Make: Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors

 

 

Model: M1 Carbine

 

 

Serial Number: 3514955

 

 

Year of Manufacture: 5/1943-3/1944. No barrel date present.  

 

 

Caliber: .30 Carbine

 

 

Action Type: Semi Auto, fed by Detachable Magazine

 

 

Markings: 

 

 

Barrel "SAGINAW S.G. DIV.  /  GENERAL MOTORS" and a "P". 

 

 

Barrel band "J.M.Q."

 

 

Bayonet Lug “EM-Q” Elgin Metal Novelty Co.  

 

 

Receiver "U.S. CARBINE / CAL. 30 M1" / "SAGINAW S.G. / 3514955".   

 

 

Mag release "M"  

 

 

Front sight Unmarked 

 

 

Rear sight “I.R.C.O. 7160060” International Register CO.

 

 

Hammer "-U-" Underwood

 

 

Trigger group "-U-" Underwood, the bottom of the trigger guard has a flaming bomb. 

 

 

Sear "R.I."-Inland

 

 

Safety "SS"

 

 

Recoil Lug "SG"

 

 

Slide "-U-" and "M" 

 

Handguard "R.S.G." 

 

 

The left flank Stock "RIA / EB" for Rock island Armory, post WWII rework or inspection mark. 

 

 

Sling cut "RSG / X". 

 

 

The right flank "SG" and ordnance wheel.    

 

 

The oiler "SI" International Silver Co.

 

 

Magazine carrier "U.S."    

 

 

Barrel Length 18"

 

 

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

 

 

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an oval cut, low wood, with two rivet handguard, type 3 barrel band with bayonet lug, later rotary style safety and metal checkered butt plate. The LOP measures 13.25" from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate. The wood has been sanded and refinished. The inside of the stock shows a crack forming that has been repaired with the brass pin visible from the outside. The wood shows some minor surface level lines and compressions. The rear edge of the upper handguard shows some small chips that have been finished over. The most notable mar is a small scratch on the right side towards the nose just above the locking spring. The butt plate shows rub wear with finish loss and some surface rust freckling around the edges. Overall the stock is in Very Good condition.      

 

 

Type of Finish: Parkerized, blued. 

 

 

Finish Originality: Refinished. 

 

 

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is well defined. There is no visible erosion in the bore. The lands show some barely visible pitting from use. The bore rates 9.25/10. 

 

 

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish. The bolt retains almost all of its finish showing only very minor rub wear. The finish has turned a dark brown almost black with age. The recoil plate shows some surface rust freckling forming. The action is very smooth. The surface of the rifle has some caked old oil scattered throughout. The markings range from Illegible to clear. 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: Stock mounted magazine carrier, green canvas sling, oiler, and a 5-round magazine.  

 

 

Our Assessment: This Saginaw Gear M1 Carbine was produced between May 1943 and March 1944 by the Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors, one of the wartime contractors brought in to meet the enormous demand for lightweight infantry carbines. It retains a correct, non-date-stamped Saginaw Gear barrel, an Underwood trigger group, and a Rock-Ola made stock supplied to Saginaw during mid-war production. The stock's markings are surprisingly clear, with sharp “SG” and ordnance wheel markings, as well as a clear “RIA EB” Rock Island Arsenal rebuild stamp, indicating the rifle was arsenal-inspected and refinished to continue in government service after World War II . This example is a classic representation of Saginaw’s production history: a mid-war carbine with authentic component mix, excellent surviving stock markings, and verifiable signs of post-war armory use.