New 'Gunshow Inland' - need opinions and comments

[Tired Retired]

Bob, not taking away from Frank's skill on the repair, I have done two that were broken like that. I used the method I described and used a junk recoil plate as the "clamp. That way I knew the plate would fit after the glue had dried. Oh, and I am a BIG believer in wax paper. Even if it sticks, it wont damage wood or metal - just peel it off.

Oh, its been 10 days since you started this thread and you STILL haven't got that carbine shooting yet???? What's up with that?????

[painter777]

TR,
Nice score !!
I have to agree, what better way to clamp than a recoilplate screwed down??
No telling how many years that recoilplate has kept that chip in place (?) (!)

Bob,
Wrap some duct tape around that grip. And get some sleep.
Just seen a nice WRA stock sell for $100 on ebay today. Stocks have been running cheaper.
Not to say that looking at some of these CC stamps won't keep you awake

Clean it up and lock-n-load!!

Cheers,
Charlie-painter777

[USGI]

Grandkids are here this week on spring vacation. Our whole bunch worked all day cleaning up and burning downed limbs from the recent ice storm - more of the same on tap for the next two days, if it doesn't rain us out. Yeah, just need to accept the Inland for "what it is" and have some fun with it. That recoil plate and screw had been "varathaned" or whatever that is, at the same time the stock was refinished, and I don't think had been off for a long time. The machine marks from the recoil plate were imprinted in the stock. Did you guys see those screw thread imprints in the wood around the hole? Right now, the whole thing is completely apart so I can detail clean, etc. hopefully next week. The two odd things about the TH parts are an unmarked (milled) M2 sear and an unmarked trigger that has a nice blue/black finish, not unlike a really nice RI marked trigger that I have as a spare. I'll probably never know the whole story on how this gun has such new looking parts in it, unless it was just used for guard duty or something (or demostrating a grenade launcher!) Charlie, I have been watching those stocks and debating placing a bid, or maybe giving Damon a call about another nice "pot belly" SA. I'm pretty happy with that one you helped me with earlier. - Thanks, Bob

[USGI]

The Inland is still in pieces, but plan to put it back together soon. Here are some pictures. Is the marking on the gas cylinder BI? The "N 14" marked bolt has all Inland parts. Does the "R" on the bottom of the receiver lug mean something to anyone? Thanks, Bob

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[USAFChief]

As to your flat bolt. It very well could have been done when the carbine was rebuilt. Early on through the early 50's round bolts were reserved for the M2 and M3 carbines during rebuilding and flat bolts were used for the rest. When carbines were rebuilt it's what ever parts were in the bins that were used and that very well is where the recoil plate screw was changed.

And, of course, your carbine could have been returned to service after rebuild and numerous parts -- including the stock and upper hand guard -- may have been replaced during Field Maintenance (or Depot repair). In the 1950s/60s SAMTU range carbines were being used for qualification firing almost daily (five days per week). In that time period I imagine most of them went through, for example, several bolt and operating slide replacements. There was no selectivity of parts by maker -- the replacement parts were whatever were next up in the bins. Occasionally there would be a cracked stock or hand guard. If there happened to be a carbine waiting to be shipped to Depot for, say, rebarreling its stock might be swapped out so the other carbine could be kept in service. You can see why so many carbines in the hands of present day owners often have such a mixed bag of parts. That is usually all part of their true history.

JP

[USAFChief]

Please excuse the unexplained acronym. SAMTU=Small Arms Marksmanship Training Unit

JP

[arkshooter]

Collector's lament: Why oh why did Bubba discover shellac, varnish, sand paper and checkering tools? Why oh why does he always try to perfect perfection? I am not chunking rocks at your carbine as I have a fairly minty 03 and someone (who is unknown to me but well cussed) decided that since the metal was perfect the stock need to be sanded and varnished.

[USAFChief]

Following are my personal observations relating to in-service carbine stock finishes for those who would like to have their carbines look exactly like they did when they were still in service.

