Winchester M2 Carbine

[Bob K]

Hey fellows,

It has been a long time, I just saw a Winchester M2 Carbine but marked as M1 with the W in almost all its parts even in the auto parts, except the 2 sights and barrel band, is it correct that it is marked as M1?

Thank you in advance for your support.

Eddie

I have a factory Winchester M2 that came from Winchester's corporate gun collection in 1975 and the M2 specific parts are not marked with the exception of the switch is marked "A".

[jond41403]

I thought all parts for the carbine made during the war were to be marked with the exception of very early parts. Parts for the M2 would be considered late war parts and should have been marked shouldn't they? And then parts went back to being unmarked post-war. At least this is my understanding. Am I missing something?

[Bob K]

I thought all parts for the carbine made during the war were to be marked with the exception of very early parts. Parts for the M2 would be considered late war parts and should have been marked shouldn't they? And then parts went back to being unmarked post-war. At least this is my understanding. Am I missing something?

I just looked in War Baby and the only M2 specific parts that they mention with a marking is the switch lever. It states they were marked with an A like mine is.

[jond41403]

All the selector levers were marked with an A because the A stands for automatic and becomes visible above the wood line when you push the lever forward to engage fully automatic. That's all the A is for. All the wartime selector levers I have seen are stamped with that letter A, and also a maker's Mark like L.I. or H.I. I know there are selector levers with no markings except the letter A but I always thought those were post-war selecter levers and the marked ones are wartime made. The disconnector levers during wartime we're supposed to be either stamped R.I A(post-war but still marked).or W.I., or just W. I have not seen any other makers of wartime disconnector levers. All the unmarked disconnector levers I always thought to be post-war but like everything carbines, I'm sure they're always exceptions. Even disconnectors themselves I have seen stamped P.I. but most of the post war disconnectors are unmarked. I'm no expert, just trying to clarify what I have seen

[Bob K]

The only markings on M2 specific parts on Winchester Carbines mentioned in War Baby are a W on the disconnecting lever and the A on the selector switch. Guess I missed it the first time around. No markings listed on the disconnector. Also noted on the disconnector lever "quantity/sn rage: insufficient data"; which would indicate to me that there may be other markings or unmarked levers otherwise it would have said "used through end of M2 production" such as noted on the operating slide markings.
Since my M2 came out of the Winchester corporate collection, I have to believe what I have in hand.

[jond41403]

I need to invest in me a copy of war baby 3. They are pricey but it seems to contain a lot of information not easily found anywhere else. Since you know the provenance, I would trust what I had in hand also. Does your Winchester have the M2 marking on the receiver ring? That's what Eddie, the OP originally wanted to see and me also haha was a picture of a Winchester M2 stamped carbine. The selector lever just being marked with an A and nothing else,may be an instance of where the first selector levers we're not marked with a makers code. Kind of like some early carbine parts not being marked.

[Bob K]

I need to invest in me a copy of war baby 3. They are pricey but it seems to contain a lot of information not easily found anywhere else. Since you know the provenance, I would trust what I had in hand also. Does your Winchester have the M2 marking on the receiver ring? That's what Eddie, the OP originally wanted to see and me also haha was a picture of a Winchester M2 stamped carbine. The selector lever just being marked with an A and nothing else,may be an instance of where the first selector levers we're not marked with a makers code. Kind of like some early carbine parts not being marked.

Yes I do have a picture. Here you go. I also have a couple of Inland M2 specific parts which are marked with Inlands identification.

[jond41403]

Yeah I think that's what the L.I., and W.I. I have seen would be contractors for inland . Anything that ends with an I I would think. I'm sure there are several other manufacturer's codes that I've never seen or heard of before. Thanks for the picture! The P.I. I have seen on disconnectors are probably for inland as well.

[Bob K]

Another thing worth noting is that Winchesters have two .. between cal and 30 on the receiver ring while Inland has only one .

[jond41403]

Another thing worth noting is that Winchesters have two .. between cal and 30 on the receiver ring while Inland has only one .

Thanks Bob k! That is something I did not know. This is the first picture I am seeing of one. Thanks again for the pic