Make: Inland Division receiver finished by National Postal Meter

 

 

Model: M1 Carbine

 

 

Serial Number: 126992

 

 

Year of Manufacture: May 1942-Dec. 1943, Barrel Date 3-1952

 

 

Caliber: .30 carbine

 

 

Action Type: Semi automatic rifle fed by detachable magazines.

 

 

Markings:

 

 

Receiver: Lined out "INLAND DIV. / 126992" with "N" on the bevel. "8" on the lug.

 

 

Receiver Front: "U.S. CARBINE", "CAL .30 M1".

 

 

Barrel: "S A 3 52", "P", "M"

 

 

Barrel Flat: Ordnance wheel.

 

 

Front sight: "N"

 

 

Barrel band: "Q"

 

 

Inside of the slide: "AOB" Auto-Ordinance

 

 

Bolt: "-U-" Underwood

 

 

Rear sight: Shield "H", Hemphill Mfg.

 

 

Trigger group: "-U-" Underwood, "202"

 

 

Magazine catch: "CCM"

 

 

Safety: "SS"

 

 

Hammer: "HI" Inland

 

 

Magazine: "KI" Keeler Brass

 

 

Stock: "IO" Inland Overton, "126 992", "429", "50", "202", "1", and a Circle "P" acceptance

stamp on the pommel.

 

 

Upper handguard: "IO" Inland Overton

 

 

Barrel Length: 18"

 

 

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade set between protective ears. The rear sight is a later style sliding aperture sight with a serrated windage knob dovetailed to the receiver.

 

 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an oval cut, low wood stock with a four rivet handguard, a type 3 barrel band with bayonet lug and a rotary safety. The LOP is 13.25". The wood shows several large chips, compressions, scratches and marks scattered throughout the set. The upper handguard is loose. There is a small crack coming from the rear of the recoil lug. The butt plate has lost most of its finish, turned brown with patina, and shows rust and rub wear around the edges. Overall this stock is in Fair+ condition.

 

 

Magazine Quantity & Condition: One 15 round magazine in Good+ overall condition.

 

 

Type of Finish: Parkerized

 

 

Finish Originality: Original

 

 

Bore Condition: The bore is very bright, with very well defined rifling. The bore shows minor scattered marks and very light fouling. There is no pitting or erosion. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.

 

 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 75% of its metal finish. The metal finish has turned brown with patina. The friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver show minor rub wear. The trigger guard shows the heaviest area of patina. There are a few scattered minor spots of surface rust freckling in some of the recesses. The markings are mostly clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in about Fair+-Good condition.

 

 

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

 

 

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: One magazine.

 

 

Our Assessment: This M1 Carbine features an Inland Division "line-out" receiver that was delivered to National Postal Meter for completion, a practice seen early in wartime production when receiver shortages and production pressures required manufacturers to share components. The receiver dates to the May 1942 to Dec. 1943 period. As part of its transfer, the original Inland marking was deliberately lined out and an "N" added to the receiver bevel, identifying it as a National Postal Meter finished "line-out" carbine, an accepted and documented wartime practice not a postwar alteration.

The rifle is fitted with a Springfield Armory replacement barrel dated March 1952, along with other post war parts, indicating an arsenal rebuild during a U.S. military refurbishment program for continued service. Line-out carbines like this one are particularly interesting because they reflect the realities of wartime production and inter-factory cooperation.