M1917 Cartouche??

[AlReiter]

The cartouche on the stock of the M1917 that I picked up at the CMP South Store on the 15th appears to be 3 G M in a box with room at the end for another letter and possibly two that I can't make out. The last letter may be an R, but the spacing between the M and the last letter leads me to believe that there may be another letter in between. Any ideas what it might be? The rifle is an Eddystone, but the stock is Winchester.

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[jamie5070]

One of mine "3 GMK" in a box.
john

[AlReiter]

Mine could be a K also. Is the K on yours farther from the M than the M is from the G? On mine it looks like there is equal spacing between the 3 and the G and the G and the M, but a much larger space between the M and the last letter (R or K).

[RJFontenot]

I have an SMLE No.4 Mk1 that has U.S. Property stamped on it. I bought it years ago from Century International. Did the U.S. utilize these rifles? Is this bogus or what? Any body out there got any clues?
I'll try to attach photos.

[AlReiter]

Found a posting on another forum asking about a 3 GM-K cartouche. With the spacing of my cartouche it's possible that it's 3 G M - K.

[tmark]

That cartouche is the infamous and mysterious 3GM-K. It is a WWII rebuild stamp of unknown origin although many theories abound. The exact meaning even puzzles Nick Ferris.

I have a Winchester M1917 with this stamp.

[AlReiter]

Thanks. I guess it's good to know that no one knows!!

[Lancebear]

Hey Al,

Best guess from the best man, not me, is General Motors. Think he is still not positive...

LB

[tmark]

Lance, not to flame you but GM was involved with making M1 carbines during WWII. GM is a manufacturing facility, not a refurbishment facility. Arsenals did the refurbishments. GM is a plausible theory. It fits the GM part of 3 GM K. But no record exists to corroborate the theory. I've read where the K may mean Kelvinator division of GM. I don't know if GM made refrigerators, although GM made some pretty COOL automobiles! Pun intended! So what about the 3 part of 3 GM-K? I love the mystery and the speculations.

[Lancebear]

Hey T,

What was GM's involvment with manufacturing Carbines? Not my collecting niche but have a very interesting QH with mostly correct parts for the period of manufacture. Very accurate with peep at twenty five yards, kinda crazy accurate at that range.

Have an expensive copy of "Warbaby" and don't recall any mention of GM being involved in carbine manufacture. There were no GM sub-contractor parts listed for QH carbines. Believe me, studied the QH chapter in great detail. Did they make parts for the other manufacturers?

Gonna' sell the carbine at next weekends show if somebody comes up with twelve hundred...it's real fine.

Thanks for your thoughts,

Lancebehr