I.R. Co. rear sight

[rdpinwa]

I have one of these adjustable sights on my Winchester. I have been trying to find out who made them, with no luck. This sight does NOT have the numbers stamped on the side. Also, anyone know the dates of production for this model?

Information

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[DaveHH]

International Register Co.

[USGI]

I just took a quick look at War Baby! and on page 327 it's stated that this sight has been "occasionally observed" on the Winchester, but the H in a shield (Hemphill) is the "most commonly marked Winchester stamped sight." Quantity/SN Range: insufficient data. - Bob

[rdpinwa]

My Winchester has a s/n of 11426XX. It believe it is a wartime refurbish done at Mt. Rainier Ord. As far as I have been able to identify, there is not a part on this rifle that could not have been there in 1944. The stock is a 1943-44 Underwood (GHD on top of UEF in a long narrow rectangle with crossed cannons), the barrel is an early undated Winchester with an intregal gas port. Also has the Winchester (WP) proof stamp on the barrel along with the small w two inches above the proof mark. The ordnance bomb is where it should be on a Winchester, on the side of the gas port. The recoil plate is a Wadsworth made for Inland (WI), and the bolt is a round Inland stamped 4-I. The slide is an early edition Underwood, and the trigger housing is also Inland. The hammer spring is the earlier edition 22 band spring and the firing pin is a Winchester. The Mag release is a revision 4 with the underlined M that was superceded by revision 5 in May of 1945. It has a type III barrel band with a bayonet lug marked with a D inside a diamond (Donaldson made June 1944-April 1945). The parkerizing is very good, but not uniform, showing wear areas where you would expect them. I do not believe it has been reparked. The sight is the issue of me. I believe it was an upgrade from the old flip sight when it was refurbished at MRO, but I can find no dates of production for the ones that did not have the part number stamped into the sight. From what has been posted earlier in the thread, my belief that the sight was available for upgrade in 1944. Am I wrong? Also, I do know that Mt. Rainier Ordnance WAS doing reworks of small arms during the war and sending them to the fromt line troups in the pacific in 1944-45. Thoughts, please.

[BrianQ]

As far as I have been able to identify, there is not a part on this rifle that could not have been there in 1944.

The Mag release is a revision 4 with the underlined M that was superceded by revision 5 in May of 1945. Thoughts, please.

The magazine catch with the underlined M went into production in May 1945.

[mpd1978]

The IR Co sight was without a doubt in production in 1944. When it was put on your carbine is anyones guess. Curious about MR carbine rebuilds in 1944-45, how did you come across that info?

[Bruce McAskill]

The adjustable rear sight really was not available for upgrades on carbines being rebuilt during the war. There just were not enough available for production let alone rebuilding. Only 1/3 of Inlands production right to the end had adjustable rear sights. As to Mt. Rainier doing rebuilding during the war. I would hazard a guess that it was more of a repair then rebuild process at that time during the war. The great rebuilding of carbines started about late 1945 and continued into the 1950's.

[rdpinwa]

That is where I got the info on MRO rebuilding during the war. I definately agree with you that most of the rebuilts were definately post WWII, but not all.

[URL="http://http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9028"http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9028[/URL]

I will post shortly (when I can find it) the government document stating the Rev 4 underlined M catch was superceded by the rev 5 (unmarked). It is dated May 16, 1945.

[rdpinwa]

Check out this link regarding the Rev 4 catch.

Carbine magazine catches - CMP Forums

[BrianQ]

Check out this link regarding the Rev 4 catch.

Carbine magazine catches - CMP Forums

That document, which I posted, is dated 29 Oct 1952. It references MWO ORD B28-4,released on 16 May 1945. The M magazine catch wasn't standardized until after the 30 round magazine was. Th e30 round magazine was standardized in April 1945.