MY Winchester transitional Carbine: It's correct!

[imarangemaster]

Well, I picked up the Winchester today. Serial number 5,701,503, Type II unmarked band, type III H in a shield rear sight, with original stake marks matching. Oval cut, low wood stock and bull-nosed handguard are Winchester, with Ordnance wheel and WRA over GHD on the stock. No evidence of front sight being removed, and no evidence of a Type I band having been used on the stock. Barrel has W and the WP in an oval Winchester proof on top of the barrel. No evidence of Type III band on barrel.

Just did a quick check: hammer W, push safety "EW", mag catch W, Hammer W, trigger housing type V (oil hole) with W on right side and X on bottom by safety, X on recoil lug screw, Type IV slide with W in channel, and flat bolt with W on right lug.

I will do a thorough break down late when I do a detail stripping, and take some better pictures. It seems correct, though someone expressed that the stock may be a little early for that serial number, but that is the only question. Overall condition is 90%, with the receiver and trigger group being grey-green parked and better than 90%, blued bolt, and barrel a little more wear. Muzzle is about an ME of 1 or less. A very clean weapon. Came with a GI D-tip sling and IS oiler.








I test fired it 15 rounds, and it is dead nuts on wear it should be at 25 yards with the sight windage indexed centered. I was nailing pop cans with every shot at 25-35 yards, off-hand with a 6 o'clock hold Ejection was ALL OVEAR from 8 o'clock to 4 o'clock! Bolt has carbon build up on ejector and firing pin, though, so it probably needs a detail strip and clean.

BTW, no import marks that I can fid. I am VERY happy!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[deldriver]

Nice looking Winchester M1 carbine for sure. I really like late Winchesters and have more than one. Other than the stock (my 5.74 Winchester came with the same stock BTW) I would question the flat bolt and maybe the handguard too. The round bolt would have been in use for a few months and the four rivet handguard would most likely been on that carbine too. Of course a lot of things were possible as production went on.

[imarangemaster]

Another member supplied info from CC newsletter that flat bolts were used to around 5,703,000ish, and Type IV slide to 5,708,000ish, so they seem correct. The stock is probably OK too, since your 5.7 has the same stock. The collective mind will have to decide on the handguard after I post better pictures, I guess. Thanks!

[deldriver]

Another member supplied info from CC newsletter that flat bolts were used to around 5,703,000ish, and Type IV slide to 5,708,000ish, so they seem correct. The stock is probably OK too, since your 5.7 has the same stock. The collective mind will have to decide on the handguard after I post better pictures, I guess. Thanks!

That's great info on the bolt. I am not saying my stock is correct, but it also has not signs of ever having a type one band mark on it either. I have always felt that it came way, but I also know there were other stocks being used then.

[wmmwraghd]

The two rivet hand guard and flat bolt is correct for a 5,70x,xxx. That was in the back edge of the window of those two production changes. There was concurrent usage of those two at the very beginning of the 5.7's Leave it alone.

[imarangemaster]

The two rivet hand guard and flat bolt is correct for a 5,70x,xxx. That was in the back edge of the window of those two production changes. There was concurrent usage of those two at the very beginning of the 5.7's Leave it alone.

Getting grief on a different forum where someone "knowledgeable" swears I could not have a two rivet handguard, (he says they switched to using 4 rivet in 4-44, so it must be wrong!) even though everything else is correct, it is a transitional period, and there are other similar examples exist. Ugh! Heck, I thought I was buying a shooter with a cut off Type III band when it was first described to me, and I was happy with the price then! Oh well, whatever! I value the expert opinions here, much more than the more "commercial" boards.

[Bubba-7]

Nice $ 500 carbine, but I'll do you a favor and give $ 700 for it. Let me know?

[imarangemaster]

Nice $ 500 carbine, but I'll do you a favor and give $ 700 for it. Let me know?

Hahaha! $500 and a case of 5.56....

[deldriver]

Hahaha! $500 and a case of 5.56....

OUCH! on the 5.56

[imarangemaster]

Yep, ouch is right on the 5.56. It was a sealed case of 500 Lake City/Federal XM193. I only have one AR now, and still have another 600 rounds of loaded 5.56 and the components to load another 800-900 or so. With that in mind, I decided that sacrificing the 500 round reserve was preferable to not having a Carbine, especially a good catch like this one.