Make: Quality Hardware & Machine Co.
Model: M1 Carbine
Serial Number: 4647699
Year of Manufacture: March 1944 to May 1944
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Action Type: Semi-Auto, fed by detachable magazines with a removable spring tube.
Markings:
Top-rear receiver: "QUALITY H.M.C. 4647699".
Top-front receiver: "U.S. Carbine", "CAL .30 M1".
Barrel: "ROCK-OLA" with a "P" on top of the barrel about 5" from the front sight. Gas block "ROCK-OLA".
The barrel flat "2".
Front sight: "PO B"
Barrel band: "UI" Union Hardware
Rear sight: "GE-Q" and "S" Gerrard Co. for QHMC
Bolt: "EM-Q" Elgin Metal Novelty Co. for QHMC
Slide: "DA-Q" A. Dalkin & Co. for QHMC
Trigger group: "Q-NL" National Lock Co for QHMC.
Magazine catch: "LT-Q" Ludlow Typograph Co. for QHMC
Hammer: "LT-Q" Ludlow Typograph Co. for QHMC
Sear: "GE-Q" Gerrard Co. for QHMC
Handguard: "RMC" Rock-Ola music Co.
Sling well is marked with a faint "Q-RMC" Rock-Ola Music Co. for QHMC
Stock: Right Flank: Ordnance wheel. The right side of the forend is carved "PICK OKiNAWA ' 45".
Oiler: "IO"
Barrel Length: 18"
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade with protective ears. The rear sight is the early L type dual aperture "flip sight" dovetailed to the receiver.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an oval cut high-wood stock with a 2-rivet upper handguard, Type 1 barrel band, and a checkered metal butt plate. This rifle also has the cross bolt safety. The LOP measures about 13". The stock has been lightly sanded and refinished. The wood shows light scattered compressions and surface level lines. Some of the edges show small chips missing mainly on the nose and sling cut. The sighting groove of the upper handguard and right behind the recoil lug of the stock both show small cracks. The butt plate has lost its finish and shows surface rust. The rear of the wood shows some bleed over from the rust. Overall the stock set is in about Good condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized / Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling sharp. There is no erosion or pitting. In this writer's opinion the bore rates 9.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 65% of its metal finish. The surface shows discoloration from age with scattered spots of thinning and surface rust freckling mainly on the barrel. The bolt shows surface rust on the flat. The friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver show some rub wear. The action is smooth. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in about 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: Green sling.
Our Assessment: This Quality Hardware & Machine Co. M1 Carbine was manufactured between March and May of 1944 by Quality Hardware & Machine Co., one of the smaller prime contractors selected to produce M1 Carbines during World War II. Despite having no prior firearms manufacturing experience, Quality Hardware successfully produced over 350,000 carbines for the U.S. military through an extensive network of subcontractors. One of the most fascinating aspects of M1 Carbine collecting is tracing the many companies that supplied parts, and this rifle is an excellent example of a near correct Quality Hardware production gun. It is fitted with a non-dated Rock-Ola barrel and retains components manufactured by subcontractors including Gerrard & Company, Elgin Metal Novelty Company, National Lock Company, and Ludlow Typograph, all suppliers known to have furnished parts to Quality Hardware during wartime production. The rifle also retains its correct Q-RMC marked stock, a stock manufactured by Rock-Ola specifically for Quality Hardware carbines. The combination of a March-May 1944 Quality Hardware receiver, Rock-Ola barrel, Q-RMC stock, and the proper assortment of subcontractor-produced parts makes this an especially attractive example for collectors seeking a near correct World War II M1 Carbine.
