Hello, new member with an old Carbine and looking for any info...

[Avi727]

Hello to all on the forum.

Sorry for my long, first post. I have an IBM carbine and I would like some help identifying as much as I can about it.

For various reasons, my gun collection has been in storage and pretty much unused for about 20 years. Now that my sons are old enough, I decided to teach them how to shoot (starting with a .22 rifle and a .22 pistol).

As I was showing them my M1, they asked about the markings all over the carbine. This piqued my curiosity, because I had never really thought about what the markings really meant, nor had I researched any of the markings (I didn't have the resources available to me at the time of purchase). But now with the inter web, I looked up as much information as I could, and was able to decipher a little bit of info. But of course it's very difficult to identify all of the markings on a rebuilt carbine, which mine most certainly is.

Disclaimer: I know it is a rebuilt import, kind of beat-up, and might not be worth a lot of money, and that's ok to me. In the past, I had a lot of fun shooting this carbine: it's got a good barrel, accurate, and a good shooter. Now I am having a lot of fun re-discovering it with my boys. I will always keep this gun, and pass it along to my kids when it is time.

I purchased this carbine back in 1986 while I was in USAF flight school. It was ordered through a friend who had a license to sell firearms, but I don't remember the particulars. Here are all of the markings that I can find, and what I think they mean. Can anyone here confirm or provide any additional information regarding the markings? Plus, I am curious as to your general impressions on the carbine.


Barrel: "IBM Corp" no date or other markings underneath the front sight area. It's gas port is the integral type.

Lightly stamped Import marking on Barrel Flat Bottom: "IMPORTED BY SHERWOOD INTL NORTHRIDGE CA. U.S.A." I haven't been able to find much information on this company, but understand they imported quite a few carbines in the late 70's early 80's from Israel, among other countries.

Receiver: "IBM Corp" (mostly hidden by rear sight) with SN "3824066" written underneath. I think this means the receiver was built about halfway through IBM's production run, so probably mid-to-late 1943.

Recoil Plate: I didn't see any marks on the plate.

Barrel Band: updated for a bayonet, Has "KI" stamp.

Round bolt: ".U." stamped underneath the right lug.

Interior section of slide: underlined "P1" or perhaps "PI".

Exterior of same section of slide: two separate marks: large "J" and the number "7160091".

Front sight: only one marking to rear of front post. It's hard to make out, I think its an "X", but maybe an "N", or "21"?

Adjustable Rear Stamped Sight: "I.R. CO 7160060" stamped on right side of sight.

Trigger housing: has "INLAND" cartouche on right side, just behind and above trigger guard.

Rotary safety: with stylized "S"? in a circle on bottom half of lever.

Magazine release button: "M" with maybe "00" stamped above the M?

Stock: It is an oval cut, low wood stock. Has a small "W" in left side sling well. It has the longer barrel channel.

The stock's Cartouche on the right side is unfortunately, very worn and hard to see. It looks like it has the "W.R.A." with "G.H.D" underneath it, and a very faint crossed cannon marking next to it on the right. I think all of these markings means this is a Winchester stock, made late in the production run.

It has a rebuild mark on right side over the trigger area, reading: "C-S.A.A." inside of a rectangle. I think this means it was rebuilt (at least once) at the San Antonio Arsenal, but what does the "C" mean? Is there any way to know when the rebuild was accomplished (post WWII or Korea or…?)

Has a large "P" proof mark in a box on bottom of handgrip.

I took the buttplate screw out, but the Buttplate did not seem to want to come off, so I don't know if there are any markings on the inside portion. (I didn't know if there was a trick to removing the buttplate, and did not want to mar the wood or plate by prying it off.)

Handguard: Has 4 rivets. Has "HI" stamped on underside of the guard. I think this means it was a late-production run hand guard, produced by Hillerich & Bradsby Co, for Inland. So I don't think it's a a match for the stock, but it does look good together.

That's all of the markings that I could find on the carbine itself. I still have to find the 2, maybe 3 magazines I received with it, so I don't know if they are original GI issue or not. The sling that came with the gun does not have any writing on the webbing, but does have an interesting mark on the outer part of the snap. It looks like a Star of David (?) with writing above and below it. I cannot make out what the writing is, perhaps "KIIAI7(T?)" on top, and "PIAL"(?) below. Is this unusual or is this a common mark?

Here are a bunch of pictures I took to help explain the general condition of the carbine, and the markings I described above. I'm not sure if they are in any particular order, so my apologies if they are not easy to follow.

Anyway, that's about it. Again, I would appreciate any help identifying any of the markings, or any comments regarding your impressions of the carbine. Thank you for your time and interest. I look forward to participating on this forum.

-Kevin

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