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I have a new WRA carbine barrel with a type 2 barrel band. The band looks correct and has the large 4 spot welds on the top surface. It also has the pads on the barrel contact surface. Are these pads correct for a WRA barrel band? Harrison's book "The M1 carbine III" says the WRA band doesn't have the pads.
Don't rely on Harrison's book. If you can, post a picture of the left side of the barrel band, where the tightening screw comes out. You need to look at the side that has the sling swivel wire. If you can't post a picture, email me a photo of the left side.
From what I have learned, Winchester and Quality Hardware used the same type bands. If you look at the reenforcing piece that the tightening screw is threaded into you can see a unique feature of Quality Hardware and Winchester type 2 bands. There are two little indentations, one to the left of the screw hole and one to the right side. On most type 2 bands, these indentations are centered exactly on the same line as the screw hole. On Winchester and Quality Hardware type 2 bands, these indentations will be slightly above the center line of the screw hole. You will also see this feature on Winchester type 3 barrel bands.
Most of the Winchester type 3 bands have the "C" marking on the right side, some did not. I guess you would have to worry about someone getting creative about removing the end of the bayonet tube part of the type 3 barrel band to make look like a type 2.
Mike,
Thanks for your response. The indentations on the band are above the screw hole centerline as you described. There is no "C" stamped on the side. My concern was only with Harrison's description of no pads on the center on the barrel contact ring. This band has the pads. Everything else indicates it's a WRA band. I'm out of town and cannot post pictures.
I know it is not good taste to speak ill of the dead, but the errors in Harrison's cabine books are endless. From your description, your band with the indentions above the screw centerline could be used as a type 2Winchester or a type 2 for a very late Quality Hardware. Maybe they showed up on other late spring / early summer of 1944 carbines, but those are the only uses I am aware of for this specific band.
Do yourself a favor and use the Harrison book to level that out of whack coffee table. That is about all it is good for. It has more errors than all of the other books combined.