Blue numbers stenciled in my inland stock??

[skohler]

I picked up a 300,000K series Inland with what looks like all original inland parts. When I removed everthing to check part stamps I notices blue numbers stenciled or stamped on the inside of the stock below the barrel. To me, it looks like 144-3 or 144 3. Anyone know what it is for or if it can be read as something useful? To me a date reference would make the most sense but do not want to read too far into it.
Thanks
Steve

http://i483.photobucket.com/albums/r...d/DSC00267.jpg

Information

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[Bubba-7]

The stock or carbine could have been made May 24, 1943

[604flyer]

Those numbers are commonly seen on the stocks of Inland guns produced in 1943 (if the stock has not been chemically cleaned). The idea has been kicked around that they are Julian date numbers associated when the stock was made. Yours would correspond to the 144th day of 1943, or May 24, 1943 if '43 wasn't a leap year.

[skohler]

That is really neat! I appreciate the info.

Now I have a few other oddities about this carbine that I would like to ask about (barrel and the gas cylinder), would it be better to start another thread?

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Nahh, this is your thread - keep on going.

Do you have more photos?

[skohler]

These are some of the pics before doing a detail clean and oil. The stock also received a nice brushing internally to remove old dust and stuff, then got a nice coat of raw linseed oil.

Once the stock dries fully, I'll get some after pics. So far it looks very nice.

First question I have is about a stamp that is on the front of the gas cylinder (the area that faces toward the front of the barrel). To me it looks like WI, but am having difficulty finding any info on it. Picture of it is in the photoalbum.

Second question: the inland barrel has no date. Normally I would suspect a replacement barrel, but everything else is correct and very likely original to this inland. Original flip sight, type 1 band, pristine stock/handguard. The barrel has a full skirt, which I'm guessing would have been a short skirts on the 1944 run of undated barrels. Perhaps an error with the date just not stamped??? Even has a PI labelled gas piston.

Here are the pics: Inland pictures by smkohler1 - Photobucket

There are quite a few pics.

[ScottR]

Gas cylinder made by Worchester taper pin Co. for Inland.

Scott

[skohler]

Gas cylinder made by Worchester taper pin Co. for Inland.

Scott

Thanks Scott, that was one I likely would not have found! Were you asking a while back for pics of an IBM band? If so, let me know I have a real nice one.

[INLAND44]

The numbers are the famous 'green numbers' that are possibly a Julian date for the finished date of the stock. Whatever, they are very good to have and usually indicate a stock that has never been stained or aggressively cleaned, plus they only show on the early stocks.