Winchester Blue Sky import

[Bruce McAskill]

Being an I cut high wood stock that has not been cut down to low wood increases the value of the Inland quite a bit. Even with the crack the stock has good value. Very few Blue Sky stamped barrels have any distortion from the stamp. If you were to fix the crack in the stock you can sell the stock for a lot and have enough to get the correct one for your serial number and have some money left over.

[Aragorn243]

I made the trade this afternoon. No surprises from the photos other than the stock has more than one crack. All are minor and easily repaired. The action works nice the bore is shiny and crisp, no indentations or bends that I can detect from the import stamp. I did my own bullet test to be sure and it looks better than the photo showed so probably in the 1.5-2 range. He took it apart for me and showed me the interior, no rust or pitting anywhere. Finish is uniform throughout. I'll have to research to see if all the parts are US or not but it will serve my purposes nicely in any case. One thing I don't like is the cross grain sanding. I'll probably work that out of it. Looks like they sanded a rack number off of it.

I can't believe how tiny and light this thing is. I've looked at them in the past but never actually picked one up that I recall.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. It's one less rifle I have to seek out. It's not perfect but I wasn't looking for perfect.

[painter777]

Anyone else wondering what the internals are?

While looking at the pic of the crack (blown up) It may be cracked along the bottom -outer right edge. Could just be a scratch though... view gets fuzzy blown up.

Take a M2 30.06 rd, I use one as a poor mans muzzle gage.

To be honest, I'd try to get him to toss $100~ back your way.
But negotiate that in person. Hand cycle the action. If it feels good grab it.

That Inland Type I Hi-Wood stock.... repaired and or refinished has enough value to sell outright or trade for a nice Inland Type III lo-wood that you'd need.

Good Luck,
Charlie-Painter777

1 minute late :-)

[browningautorifle]

A straight edge is a precision tool

Agreed, a punch isn't a straight edge.

[Aragorn243]

The second crack is along the bottom outer right edge.

Bayonet lug - "SI" - Inland
Rear sight - "H" in a shield - Rock Ola
Stock marked with an ordnance bomb and an IO in the stock cut out. Stamped MRC (Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot Rebuild mark) on the side of the pistol grip, large ordnance stamp on the stock that is sanded pretty heavily - Inland
Hammer - "LT-Q" - Quality Hardware
Trigger Housing - "NL-Q" - Quality Hardware
Slide "PI" (underlined) - Inland
Magazine catch - EP-Q - Quality Hardware
Safety - "M" in a horseshoe (circle) - Postwar?
Trigger - "BOE" - Could be "BOB" no listing for triggers under either but Quallity Hardware for sears
Bolt - "AI" - Inland
Recoil plate - "W" -Winchester
Handguard - "W" - Winchester
15 round magazine - "KSG" - Saganaw Steering Division
30 round magazine - "MADE IN USA" post war commercial?

That's as far as I'm willing to take it apart for now.

So it appears to my untrained eye that all but the 30 round magazine are US GI at least. Mixmaster though. Sling is not WWII either.

[Aragorn243]

I guess I should mention that the finish is a lot nicer than the photographs show. The stock is a lot darker also. I guess the fellows flash washed everything out.

[imarangemaster]

Congrats, I think you did OK. A Marlin 45-70 Cowboy will not hold value even as much as a 45-70 Guide Gun. Your carbine is a REAL piece of history. Even being a rebuild, it is still as issued for Korea or Vietnam. 50 years from now which would be more valuable to your kids or grand kids? The carbine. I love the carbine since I grew up hearing how my dad carried an Inland Carbine on Iwo Jima, and my Uncles carried them also as Marines in the pacific. My Cousin (a Postal Inspector) had a DCM carbine in the 60s, and it was the first centerfire rife I ever fired.

PS: I am partial to Winchesters....That's what I have. I figure they have been making rifles since 1860 (154 years ago), so they should know what they are doing!

[DaveHH]

is made by Hemphill and isn't any specific company. They were generic and used on Winchesters a lot and most other brands.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Depending on milled or pressed, I have seen Hemphill sights on Winchester, Rock-Ola, IBM, and Std Products. Were others given sights during shortages, who knows.

[painter777]

Trigger - "BOE" - Could be "BOB"

Might the Trigger be marked PDB?
Any markings on the Frt sight?
Markings on oiler?

I've seen KSG mags sell fairly High.
Congrats, Hope you enjoy it.
Any Pictures Coming ........ ?

Thx for letting us be part of the deal.....

Cheers,
Charlie-Painter777