September of 1944, the nomenclature of the .30 carbine round was changed to Cartridge, Ball, Carbine, Caliber .30 M1. The change, adding the word “ball”, was to avoid confusion with the newly adopted tracer and grenade launching cartridges developed for the carbine.

U.S. Carbine, Caliber .30, M2

The original 1940 requirements for the carbine included a select-fire feature. In order to get a new weapon developed quickly, this requirement was dropped. The select-fire M2 would not be fully developed and subsequently adopted until the fall, 1944.

Early in 1944, the Inland Division began to develop a method to convert the M1 carbine into a select-fire weapon. Two Inland engineers, Paul Hamisch and Frederick Sampson, designed a conversion that required only a few new parts along with minimum changes to the weapon’s original design. The experimental select-fire M1 carbine was designated as the T4. After extensive testing of the modified carbine, the weapon was recommended for adoption as the Carbine Caliber .30, M2 in September of 1944 and was adopted as Standard in October 1944. Subsequently, the M1 and M1A1 carbines were reclassified as Limited Standard. By the time the weapon began getting into the hands of the troops in the field the war in Europe was almost over. The M2 carbine saw little combat use in World War II.

The firepower of the M1 carbine was greatly increased with the introduction of the select-fire M2 version. Like a submachine gun, the full-automatic M2 was effective for close-in combat situations and street fighting. The M2 could also be used effectively in the semiautomatic mode at longer ranges, where a pistol caliber submachine gun could not. Original M2s were only manufactured by Inland (199,500 M2 carbines), and Winchester (17,500 M2 carbines). Early Winchester M2s were marked by over-stamping the numeral 1 on the front of the receiver with a number 2. All later manufacture M2s were factory roll-marked “M2.” Original Inland and Winchester M2s all have high serial numbers over 6,000,000. There were a few very early Inland M2s manufactured with six digit serial numbers beginning with zero. Original manufacture M2 carbines were usually factory fitted with late style features, such as the adjustable style rear sight, improved safety lever and the barrel band with the bayonet lug.

The M2’s published cyclic rate was from 750 to 775 rounds per minute. A large capacity 30-round magazine was introduced to keep up with the M2’s high rate of fire. The carbine’s light weight together with its relatively fast cyclic rate made it somewhat difficult to control in the full-auto mode of fire. One item designed specifically for controlling muzzle rise on the M2 carbine was the M1 recoil check or muzzle brake.

Some M1 carbines were converted to the M2 configuration by using the “Kit, Conversion T17.” This kit contained all the parts needed for unit armorers to upgrade their M1 carbines to the M2 status. Many existing M1s that were converted were remarked by over-stamping the number 1 with a 2 on the receiver by hand. After World War II ended in Europe, FN Belgium was contracted to inspect and rebuild carbines, and convert some of them to the M2 configuration. The FN program was completed in 1946. Virtually all weapons returned to the U.S. were rebuilt before being placed into long term storage after the war. During the Ordnance Department rebuilding programs, a large number of M1 carbines were also rebuilt to M2 specifications. Just a few years later, the M2 carbine would see its share of combat action in the Korean Conflict.

U.S. Carbine, Caliber, .30 M3

Based on scientific experiments begun in the 1930s, the “Sniperscope, T120” was developed in late 1943. Electronic devices could distinguish objects illuminated by infrared light and make them visible in a telescope. A 6-volt light with an infrared filter mounted under the stock provided invisible light to illuminate an area up to a distance of 400 feet. This combination of a light source and telescope using infrared light became the first practical night vision sight. A handle and a switch for the light were mounted on the stock. Both the telescope and the light source got their power from a heavy, lead-acid wet cell battery carried in a canvas pack.

Before the M3 carbine and M1 sniperscope were type-classified, they were known as the T3 and T120, respectively. The M3 was a carbine fitted with a mount designed to accept an infrared sight for use at night. It was initially used with the M1 sniperscope, an active infrared sight, and saw action in 1945 with the Army during the invasion of Okinawa. An improved M2 sniperscope extended the effective nighttime range of the M3 carbine out to 100 yards. Both the M1 and M2 sniperscopes had the light source located below the stock.

The original T-3 version of the carbine was complicated, requiring a number of unique parts to mount the sniperscope. Eventually it was decided to design a simple kit that would enable a standard M1 or M2 carbine to be easily converted to use night vision sights in the field. The special mounting parts would be included with the sight sets. A new flash hider was added to conceal the user’s position. Mass production of the improved infrared night vision system began in 1950 with the “20,000 volt Set No. 1.” This could be mounted on any M1 or M2 carbine, making it an “M3” Carbine. The M3 sniperscope had a large active infrared spotlight mounted on top of the scope body itself, allowing its use with the operator in a prone position. The revised M3 had an effective range of around 125 yards. The improvements in this system included better electronics, resulting in better vision, but were still limited. Fog and rain further reduced the weapon’s effective range. Heavy weight and short battery life remained major shortcomings.

The U.S. M1 and M2 carbines remained in U.S. Army service until the M14 was accepted as their standard weapon in 1957. However, the service life of the carbine had not ended. The U.S. Air Force and Navy still issued them, and the carbine would see more action in the Vietnam War. Large numbers of carbines were provided to many allies and some former enemies as military aid.