Inland gunshow find

[dbarn]

I have seen another original carbine so modified that belongs to Marcus R. It was purchased from the family of a WWII vet that served on a PT boat. The great thing about this modification is that the front sight wings are left in tact as they are part of the sighting process. Unlike others that simply filed a more narrow V in the rear flip and removed the wings on the front sight to eliminate making the mistake of picking up one for the sight blade. This also gave the sight picture of typical hunting guns the GI may have been more familiar with.

Personally having seen both modifications, the one on the above carbines would appear to be the more easier/faster to use. JMHO

[usgicollector]

I noticed the same thing aboout the sight picture. The V and the front sight blades are in alignment and it does make a nice sight picture. I wonder if we are seeing a specific unit's armorors work or differant people having the same idea. Is your sight squared off at the bottom of the former peep hole or is it still round. Mine is squared off, but that may be because of using the taller leaf and needing to adjust the point of aim by cutting with a hack saw or something of that sort?
Dave

[dbarn]

I will check and see, but don't remember the bottom being squared off. However, when you look through the rear sight, the wings are lined up and it would appear that anything the front sight post is set on will be hit. I can't help but think there were unit armorers trained to make this modification and that perhaps the B AA was placed on the Rock-Ola at this time, though there is no way to know this for certain.

Yours being squared at the bottom of the peep hole could very well be due to the fact the taller aperature was used. Regarding the unit armorer mods, it could have been something as simple as one unit making the mod and it being liked and used by others.

[Bill Hollinger]

Dave, I was referring to yours. That serial number, sight leaf and being pushed to the left all ring a bell. But hey, with so many carbines out there I could be remembering a different one

[usgicollector]

It came from a small dealer in Keysport IL that was showing it at a local show in Highland, IL. He had it on his table as an example of what was going to be at an aucton in Greenville, IL. I was looking it over and he wanted to pick my brain about it and I told him what it was and my opinions on it for what it was worth. I told him IMHO somewhere between 1200 and 1700. I then asked if he would sell it right now and he said he would if I went 1500. I bought it at that price. It looked terrible at that time, but I knew what I was looking at and saw it could be cleaned. I was not expecting it to look so good when cleaned up.
I am very happy with this one.

I would love to read the thread on this one if it could be found. I have been collecting original carbines for several years now and normally traded in a small group. I did not know about this and the other web sites until a couple of years ago so I may not have been around on the web than.

Dave

[RETREAD]

In Roy Dunlaps ' Ordnance Goes Up Front" he describes modifying an M 1 Garand rear sight aperture in a similar manner for a young Lt. The reason for the mod. was improvement in sighting in low light. Where there's one .......