Austrian NPM-U-

Finally have the time to post this!

Wednesday I ventured to Carbine Disneyland (Camp Perry) with my pop and picked up a couple of carbines. Was the sixth person in line, so the selection was pretty good.

Along with an early Winchester spring-tube flat-bolt I picked up the new jewel of my collection: A National Postal Meter built by Union Switch & Signal in 1943 and used by the Austrian Gendarmerie in Tirol. Even better? The last issue-ee was a man named Oberhofer, whose name tag is still on the side! I love a carbine with a story!

According to the fantastic Bavarian M1 website:

Quote:

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Carbines with the markings of Tirol have been found to usually have one of two marking configurations. The first group has the Gendarmerie markings on the bottom of the trigger housing, with no other parts on the carbine stamped with any other numbers or markings.

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Stamped on the housing is LGKT 0986 with 770 over-stamped, indicating that the Austrians switched the trigger group at some point.

Stats:
National Postal Meter 435xxxx U
Barrel: Inland 9-43 (correct for Union Switch, or so I read someplace) ME 1.75
Partial flaming bomb on shank under the guard
Trigger group: W, hammer QA
Bolt: Round AI with a sideways I after it (??)
Slide: N
Flip Safety: HT
Mag Release EI
Recoil Plate: PR-B
Rear Sight: Early milled-adjustable, H in a shield
Front Sight: N
Swivel Type III KI
Stock: glossy with RS in slingwell and IO handguard

Topped off with an authentic leather Austrian Stolla sling!

Unfortunately my camera is...well, wretched, so the pictures don't do it justice, but here goes:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10154600-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10154602-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10154700-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10154701-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10154702-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10155300-1.jpg


Ironically (it's a long story, trust me) I have a Union Switch and Signal stoplight from the 1960s to keep it company!
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...10154801-1.jpg

Hmmm....was it something I said? :surrender:

Does anyone know what would be the correct parts for an NPM put together by Union Switch? All I can find seems to indicate that USS didn't make most of the other parts.

I recently picked up one of these too, I have been waiting for more info too....nice Carbine! Like the stop light too!

The rest is either by NPM or one of their contractors. Other parts are incorporated from other makers or are mismatched. For instance: Recoil plate is IBM, bolt, mag catch is Inland, trigger housing Winchester, hammer quality HW, etc. US&S didn't make carbines, .45s yes, carbines no.

Shavetail, Union Switch and Signal never made a carbine. They did make receivers for NPM as a sub-contractor but not carbines themselves. They also made bolts and slides for NPN too as well as other companies who made carbines.

From what I've been able to find, which isn't much, US&S made 50,052 receivers for NPM. That would mean mostly NPM parts and free-issue barrels, correct?

I enjoyed the trip to the NS so much that I went back this past week. Oddly enough I found another Austrian US&S, this one a service grade. I don't have my data sheet here, but this one has a high wood Trimble Nurseryland Furniture stock, Buffalo Arms barrel, Type 1 UI band, and N 14/16, respectively, (flat)bolt/TG. Pics and data later.

US&S did not have a contract to make carbines. NPM did have it. NPM sub-contracted US&S to make receivers for them just as they used the free barrel program for their barrels but they made the carbine. It is just like Saginaw Gear making receivers for Inland as a sub-contractor. The receivers are maked as to made them but the name on the receiver is Inland.