Is This a Handstamp Inland?

[Bruce McAskill]

Sorry guys but that serial number and the Inland are not even close to being hand stamped what so ever.

[ChipS]

Wow! Over $3K and more than a day to go! Two bulls sure want this bad boy bad.
OK. I really don't have a dog in this fight so I accept that the marks are (probably) roll stamped, based upon the certainty of two knowledgable members. But I would like know just what characteristic does it take to indicate hand stamping with one blow on a single die, other than noticeably irregular alignment, depth, spacing, font height and strike angle? I don't think an explaination would aid the humpers much. How about a thin ridge of flowed metal raised around the edges of the figures (like seen on parts from the left coast)? The heal markings appear to me to have this thin polished ridge while the chamber markings do not. I would like to know one definitive characteristic of 'hand stamping'.

Maybe all of this is just in the eye of the beholders and I haven't recognized what is not all that uncommon. I certainly don't consider myself an expert, but I believe I have looked at several hundred Inland carbines in the last 10 years or so and I don't recall ever seeing anything close to this marking on an Inland. Anyway, thanks to all for your input.

[USGI]

ChipS: I know your're "gone" but I just noticed that the GB Inland and your picture both have what I thought was the "funny" big L that doesn't align with the A. Probably shows that the same roll stamp was used on both receivers (700K s/n range) - kinda like Jim said about several different dies used throughout production. - Bob

[INLAND44]

'Hand stamping' only refers to the '1' in 'M1' on the very late Inland carbines. They decided to make mostly all M2 but still wanted to make a few M1s, so on certain receivers they didn't stamp the '2' with the machine, leaving it to be hand-stamped '1' later. The serial numbers are all machine-rolled and like most firearms of the period (and earlier) the number wheels making up the serial number die set don't always line up perfectly.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I think we need to remember they were trying to get these out at a high rate per day. A misaligned number would surely not be a reason to pull it.

As a note, some of the '2' didn't line up either.

[WarPig1976]

I know nothing about the rarity of manufacturers but the description says "Rare SG contract" could it be that's why it may look odd to some?

[Bruce McAskill]

Not really as the SG made receivers are not really rare. There are two different times SG made receivers for Inland. But they are not rare as they made many thousands of them. The first SG receivers were marked SI and those are considered to be rare. Then there are the receivers that SG over ran their contract with. Inland had to put an X on the end of the serial number as it was a duplicate number and those would be on the rare side too. All of the receivers SG made they put the serial numbers on them for Inland.

[shadycon]

All of the receivers SG made they put

the serial numbers on them for Inland.

Could this be why when compaired to Inland numbered recievers, the numbers look different?GK

[ChipS]

I failed to note that the 723K Inland receiver shown in my pics above was made by Saginaw and is SG (large letters) marked on the side in the same font and location as the subject receiver. I jumped back in here because it was later pointed out that SG (not Inland) placed the serial numbers on the receivers they made for Inland (which I did not know), and so I thought the fact my receiver was also SG may be pertinent.

I respectfully disagree that " 'Hand stamping' only refers to the '1' in 'M1' on the very late Inland carbines.". I won't quote Webster but to me hand stamping any metal means holding a hardened die in one human hand and striking it one or more times with a hammer held in another human hand. IMHO the term 'hand stamped' as used in describing late M1 Carbines has no more or no less validity than the terms 'dogleg', 'highwood', 'low number', Type 2, etc., etc. In all fairness, I should have asked if the subject Inland was 'stamped by hand' and not used the phrase 'Handstamp Inland', which in this forum would logically signify the chamber marking. This created some unecessary distraction and I'm sorry for that. I have an early '45 'hand stamped' Inland and I know what the common term refers to.

I would really like to see a picture of another Inland (or Saginaw Gear) carbine receiver with such sloppy, irregular markings on the heel. Like I said, I've never seen one before. BTW, the subject carbine sold for $3,850. Go figure. I'm outta here again. Thanks.