Make: Quality Hardware & Machine Co.

 

 

Model: M1 Carbine, with detachable spring tube receiver.

 

 

Serial Number: 1930833

 

 

Year of Manufacture: September-October of 1943

 

 

Caliber: .30 Carbine

 

 

Action Type: Semi-Automatic fed by detachable magazines.

 

 

Markings:

 

 

Receiver Rear: "QUALITY H.M.C." and "1930833".

 

 

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

 

 

Barrel: "ROCK-OLA" and "P"

 

 

Barrel Band: "KI"-Keeler Brass

 

 

Gas Block: "ROCK-OLA"

 

 

Rear sight: Shield "H"-Hemphill mfg.

 

 

Slide: "PI"-Packard Inland and "P" on the flat.

 

 

Trigger group: "Q-NL"-National Lock Co for QHMC

 

 

Mag Catch: "MWA"

 

 

Rotary Safety: "CM"

 

 

Sear: "GE-Q" Gerrard CO.

 

 

Hammer: "LT-Q" Ludlow Typograph

 

 

Handguard: "H.I." Hillerich and Bradsby aka Louisville Slugger

 

 

Stock: "Q-RMC" ROCK-OLA for QHMC with an ordnance wheel

 

 

Sling: "MRT 9-62"

 

 

Barrel Length: 18"

 

 

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

 

 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an oval cut, high wood with 4-rivet handguard, type 3 barrel band with bayonet lug, and a checkered metal butt plate. The LOP measures 13.25". The wood has been partially sanded and refinished. The wood shows light compressions and lines with a few small nicks in the finish. The sling cut and rivet holes show some small chips around the edges. There are no cracks. The butt plate retains almost all of its finish, has good checkering, and a small spot of surface rust. Overall the stock is in about Very Good condition.

 

 

Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes 4 x 15rd magazines marked "MN", "U", "BW", "SQ SP-S'G'", 2 x 5rd magazines both unmarked, and 1 x 30rd magazine marked "SEY". 7 magazines total. The magazines range in condition from Fair+ to Very Good+.

 

 

Type of Finish: Parkerized

 

 

Finish Originality: Original to parts with some of the parts in the trigger group having been replaced.

 

 

Bore Condition: The bore is very bright and the rifling is very well defined. The last inch of one of the grooves shows some minor pitting with discoloration from surface rust. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.25/10.

 

 

Overall Condition: The rifle retains about 97% of its finish. The finish has turned mostly green with some brown spots from age. The friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver show very little rub wear. The exposed portion of the barrel has a few small marks. The front sight blade shows some discoloration. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in 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: This rifle includes the magazines mentioned above, an oiler and a green canvas sling.

 

 

Our Assessment: This M1 Carbine manufactured by Quality Hardware & Machine Corp. in 1943 is a relatively scarce example from WWII. Quality Hardware produced only about 4.2% of total M1 Carbines, making its rifles less common than those from major contractors. Notably, Quality was unique in that it subcontracted nearly all its parts, focusing solely on final assembly. The Rock-Ola barrel and stock on this example are historically appropriate and desirable, as Rock-Ola, best known as a jukebox manufacturer, produced many components for various contractors while also manufacturing complete carbines themselves.

The upper handguard was produced by Hillerich & Bradsby, another known wartime subcontractor mostly known for producing Louisville Slugger baseball bats. The rifle retains its original finish, adding to its historical integrity, though the trigger, safety, and magazine catch were replaced at some point during its service life. Included with the carbine are a sling and a variety of magazines, making this a well-rounded and highly usable example of a mid-war Quality Hardware carbine with strong cross-contractor representation.