Do I have a clossetted M2 carbine?

[ammodave]

I picked up an Inland carbine (ser#700498) at a gun shop several yrs ago. It's a typical WWII rebuild with adj sights, bayonet lug, and a Buffalo Arms barrel dated 43. On the forward end of the receiver where it should say M1, there is only an M stamped. That portion of the receiver where I would expect to see the 1 is smooth with the park removed as though something has been ground off. It's the only place on the receiver where the park is missing. I've looked at it under bright light with a magnifying glass and there is no hint of a 1 or 2 ever being stamped there. Does anyone know what ser# Inlands were converted to M2s? Is there any other way to identify an M2 receiver other than the M2 stamp?

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[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Handstamped 1's and 2 over 1's started showing up in the high 6 million range, machine stamped M-2's in the 7 million range. Yours in the 700,000 range would originally have been an M-1.

[Tired Retired]

Dave,

There was a very heated discussion about M1/M2 hand stamps on Inland 7 mill receivers on the CMP forum over this last weekend. While that conversation has (thankfully) died down, you may find some very useful info posted which may (or may not) apply to what ever your situation is.

Inland with serial # 7,101,057 - CMP Forums

If you think your weapon has been altered, I strongly recommend that you get yourself legal or deal appropriately with it as contraband... No carbine is worth jail time. Just my two cents...

What is strange is yours is the 3rd 7-mil serial Inland which has the same (or similar) issue which seems to have surfaced in the last week or so. I am wondering why these are starting to hit the market all of a sudden? Were they in a batch that got returned from overseas?

[emmagee1917]

..it is 700,00 range , no problem. If it is 7,000,000 range , it's a time bomb waiting to go off. " Why else would there be grinding there ?" would be the question you'd be trying to answer on the witness stand.
Chris

[Chuckindenver]

stamp a 1 on the thing thats the same size, and never ever tell anyone aver again.
move it down the road..
the less people you talk about this the better.

[ammodave]

I don't want to get rid of the carbine but I don't want any legal problems either. It's a good shooter and I got it for a fair price (about $400). If my dealer sold me an illegal weapon I would expect him to make it good and refund my purchase price. Is there any definitive list of which Inlands were modified by Uncle Sam to turn them into M2s?

[rondog]

Interesting question. For your sake, I hope it's a legal M1. But this reminds me that I have no idea what an M2 looks like, or what distinguishing features they have. Anybody have any detailed photos of an M2?

[Tired Retired]

I believe the question should be whether the observed grounded off area was an attempt to remove a mark which identified it as a machine gun.

First, can you confirm the serial number?

While I cited a negative thread on the CMP forum over an Inland 7,000,000 receiver, you typed in a 6-digit serial number above. JimF4M1 is correct to say that a 700,000 serial Inland could NOT have been stamped "M2" because they did not exist at that time. Additionally, I doubt (but I ain't no expert) that some military armorer was going to go to the trouble of grounding off a "1" digit just so he could put a M-2 kit on it later.... In short, a 6-digit serial is direct evidence that it was never stamped "2" when it was built.... however....

With that said, a 7-digit, 7,000,000 serial was made during the time periods that they were stamping them either "1" or "2" by hand. And if its obviously been ground off, I would slowly lay the rifle down and quickly call your lawyer for some good legal advice. Trying to get your gunshop to "make good" could be seen as an attempt to deal in an illegal weapon. And since possession is 9/10ths of the law, you will be the one wearing the handcuffs since you are possessing the weapon AND trying to pass it off since you "know" it was altered....

As far as definite list of M-1/M-2 carbines at the time of manufacture, I dont think one currently exists because old records were never maintained over the years. That is why you see so many inaccurate lists and heated debates over "correct dates" of manufacturer for carbines...

When you talk about "marking" a carbine for an M1 to M2 conversion, the work is actually done all below the wood (except for the selector switch on the left side and its stock cut-out ). Basically its the installation of the selector switch, disconnect, new sear, hammer, 9-spring, etc. Once you remove the "kit" and replace it with standard M-1 parts, it looks the same above the wood except for the selector switch and cut-out. A couple of guys here on this forum have M-2's but I do not know if they are manufacturered or if they are (properly registered) kit conversions.... Ok you subject matter experts help me out here... I'm at the limit of my limited knowledge and I am sinking fast.... who can help ammodave out with more accuaret info than I know?????????????

[Chuckindenver]

someplace i have a list of the original M2,s by serial number,
if its in that list, its a machine gun..
if its not,then your ok..
the military converted all the makers of the M1 to an M2..
however,,
the law says.. if the it was made as an M2, it will always be a machinegun.
to put the M2 parts in a M1 marked carbine..makes it a machinegun..
removing the M2 parts from a M1 marked carbine, will make it legal...howes that for Gov work.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Hand stamped:



Machine stamped: