No name carbine?

[TRICKSTER]

Have this posted over on the CMP Forums, and figured I would get the opinions of the experts over here. Picked up this carbine a few days ago. It is in the NPM serial number range (44276xx) however there is no manufacture name stamped. The stock has been varnished.

Here is the breakdown of the parts.


Front sight: Milled type A (marked "N").
Barrel: Underwood 9-43, short barrel skirt.
Firing Proof: Punch mark about 4" below Underwood stamp.
Front Band: Type A wide swivel. "UI" on band, "UN" on swivel.
Handguard: Two rivit, deep groove, "TN" on underside.
Slide: Type A early variation 2, marked "N9" inside. CC data sheet code E269A.
Op Spring guide tip: Flat
Bolt: Flat, rounded lug, marked "N11" on left lug.
Firing Pin: Type B modified type A marked "NN".
Extractor: Early modified to flat tip, marked inside "IN".
Plunger: Half point
Ejector tip: Pied, three surface.
Receiver: No manufacture name, "17" on trigger housing lug.
Rear Sight: Flip type, unmarked.
Recoil Plate: Type B marked "LN".
Recoil Plate Screw: 1/3 threaded.
Stock: M1, high wood, oval cut, R side marked "NPM/FJA" in box, ordnance stamp. Slingwell marked "TRIMBLE TN".
Butt Plate: NPM pattern.
Safety: Push button marked "IN" inside.
Mag Release: Plain face type B marked "SN".
Sear: Early no hole marked "BN".
Hammer: Dog-Leg modified, marked "N".
Hammer Spring: Early 22 coil.
Trigger: Marked, trident with ".U."
Trigger Spring: Type C curved -tip
Trigger Guard: Milled Marked "N 9" on left side.

So what do you guys think?
Is the rear sight legit?
Could this be a factory correct carbine?

Information

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[LeagleEagle]

sounds like all NPM parts.No manufacturers marking..weird!

[TRICKSTER]

Really would like comments about rear sight. I don't know how to tell repros from fakes, and I know all the other parts on this carbine are legit.
I compared the measurements with a known real sight from my CMP Bavarian Carbine with a digital caliper and they all match up.The finish/wear matches up with the carbine and there are no punch/staking marks.

[painter777]

Rear sight is in backward.
Need Macro type close ups of the rear sight, sides, top, staking of pin, and with blade partially folded.
The receiver with no markings...... Interesting.

[frankderrico]

Trickster, I voting that is a bogus rear sight someone put in the wrong way.
I saw an M1A1 last week at an acution with the receiver scrubbed of the maker and serial number. Very neatly done but they were gone. Barrel was Inland early '43. This one looks like it never got stamped.....Frank

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

At 400% it is a little blurry, but I zoomed in and didn't see any markings on either side of the rear sight base.

[painter777]

I find this one interesting. It surely looks to have never been stamped with the NPM name or a Sub-lined out.
We know National Postal Meter made and used Sub-Contracted receivers.
I know they got receivers from Union Switch and Signal.......... Which would have a U stamped below the serial number on the rear tang.
This one shows it has just the single dismounting cut for the slide handle. which was known to be the way US and S made theirs.
It can't be a IBM/AO receiver because it has the narrow rear locking recoil plate lug.
NPM also used receivers from Underwood and IBM, but these would have been lined out and have a N marked on them.
They also used lined out Inland receivers, also marked with a N.
Granted we see no maker name stamped on it and from the pictures can't make out if it has a N or U stamped below the serial number.
If it were mine I'd be looking real hard for a U stamp on the rear bevel.
At this serial range and with it just having the one slide dis-mount cut, I think you could rule out the receiver being made by Underwood, Inland or IBM because at this date they would have been making the 2 circular cuts for the slide.

And just for some thought......... NPM didn't use all their serial numbers.
Could it be possible that Commercial Controls Corp completed this carbine... never stamped it CC... and had to use a missed serial number from the 4,350,000-4,432,099 block?
Be cool if so, but I've noticed in War Baby that Inland sent out on 7-10-43 five SAMPLE RECEIVERS.
But his barrel date is a 9-43 Underwood.
Also noticed that Underwood passed along in 11-18-43, 1500 receivers.
Underwood also passed along on 12-16-43, 6,000 Semi-Finished receivers, then another 7,200 PARTIALLY MACHINED receivers in 3-12-44.

Please note; I've tossed this together quickly as I had to work today and the family is currently at the dinner table waiting for me. I hope I've been fairly accurate.

Cheers,
Charlie-painter777

[BrianQ]

Granted we see no maker name stamped on it and from the pictures can't make out if it has a N or U stamped below the serial number.
If it were mine I'd be looking real hard for a U stamp on the rear bevel.
But his barrel date is a 9-43 Underwood.

The photos clearly show it is not a Union Switch & Signal receiver but a NPM made receiver.

But his barrel date is a 9-43 Underwood.

The barrel date and manufacturer are correct for the serial number.

[Bill Hollinger]

So what do you think happened here Brian?

[kar66]

Your receiver is a NPM receiver. I just don't think it ever had a name stamped on it. It may have been a lunch box special. But I don't think so with a serial number. I think your sight is a repro. Hard to tell from the photos. But the staking on the pin doesn't look right. Bill