Question:M1 Carbine Postal Meter/Union Switch.. TWO TONE?!

Long time lurker.. first time poster

So i just got a m1 carbine for 625$ .

What I know...

1. Buffalo Arms 12-1943 barrel

2. Saginaw Trigger Guard Bayo Lug

3.Milled rear sight H.I marked

4. Front Sight EU marked (not sure what EU stands for)

5. Receiver is a Postal Meter Union Switch Contract

6. Not import marked,




Now the barrel, bayo lug has a light parkerized finish, but the receiver, and sight has a dark black finish.

Is this normal? I have 2 other carbines in the house (a 1943 Underwood and a 1944 inland) and none of those have this type of finish on the receiver.





Any insight and chatter is welcome, i know more about mosins than m1s Thus is why i am here


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...08/rem1l-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...eimg1858-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mg1842pu-1.jpg

FWIW, my NPM is parkerized throughout. (only variation being different Mfg. parts are slightly different shade)

I suspect someone may have blued your receiver group at some point. But I could very well be wrong

i am familiar with blued finish, but the feel and texture doesn't appear to be blue. The maker marks are still crisp and doesnt have a look of being refinished, that is why i am puzzled. The rear sight doesnt look like its been taken out recently, its staked and is the same color as the receiver and charger.

EDIT, pic of the rear.. please forgive the quality.. its low light right now and my camera is just a point and shoot.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...mg1856lx-1.jpg

I'm not even close to an expert on this, but maybe Union Switch used a different finish than NPM did.
What block of serial numbers is it? Perhaps the finish was changed at some point during the war.
Does your stock have any re-arsenal stamps on it?
Honestly, of all the carbines I've seen, they were all parkerized.

Also, purely out of curiosity, does it have a Trimble stock and handguard?

not sure if the stock is USGI or a post war replacement/aftermarket. Ive scowered it for any sign of numbers/marks and ill i found was 866 inside the stock. Your hypothesis of union switch, and them using a different mix is what i was thinking of to, only 50,000 or so out there. Perhaps union switch used a darker parkerized mix than most other manufactures. The trigger is dark, but the trigger group is light like the bayo lug. its 43452XX

It must be UN finish.. check this slide out http://www.gunauction.com/buy/108376...tch-and-signal

its the same type/color finish thats on my rifle. I am going to check my slide to see who the maker is.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...umbnail0-1.jpg


EDIT-

Maker of mine is... DA-Q

bolt is U, recoil is U

Hi, Your front sight EU was made for Underwood by Prestole Div. Detroit Harvester, Toledo, Ohio. I believe they also made sights for QHMC. The number on the stock, is it inside or in the sling cutout. Inside I'm guessing a date and in the cutout could be a Bavarian or Saginaw. John

the 822 is inside the stock itself its right where the slide covers the gas system , thats the only markers ive found on the stock. This rifle apparently has alot of saginaw/underwood parts, Interesting.

I noticed that your Type 2 rear sight is missing the piece with the index marks for the windage adjusment, along with the attaching screw. I don't know about the differences in the finish, but do know that the lighting on pictures can make the parts look very different. I've got pictures of parts from my own carbines that look enough different that you wouldn't know they were of the exact same part. Parkerized parts that have been completely cleaned in mineral spirits will look very light until they are re-oiled. Then they'll look much darker to the eye and to the camera. - Bob

The carbine is a typical rebuild and it has been refinished. Look under the hand guard. In front of the receiver where the barrel meets the receiver is anything stamped on the barrel?

The black finish looks like the finish on a post Korea rebuild I had. It had all late features and a SA pot belly stock, and was an entirely black phosphate finished, including most internals. I think it was a "white bag" rebuild?

Sorry to say but someone has worked on your front site.GK

Is the barrel whitening from handling maybe? I've had a couple like that. One was a Detroit Police Carbine and looks like maybe it was mounted in the car with an officer holding the barrel everyday as he drove.

NPM did use Buffalo barrels,
Look for the P proof stamp about 7" from the muzzle ( under your bayo band)
Look for a Punch Mark, near the P.
Any barrel used by NPM would have this punch mark.

NPM- Punch Mark links;
Military Surplus Collectors Forums

FWIW,
Charlie-painter777

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tenOC

Is the barrel whitening from handling maybe? I've had a couple like that. One was a Detroit Police Carbine and looks like maybe it was mounted in the car with an officer holding the barrel everyday as he drove.

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No. The barrel has a typical Parkerized finish. It may or may not be a refinish. The other parts look like 'black oxide', or bluing over a blasted finish. Could also be Manganese Phosphate which tends to be darker to near-black. The carbine has been refinished and may consist of parts from different guns. Some carbines imported from Austria/Germany, called 'Bavarian' carbines, have a blue/black finish, but it covers all parts.