Quality Hardware question

[imntxs554]

There's also a smell...

Oh Yeah Jim, Forgot about that one. If you ever used Cold Blue like that Blue Wonder it's has a Strong Smell. The retired gunsmith I use to go and hang out with every now and then he would use it to touch up older detective's revolvers from holster wear and it would smell when he applied to the heated metal.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

it would smell

I think maybe it's ammonia that smells in it.

[BEAR]

Well, I got some pics of the recoil plate. It does smell like Cold Blue but only the top. The rest is parked.
Attachment 72946
Attachment 72947

[BEAR]

Now, here's the interesting photo. There is a very small "Q" stamped on the left side. This doesn't match any stamps I have read about.
Attachment 72948

[BEAR]

Well, this is my first USGI m1 carbine so I'm learning as I go. Pretty much devoured Bruce Canfield's book and many M1 sites on the internet. Now I'll post what info I have on this carbine.
All comments would be appreciated, good or bad. This is how you learn.

M1 Carbine (Quality Hardware) Sn 1888341

-Front Sight
-Stamped and Brazed
-Quality Hardware: Marked Top: "PO-Q"

-Barrel
-Buffalo Arms
8-1943
Ordnance Bomb
"P"

-Barrel Band
-Early Narrow Band
-No mark
.....Swivel: Marked "KV-S'G"

-Bolt
-Flat Bolt
-Quality Hardware(??): Right Lug, Marked: "UN" (no "Q")

-Slide
????????????
-Type I (Arm Joint 11/32")
-Quality Hardware: Marked in slide well "DA-Q"
or
-Type II (Arm Joint 7/32")
-Quality Hardware: Marked in slide well "DA-Q"

-Spring Tube
-Quality Hardware: Marked on tube tip "Q"

-Trigger Housing
-Stamped and Brazed
-Underwood: Marked ".U."

-Hammer
-Type II (Dog Leg)
-Quality Hardware: Marked "LT-Q"

-Hammer Spring
19 coil, not tapered

-Sear
-Type I
-Quality Hardware: Marked "GE-Q"

-Trigger
-Late
-Quality Hardware: Marked on right side "LT-Q"

-Safety
-Can't get it out

-Magazine Catches
-Type III (Short Plain Face)
-Quality Hardware: Marked "LT-Q"

-Rear Sight
-Milled adjustable rear sigh
- "H" in a shield.

-Recoil Plate
-Type III
-Quality Hardware: Marked very small "Q" See picture

-Stock
-Low wood
-No maker stamp or rebuild stamp. Very faint "Crossed Cannons" right side

-Handguard
-Four Rivet
-Underside: small "W" side rim, larger "W" center handguard

-Butt Plate
-No stamp

[new2brass]

there are several locations for stamps. some more obvious like the top or bottom as well as either side of the tang. the marking could be on bottom side of tang either above or below the hole. It can also be on the inside where the carbine nests.
Yours has been polished so possibly removed marks.
Some recoil plates were unmarked. Then there are postwar with or without marks. So pictures may help figure that out.

Did you look closely at the barrel to see if there is wear from a bayonet lug band? being that the rear sight was upgraded and the front sight is from a later QHMC someone may have "corrected it"
Barrel band and swivel I would not expect to see on this carbine. Swivels were often lost and replaced. Better pics would help

the UN bolts sometimes have a number on other lug. I also have one where the Q (UN Q) was off the edge

[BEAR]

Here's some pictures, hope they can be useful.
Attachment 72951Attachment 72952Attachment 72953Attachment 72954Attachment 72955

[new2brass]

The butt plate looks to be late Winchester. From previous picture of recoil plate I noticed you screw has the ++ mark, known as Winchester.
Sling swivel looks good but most likely the original one was lost and that is field replacement.

I have not seen a recoil plate with just a Q in that location but anything is possible. Anyone else?

[tenOC]

I have not seen a recoil plate with just a Q in that location but anything is possible. Anyone else?

Not seen that, or looked for it. But I have seen a rear flip for an early Quality marked only with a Q sideways on the right side and I'm positive it was original to the Carbine.

[BEAR]

Thanks to the data provided from new2brass I was able to determine that the slide is a Type III. Also thank you to all who responded with comments and suggestions.
With the idea that the butt plate could be a Winchester and the handguard is a Winchester, I will start looking for a Winchester stamp on the stock (just maybe!!!) Would have done it last night but we had grandkids over and my attention was elsewhere.
I don't know the history of this piece but whoever owned it before must have carried it around in a vehicle because there is a lot of surface rust on exposed metal but everything below stock line is in good shape.(normally the opposite is the norm)