To the best of my recollection, the firing range use carbines at Lackland AFB, Yokota AB, George AFB and MacDill AFB in the 1950s/1960s had the typical original WWII as-issued style of finish: somewhat dull dark brown that resulted from their being finish sanded using relatively coarse (about 80 grit?) sandpaper and dipped in vats of raw linseed oil during manufacture, and thereafter maintained in the field by periodic application of raw linseed oil in accordance with the governing Manuals and Tech Orders. There were occasional very dark brown -- almost black -- stocks that I suspect resulted from overly zealous application of oil. I don't remember seeing any issue carbines with light brown or highly finished (shiny surface) stocks.

Here is what I remember a typical 1950s/1960s USAF issue carbine looking like:

Of course, Marksmanship Training/Qualification firing carbines underwent an enormous amount of use -- almost as much as in combat -- which meant they all had stocks with some dings, dents and scratches although -- as I believe is the case with all US Military issue firearms -- they were not abused and in general were well cared for.

[GMACC]

I inspected Inland #5315729 at an auction yesterday. I am a novice but I had a copy of Riesch with me. The metal parts all looked correct for the SN; push safety, type II barrel band etc. except it had a flat bolt. I thought that was unusual and surprised to find a similar situation on here today. The gun sold for $635. I did not get aggressive on the bidding as
someone had blued the receiver and barrel and slicked up the stock.

I did get a good deal on 580 rounds, 12 mags, 1 pouch and 2 mag dust covers. All for $92.

[painter777]

The Inland is still in pieces, but plan to put it back together soon. Here are some pictures. Is the marking on the gas cylinder BI? The "N 14" marked bolt has all Inland parts. Does the "R" on the bottom of the receiver lug mean something to anyone? Thanks, Bob

Attachment 32575Attachment 32573Attachment 32574Attachment 32577Attachment 32576Attachment 32578Attachment 32579Attachment 32572

USGI-Bob,
I've been looking at your 5,4 mil with the 8-44 barrel date.
One thing I do know for sure is that your barrel was made by Inland, because it has the Hieroglyphic type markings. (Still thought to be Shift Identification/Work station stampings). If the barrel had been made by Brown-Lipe-Chapin Division of GMC, it would be void or VERY LIMITED of the Hieroglyphic type markings. It would be marked BI on the barrel flat.

Inland 6,2 mil, barrel date 9-44, marked on the flat are the Hieroglyphic type markings, meaning this is a Inland made barrel. My notes show no info available about the Gas Cylinder markings,


Inland 5,09 mil, barrel date 2-44, with the barrel flat marked BI, barrel made by B-L-C, Brown-Lipe-Chapin Division of GMC . I don't have a picture but my notes say the Gas Cylinder was marked BI, which would mean it was made by B&P Motor Sales Co.


Inland 5,06mil, barrel date 3-44 with the Hieroglyphic type markings making the barrel made by Inland. The Gas Cylinder was made by B&P Motor Sales Co, marked BI.




Inland 5,2 mil, barrel date 5-44 with the Hieroglyphic type markings making the barrel made by Inland. The Gas Cylinder was made by B&P Motor Sales Co, marked BI.
There is a number 7 on the bottom of the frt receiver lug. Couldn't check the others for numbers/letters on the lugs, just this last one is currently out of the stock.












Bob,
The BAD news is I can't quite make out your Gas Cylinder marking. Looks like II, if so that cylinder would have been made by Inland.

Remember these Gas Cylinders were made by;

Maker.......... Marking
Inland............ I-I, II (Serif I)
B&P Motor Sales Co......... BI, B1 ( I would be Sans-serif )
Worcester Taper Pin......... W.I. WI (I would be Sans-serif )
Schick Mfg. Co.......... SI ( Serif I)
Rock-Ola Mfg.......... RI (I would be Sans-serif )

I Hope This Helps. Look back over CC Newsletter #346, lots of great info about Inlands first block, but also very handy for your questions.

Charlie-painter777