What can you tell me about my new Winchester (lots of pictures)

IMHO you have some very nice pieces in the stock & handgaurd. The others have addressed the handgaurd but I think your stock may be a sleeper. It is a transition period long (4.15") barrel channel M1 stock. I think Riesch refers to it as a late Type III low wood stock that Inland made starting in the 6 million serial number range, just before they started producing the M2 cut (full auto) Type IV stocks. You don't see these long channel M1 (not M2 cut) stocks very often and yours doesn't look like it has been sanded or otherwise molested to any degeree at all. I think it would clean up really, really nice and have excellent market value. I would baby it (no shooting or car trunks) if it were mine. Interesting carbine. Thanks for the many pics.

If you look at your first pic of your hand gard, I believe there is a stamped W about 1" to the right of the stepped knotch along the inner edge.

Had some time to kill today and a macro lens camera.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5506ddb3-1.jpg
What does the 'F', 'F8' and '4' markings mean?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...7881f9de-1.jpg
It looks like an 'I' stamp and 'O' stamp, what do these mean?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...8e851dee-1.jpg
Looks like a light 'W' stamp under the more pronounced 'W'

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6bf772bc-1.jpg
The W stamp is over a 'O' stamp, any idea why? What does the 'U' mean?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c2f85255-1.jpg
Pick this magazine up on eBay, does this look real? Is it the right vintage for the rifle?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fb396f63-1.jpg
50 yards with Aguila Ammunition. Winchester on the right, I took it to a gun smith to check out before shooting and ended up buying the NPM by Underwood carbine on the left.

Found a mark on the magazine catch. https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nchester-1.jpg

I think the "M in a horseshoe" rotary safety is from a "post war" supplier. I got these from an eBay auction pretty cheap. Nice pics! - Bob

Correction on ID of this safety - see the following link:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=5777