Make: International Business Machine Corp., IBM

Model: M1 Carbine

Serial Number: 3711291

Year of Manufacture: August 1943-May 1944, Barrel date 10-1943

Caliber: .30 Cal Carbine

Action Type: Semi-Automatic carbine fed by detachable magazines.

Markings: No import mark

Receiver: “U.S. CARBINE CAL. 30 M1 / I.B.M. CORP. / 3711291”

Front sight: "SI B" IBM

Barrel: “I.B.M. CORP. 10 -43" flaming bomb, "P" 5" from front sight.

Band: "KVB" Knapp & Vogt for IBM

Slide: "AOB D" Auto-Ordinance for IBM

Bolt: "AOB" Auto-Ordinance for IBM

Rear Sight: "IN B" International Register Co. for IBM

Trigger group: "BE-B" IBM

Magazine release: “PR B” IBM

Hammer: “AM B" IBM

Sear: "SWSG" Star Watch & Case Co. for Saginaw Gear.

Stock: "RMC" Rock-Ola Music Co. Right Flank: small ordnance wheel.

Handguard: “JLB" Jamestown Lounge for IBM.

Magazine: "U"

Mag Carrier: "KADIN 1943"

Barrel Length: 18"

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade set between protective ears. The rear sight is the early style dual aperture flip style sight dovetailed to the receiver.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an "I" cut, high wood, type 1 barrel band, two rivet upper handguard, with a crossbolt safety and a checkered metal butt plate. The LOP measures about 13 1/8th” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate. The stock has been lightly sanded and refinished. The wood shows scattered lines, compressions, small nicks and scratches. There are no cracks. There are small chips missing from some of the edges. The metal butt plate has lost its finish, shows surface rust and rub wear but the checkering is well defined. Overall the stock set is in about Good+-Very Good condition.

Magazine Quantity & Condition: Includes one 15 round magazine in Very Good condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized / Blued

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright, with well defined rifling. There is minor visible pitting in the last inch of the bore towards the top of the barrel. There is fouling on the edges of the grooves. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 8/10.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. There is rub wear on the friction surfaces of the receiver, bolt and slide. The finish has turned green / brown with age and patina. There are the usual scattered marks and lines with some scattered small spots of surface rust notably on the trigger. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are mostly clear. Overall this rifle is in about Good+-Very 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: Includes the magazine, sling, and mag carrier.

Our Assessment: This IBM M1 Carbine was made by International Business Machines Corporation in late 1943, when the company had transitioned from producing office machines and business equipment to supporting the American war effort. IBM manufactured just over 346,000 M1 Carbines during World War II, making its rifles among the less common examples produced by the ten prime contractors. This carbine is fitted with its correct IBM barrel dated 10-1943, an excellent match for the receiver's production period. Like many early carbines, it retains the desirable dual-aperture flip rear sight, a feature later replaced on many rifles during postwar arsenal rebuilds, giving this example an authentic early-war appearance.

What makes this rifle especially appealing is the high degree of originality it has retained. Nearly every component remains correct for IBM, with the sear being the only notable exception. It is also fitted with a desirable Rock-Ola "I-cut" high wood stock, one of the period-correct stocks supplied to IBM during wartime production, highlighting the cooperative manufacturing effort between prime contractors. The combination of the correct October 1943 IBM barrel, early flip sight, and largely IBM-marked components makes this an excellent representation of a late-1943 production IBM M1 Carbine that has avoided the extensive upgrades commonly encountered on many surviving examples.