Quality Hardware - Bring Back?

This is my first post to the group, though I’ve been reading (and searching) the forum for a couple of months. It’s been a wealth of information, and I’ve learned a lot about the M1 carbine, for which I thank the group.

On to the story. My wife’s old boss, Don, has retired and is moving to Texas, and had me come over to see if i wanted some of his “stuff”, which he was getting rid of. He had a couple of Carcanos, which I gladly took off his hands, along with some black powder pistols and swords. Off in the corner was, of course, an M1 carbine. I thought to myself, “That would be the perfect camp gun.” I asked if he was looking to get rid of that as well, and he said “Go ahead and take it.” I asked how he came to own it, and he said it was his father in-law Vern’s, who drove supplies in France in WWII. “So he brought this back?” “No, but one of his buddies he drove with did. When the buddy died in the ’60’s, his wife wanted Vern to have the gun.” When Vern passed, the gun was given to Don, who as a Nam vet had a passing interest in military arms. Having no real knowledge of the M1 carbine, I didn’t realize the significance of a “bring back”. Having been given the gun, I have nothing invested in it, and am not looking to sell, I just want to find out more about it’s history. Don had no reason to make up the story, as he was letting me have the gun, free and clear (and frankly wouldn’t have known it would make any difference). BTW - I did offer to pay for the goods, but Don would have no part of it, so my wife and I treated Don and his wife to dinner.

However, after researching, there are conflicting things about the gun that make me wonder if it was a bring back, so I come hat in hand to ask the experts here if I have a camp gun or collectible piece of history (I guess either way it’s a piece of history).

The gun is Quality Hardware #191xx01 (not trying to hide the #’s, they’re covered by the rear sight)
Barrel: Rock Ola, undated, small “P” on top of barrel above barrel band
Barrel Band: UI
Swivel: QU
Trigger Housing: Q-NL
Trigger: LT-Q
Hammer: LT-Q
Mag Release: LT-Q
Sear: GE-Q
Hammer Spring Plunger: Q (or O?)
Safety: No marks I can see
Slide: DA Q
Bolt: EM-Q
Front sight: U Q (hard to read, not sure)

Now to the questionable parts

Stock is WRA, oval cut, high wood, “W” in sling well and front inside support, WRA over GHD and crossed cannon cartouches. No rebuild, “P” or armory marks. I believe I read somewhere it originally would havehad an “I” cut RMC stock.
Handguard is IO, 2 rivet.
Rear sight: IRC 7160060 stamped

I know the stock is not original, but is it feasible it was a war replacement?
I thought the rear sight may have been a wartime “upgrade”, but can only see one set of punches, no other stake marks are visable. Were these ever ”original”?
I would “ball park” production August of 1943 based on the lists I’ve seen.

What do you guys think, could this be a bring back?


Hope these pictures work, never done this before.

Sorry for the long post and poor photos.
Thanks.
KG

butt_plate looks like Quality Hardware

I would assume the rear sight was changed from factory and it looks like a small stake mark is still visible. That could have been done at a depot in Europe. The stock isn't surprising as these things get mixed up by the soldiers themselves. It doesn't look like a rebuild in any case.
My wife's step father was an officer in the red ball express and when he received a new carbine, it was stolen within a week.

I'd love to have it, want to sell it?

The front sight looks like JQ. I believe that's correct for your gun. The "story" for the hand guard could be the same as how it got the stock. Nice carbine!

-Bob

It wouldn't be right to sell it now. Maybe in the future.
I really do like it and the history behind it.

Anybody have an idea of value?

find out which Carbine Club Newsletters would contain info on this carbine?
I've been to the web site, but there doesn't seem to be any kind index or search function.

Since you were fortunate enough to not have to pay anything for the carbine. If you don't have it, spend some of the money it would have cost and, get WAR BABY by Larry Ruth. It might tell you all you want to know. It mentions I.R.C.O. sights were used in late production. I think well worth the expense.

Already have it ordered. Thanks.