WW2 repair Ordnance Depots in ETO and/or the PTO?

[Hercules Powder]

I am searching for information on repairs, upgrades and check and test work done during the war to carbines. I realize a lot of repairs were done in the field, but what I am curious about are reasons or events that required more than could be done in the field. Like carbines damaged in battle or preparing for large scale events such as the D Day Invasion.

Things I would most like to know:

Are there any markings similar to the post war rebuilds stamped on the stock after (ETO/PTO) Depot repairs?

When did they start replacing the flip sights with the adjustable sight and was that do to a lot of carbines during the war?

Thanks
John

Information

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[usgicollector]

I can tell you there were carbines repaired at all levels of maintenance in theater. I am not sure of any markings being applied. Some of the recent CCNL's had articles on carbines with field repair history. As for the rear sights many units in Europe started changing them in the late summer of '44 and had all of the units carbine's sights changed.

[Bruce McAskill]

There are no markings on carbines repaired or updated during the war while they were overseas. Even after the war carbines were rebuilt at the FN plant in Europe and at the Howa plant (if I remember correctly) in Japan and none of these were marked in anyway. Most carbines were not updated in the field unless in for a major repair that would take sometime to do.

[Newscotlander]

There are no markings on carbines repaired or updated during the war while they were overseas.

See Carbine Club newsletter 362, page 14. Rebuilt carbines and garands were stamped on the top of the barrel, in front of the breech. I just saw an M-1 rifle at the last Springfield Gun show (Big E) that had such a marking on it.


Here is a link to a Gunbroker auction that has a Garand that was rebuilt in Europe (probably Italy) in July, 1944.

1943 WRA Winchester M1 Garand Correct PBS 506th : Curios and Relics at GunBroker.com


also see: Question on Barrel Markings on a M1903A3

[firstflabn]

PBS was indeed in Italy. Obviously this puts 506 PIR out of the picture. Only two other Army Ground Forces units had 506th in its designation. One was an early war coastal artillery unit that was reorganized with a different number; the other was a AAA unit serving in the Pacific.

I know of no source for a complete listing of Army Air Forces or Army Service Forces units, but if you want to take a wild guess, there was a 3506th QM Car Co. in the 5th Army in Italy. This type of unit was authorized 24 Garands by T/O&E 10-57, February 23, 1944.

[Tired Retired]

Ok, learned something about the barrel stamping and it will be yet another bit of info I use when shopping for correctors.

On the GB issue of the "506" stamp, I have simple question - could everyone be reading too much into this and the number is simply a rack number?