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My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:04 pm
by The Annoyed Man
He's a sneaky one too.

Here is his Christmas gift to me:
Image

It's an Inland M1 Carbine, barrel stamped just behind the front sight:

INLAND MFG. DIV.
GENERAL MOTORS
7-43

On the left side of the barrel it has stamped:

N.A.Co.
RIDGEFIELD, N.J.

On the heel of the receiver is stamped:

INLAND DIV.
5028XX

That serial number puts it right square in the middle of the Inland serial number range, which would also be consistent with a 1943 manufacture date.

As you can see from the picture, the stock is in very good condition. There is one incipient little crack at right angles to the metal butt plate, near where the strap attaches to the the stock, but it looks like it might just be a surface blemish. The rear sight is the one that is adjustable for both elevation and windage, and the front sight has never been filed down, so I'm pretty sure that the rear sight is original to the gun.

One question for you guys who know more about these little gems than I do..... The carbine came without a magazine, so my son purchased a 15 round Kahr manufactured magazine for it. The mag seams to seat positively and release appropriately, but the bolt does not lock back with the empty mag inserted. Are the carbines supposed to have this feature, or were they designed to close on an empty mag? There is a pin in the top of the charging handle that, when depressed, locks the bolt open.....but there seems to be no mechanical means of the follower causing the bolt to lock open. Is that normal for these guns?

My son also got some ammo for it, but he didn't have it with him this morning. By the way, this is the exact same carbine I wrote about HERE. Apparently, my son had talked his boss into bringing it to the gun show, just to tease me with it. My son has done some work for his boss, building him an AR Carbine and is in process of building him a 6.5mm AR for hunting with, and I think the M1 carbine was part of the payment for his work. He first gave me a wrapped box with just the magazine in it. I recognized what it was immediately and shouted "No way!!" He laughed and said it's right behind your chair! I had been sitting in that chair for half an hour already and had no idea it was there. I told you guys he is a sneaky one.

I got him back though.... I gave him a wrapped box of 12 gauge target ammo, and then had him go fetch the box behind my bedroom door..... which contained his brand new Remington 11-87.

This is an extra special gift for me. My dad carried an M1 Carbine ashore on D-Day +3 at Iwo Jima and carried it into battle in Cushman's Pocket. I have my dad's sidearm from WW2, a 1943 Ithaca 1911A1; and now I also have a carbine just like the one he carried into battle, which was made in the same year as his pistol. I've wanted one of these little jewels since I was a boy, and for whatever reason, I've never permitted myself to own one...choosing to spend my gun money on other needs. I can't wait to go shoot the thing.

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:19 pm
by G26ster
TAM, the USGI 15 rd mags did not lock open either. They can be found on-line for $15-20, or you can spend about $6 for a KCI Korean Mag (outstanding mags) at Cheaper than Dirt. The rear sight was put on by order later in the war. The pin on the slide is the only way to lock back the bolt. Original 30 rd mags had a hold open feature though. The original flip sights had no windage adjustment. Original and NOT FAKE flip sights are super expensive ($150 & up) and add nothing to the gun. Yours is an earlier 6 digit Inland, so it has been thru an arsenal rebuild at some point to add the adjustable rear sight, bayonet lug type III barrel band and flip safety. N.A.Co. RIDGEFIELD, N.J. is the Importer. I'd be happy to help you ID all parts, check headspace, and muzzle errossion (I'm in Bedford) if you like. That there you have is a great Christmas gift!

EDIT: My books show your carbine made between Jul - Sep (most likely Aug) 1943.

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:29 pm
by The Annoyed Man
G26ster wrote:TAM, the USGI 15 rd mags did not lock open either. They can be found on-line for $15-20, or you can spend about $6 for a KCI Korean Mag (outstanding mags) at Cheaper than Dirt. The rear sight was put on by order later in the war. The pin on the slide is the only way to lock back the bolt. Original 30 rd mags had a hold open feature though. The original flip sights had no windage adjustment. Original and NOT FAKE flip sights are super expensive ($150 & up) and add nothing to the gun. Yours is an earlier 6 digit Inland, so it has been thru an arsenal rebuild at some point to add the adjustable rear sight, bayonet lug type III barrel band and flip safety. N.A.Co. RIDGEFIELD, N.J. is the Importer. I'd be happy to help you ID all parts, check headspace, and muzzle errossion (I'm in Bedford) if you like. That there you have is a great Christmas gift!
I PM'd you. Thanks for the kind offer.

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:31 pm
by The Annoyed Man
G26ster wrote:EDIT: My books show your carbine made between Jul - Sep (most likely Aug) 1943.
Well that would come close to the "7-43" stamped on the barrel.

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:49 pm
by G26ster
The Annoyed Man wrote:
G26ster wrote:EDIT: My books show your carbine made between Jul - Sep (most likely Aug) 1943.
Well that would come close to the "7-43" stamped on the barrel.
As barrels were manufactured independent of the receivers, they were married up on final production. There are no records of "exact" production dates for finished carbines, just for blocks of carbines. Yours falls into the 458100 - 740000 block range, and all ranges are listed as "approximate."

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 2:45 pm
by snatchel
Good looking, classic carbine TAM! Must say, im jealous..

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 2:47 pm
by Ameer
Get some reloading dies. That ammo is expensive!

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 3:04 pm
by G26ster
Ameer wrote:Get some reloading dies. That ammo is expensive!
Really? I pay less than $18 a box of 50 .30 Carbine Prvi Partisan FMJ or SP from a variety of on-line retailers (and at Cabela's when on sale). That's a whole lot less than most rifle ammo IMHO. But granted, reloading is cheaper like most ammo.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm? ... 18|830|856" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 5:41 pm
by The Annoyed Man
G26ster wrote:
Ameer wrote:Get some reloading dies. That ammo is expensive!
Really? I pay less than $18 a box of 50 .30 Carbine Prvi Partisan FMJ or SP from a variety of on-line retailers (and at Cabela's when on sale). That's a whole lot less than most rifle ammo IMHO. But granted, reloading is cheaper like most ammo.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm? ... 18|830|856" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Is the Prvi Partisan non-corrosive and reloadable?

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 5:43 pm
by Ldy AlliDu
Merry Christmas, it is very nice.

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 7:48 pm
by G26ster
The Annoyed Man wrote: Is the Prvi Partisan non-corrosive and reloadable?
Yes. The only corrosive ammo I know of is the Chinese knock off of Lake City (LC) ammo (Chinese uses 2 hole Berdan primers).

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 8:56 pm
by 74novaman
Very nice! And what a great addition to your fathers 1911. :tiphat:

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 10:18 pm
by speedsix
...glad for you to get such a thoughtful and wonderful son...who gives you gifts... :thumbs2:

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 12:07 am
by The Annoyed Man
I found this interesting link for the "Garand Carbine:" http://www.forgottenweapons.com/lorem-i ... ow=gallery

Re: My Son Loves Me :)

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 12:24 am
by G26ster
The Annoyed Man wrote:I found this interesting link for the "Garand Carbine:" http://www.forgottenweapons.com/lorem-i ... ow=gallery
The Garand Light Rifle (the only top feeder) was one of the original 9 submissions for "Light Rifle" testing in 1941. While all rifles failed to meet the requirements the first go round, they tested many again in the second trials. The eventual winner was the Winchester design, which was late into the competition. "War Baby! The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine" by Larry L. Ruth has two complete chapters devoted to the trials, with detailed photos, trial results, and specs of each rifle submitted for testing. Great book for M1 Carbine lovers!