Been awhile, checking in... Rockola barrel on Quality hardware

[imarangemaster]

Hello the camp,

Haven't had a carbine since last summer (first time since 1982!) when I sold my white bag Inland and a lot of other guns out of the safe because of pressing issues..

I have been enjoying my Mini-30 and Mini-14, but miss my little carbine. I was in my buddies gun shop and he got a CMP Carbine in an Italian FAT stock. It is a Quality Hardware with a Rockola barrel. Finish on barrel and receiver are close, both about 90% and are the aged, greenish grey parkerizing, rather than the bright grey or almost black of late rebuilds. Type III band and Type II rear sight. Did Quality ever use Rockola barrels, or is it a replacement as I suspect?

Anyway, trying to work out details to make it mine. I still have all my Carbine mags and accessories, and some ammo still. I have LOTS of brass and bullets to reload, too. I knew I would get another one.

Information

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[GotSnlB28]

Yep, they did. Lots of QHMC's wear RO barrels, including mine. Cheaper shipping as both were in Chicago
Hope you make the deal work, life's to short not to have a carbine.

[imarangemaster]

Hmmm... I forgot they were both from Chicago. It must be meant to be. I was born in Chicago in 1952, and left for California in 1972. I will have to loose the FAT stock, though. I'll pick up a Quality Hardware stock on Ebay.

[imarangemaster]

Serial number is 4,702,198, so I am guessing early to mid-1944. Think it is too early for the "PI" Type II sight, but it only has one stake mark aligned on this sight. Type III band has a diamond with a circle or "O" in it. Not one I have seen before. The muzzle is pretty good, as it had about 3/16" showing on an M2 ball round, so maybe a "2" on the ME gauge. Round, blued bolt with an "X" on the top, Flip safety, mag catch without the M2 hook on it, and what looks to be a Type III or Type IV slide. I will be able to do more after I get it and tear it down. I have to dig out my carbine books to really run it down more.

The "FAT 77" stock is awful! The action is set so deep in the stock that the slide is rubbing on the top of the stock instead of the receiver, and the recoil lug is buried down 3/16" into the wrist of the stock. It has a cheap C tip repo sling, cheap commercial oiler, and a repo Type I mag pouch on the stock. I have a Original GI D tip and oiler, but need to pick up a legit stock pouch. I still have 7 or 8 USGI 30s, and twice as many USGI 15 rounders.

[imarangemaster]

OK, I have a couple questions. I am confused. Riesch's book say QH from 4,700.000 on had Type III rear sight and Type III barrel band. Jim Mock's site says it had either type II or Type III band, but type I sights. Mine has Type II sight (which appears original according to the stake mark) and a Type III band. While I realize it is a mixmaster, and not a hidden gem, what would it have had?

[Bruce McAskill]

It would have been a type 2 barrel band. Most likely a type 1 rear sight at first. The type 3 stamped rear sight was used by Rock-Ola with H in a shield or I.R.Co. stamped on it sometime during the 4 million range and till the end of production according to War Baby. Your sight is stamped PI for Inland. The type 3 band was only used by Inland and Winchester starting about November 1944. Rock-Ola ended their production in May 1944. Your changes were done post war during it's rebuild.

[imarangemaster]

Thanks Bruce, that's what I figured. I have alway considered the mixmasters to be "as issued", just at a later time instead of when they left the factory. I actually prefer the Type II rear sight it has. I am ambivalent about the bayonet lug, but do like the enhanced accuracy of the Type III band. I plan out breaking it completely down (including bolt) for a thorough cleaning and parts check.

If the cast recoil lug allows the barreled receiver to "hang" properly, I probably won't replace it. I am going to have to replace the FAT 77 stock. It is UGLY! I may go with a Quality Hardware stock if I can find a decent one, but any GI walnut stock will work. probably can get an Inland cheaper than a QH.

As far as the X on the top of the bolt, I seem to remember that it means the bolt doesn't have the latest updates, but was used anyway. I may be wrong on that, though.

[USGI]

If the cast recoil lug allows the barreled receiver to "hang" properly, I probably won't replace it.

I have an Underwood and found that the receiver is a loose fit to the cast recoil plate it came with. Last month I wanted to fix that and shoot it for the first time, so tried the receiver with at least half a dozen spare recoil plates from my parts box. I found some that were close, but none tight enough. I remembered the CMP article about tightening them, so decided I might give it a try. I don't own a brass hammer so decided to use a big plastic one for giving it a "whack." I didn't want to risk damaging the NOS milled WWII recoil plate I wanted to put on the carbine, so experimented first with the cast one thinking it might break. That trial worked and made the cast one fit just right. At that point I tried "adjusting" the NOS milled one, and it broke in two with the first blow! I then tried another cast one, and it tightened up fine, too. I settled on using one of the cast plates and still don't understand why the milled one broke. I thought it might be the other way around! - Bob

[imarangemaster]

Bob, I am surprised the forged one snapped. I have used the brass hammer method before, and never had a problem. Like you, I would have thought it would be the other way around.

[imarangemaster]

Outstanding! Details have been worked out and I put the Quality Hardware carbine in 10 day Commiefornia jail. In the end, I gave $750 - including $26 DROS - for it. $650 trade in and $100 cash. Considering it is a CMP (My buddy the dealer is friends with the seller, and confirmed it is a CMP Service Grade), the condition and between 1 and 2 on the ME, I think that is fair. I have knee surgery on the 6th, so it will be a week after that before I can claim it. Have a Quality stock ordered.