how old is my greasegun???

[Klunk]

Aint actually got it yet so i dont know the serial #

But...when did 'they' start making them and when did they stop?

Can i get a date of manufacture out of the serial number...Hmmm...?

Information

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[Stevo]

M3 or M3A1?

[Klunk]

M3 or M3A1?

A1...stick yer finger the hole to cock

[Klunk]

M3 or M3A1?

A1...stick yer finger the hole to cock

heheh...I said "hole, finger and cock" all in the same sentence...how rude

[tiriaq]

If its an Ithaca, it would be made in the '50's. A Guide Lamp would be , what, '45?

[Claven2]

In December 1944 a modernized version of the M3 was introduced into service known as the M3A1, which has several new features, among them the crank-type cocking mechanism was removed and a recess was machined into the bolt allowing the bolt to be cocked with the user’s finger, the ejection port and ejection port cover were enlarged, a magazine release button cover was added and a magazine loading device was welded to the wire stock. Additionally the bolt latch was changed, the barrel bushing received cuts that assist in barrel removal with the use of the stock, a larger oiler was used and a spare lubricant mount was removed (located at the left side of the cocking lever assembly), replaced with an oiler installed inside the pistol grip.

These modifications resulted in a reduced weight and improved reliability; these changes also improved maintenance and field stripping (i.e. to remove the bolt and recoil assembly the user simply has to unscrew the barrel, in the M3 however it was necessary to first remove the trigger guard, then detach the cocking crank assembly from the receiver housing).

In 1945 the Guide Lamp factory manufactured close to 15,500 M3A1 submachine guns, additionally during the Korean War – another 33,000 units were built at the Ithaca Gun Co.

The M3 and M3A1 were officially retired from US service in 1957; however they continued to be used until the early 1990s by armored vehicle crews.

[Klunk]

Thanks Clave...

Its an Ithaca M3A1 and the serial# is 7256XX...hmmm...6 digit serila# but only produced in the five digits...what say?

Pics up someday when it arrives

[Claven2]

I would suggest, that like with Springfield 1903A3 production, Ithaca was likely assigned a serial number range that had little to do with the number produced

[Klunk]

A response from another (US) forum

During WWII the Guide Lamp Division of General Motors Corp made a total of 622,163 M3s and M3A1s.

85,130 M3s in 1943, 343,372 M3s in 1944, During 1945 they made 178,192 M3s and 15,469 M3A1s.

Ithaca then manufactured 33,227 M3A1s, 1955-56. The serial numbers for the Ithaca made M3A1s ranged from 721,330 to 754556.

[mrclark]

let us know when you get it, I'd love to see some pics of it