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Need an M-1 Carbine expert

loan sharkloan shark Member Posts: 130 ✭✭
edited February 2002 in Ask the Experts
At the recent Houston gun show I purchased a really nice Quality Hardware carbine. My problem is I can't figure out who the barrel maker was. Where you normally find the maker name and date at the top of the barrel just behind the front sight, my gun just has a "Z". Went through my Bruce Canfield carbine bible and find no reference telling who the barrel maker was. Any ideas?
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Comments

  • luger01luger01 Member Posts: 230 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Loan Shark,When the rifle is dissassembled (i.e., out of the stock), are there any other markings on the barrel? Is the gas cylinder swaged on, integral, or removable?I strongly suspect that you have a rifle with an aftermarket barrel installed.
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  • loan sharkloan shark Member Posts: 130 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    There are no other markings on the barrel.Correct me if I'm wrong, but I didn't think the carbine worked on a gas piston system. From what I read in the book, Quality Hardware pretty much only made receivers and sub contracted out all the other parts. Anybody else got any ideas? The guy I bought it from said he had it for 20+ years, before anybody thought about making after market parts.I feel pretty sure the gun is all original, but can't figure out the barrel.
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  • loan sharkloan shark Member Posts: 130 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT!! I knew it was original G.I. issue but had a hard time proving it.After emailing several other people, including Mr. Canfield, nobody could explain the "Z". After putting it under a high power magnifying glass, you can faintly read "MARLIN", which was a supplier for barrels. Instead of printing their name around the barrel, they stamped it along the LENGTH of the barrel. The "Z" I was seeing was in fact an "N" which is the last letter in MARLIN. I'm a happy camper now. Love my new carbine with all original G.I. parts. Get to shoot it this weekend.
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  • luger01luger01 Member Posts: 230 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good for you Loan Shark. Those magnifying glasses are great for ID-ing faint markings.I hate to throw any cold water on your find, but the barrel is not original. The Marlin barrel would have been put on during a re-fit operation after WWII - there are no WWII Marlin barrels.And yes, the M1 Carbine is operated by a gas piston. The cylinder is under the barrel and the piston is that small metal piece inside.IMHO, the Craig Riesch book, "U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production" is a MUST have for any M1 Carbine collector or fan. This is now out in it's second edition.[This message has been edited by luger01 (edited 02-05-2002).]
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  • loan sharkloan shark Member Posts: 130 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    luger01, thanks for the input.I knew I was not getting an "original issue" when I bought it. I knew by the markings on the stock, which told me it had been back to the Rock Island facility at some point for a re-fit. I have an all original Winchester that I won't shoot, but I wanted an original, all G.I. that I could shoot. My main concern was that it was all original G.I. issue, and not that it was mixed parts, which most of them are.I am now pleased with my purchase. By the way, would you happen to know if Marlin, did in fact, stamp their barrels along the length of the barrel instead of the traditional "around" the barrel marking?
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  • luger01luger01 Member Posts: 230 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I am not sure about that, but I will refer you to someone who may be better able to answer your question about the Marlin barrels. Go to www.fulton-armory.com and e-mail Clint. They sell Marlin barrels for Garands and maybe for Carbines as well. Fulton is a wonderful shop that does excellent work and a good place to get parts that you are tired of looking for.I've bought parts from them (and Numrich, as well as other places) and you can be sure you're getting top quality parts from Fulton Armory. I've also had them do some gunsmithing and was very satisfied with their work, prices, and turn-around time.
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  • loan sharkloan shark Member Posts: 130 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Luger01, thanks for the info. I will give them a ring, or whatever you call it now using email. I was really surprised there was not more responses to a heading such as this post. Are you and I the only carbine nuts out there?
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  • azgunnut2@yahoo.comazgunnut2@yahoo.com Member Posts: 305 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey ,Just saw this listing , been busy moving shop to new location......yes i think most the facts sre right...good luck with this ...& I AM A CARBINE NUT !!!!!!!!d.a. stearns - gunsmithgallery salessweetwater , tn423-351-7571
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  • azgunnut2@yahoo.comazgunnut2@yahoo.com Member Posts: 305 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey ,Just saw this listing , been busy moving shop to new location......yes i think most the facts sre right...good luck with this ...& I AM A CARBINE NUT !!!!!!!!d.a. stearns - gunsmithgallery salessweetwater , tn423-351-7571
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  • bartobarto Member Posts: 4,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    i also am a carbine nut BUT you were looking for an expert which i arent. barto
    the hard stuff we do right away - the impossible takes a little longer
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