NPM CARBINE ( please give your opinion good or bad )

[DICKX]

I bought a NPM Carbine SN #1,492,883 1st block Jan 43- Sept 43 I know that it is a mixmaster but just hope is a good shooter.
Barrel - Underwood 6-43 flaming bomb - ME full 3/16" to case using M2 ball 30-06 HXP
Stock - Walnut wood - has been sanded - right side can just make out square but no letters. left side has a rebuild mark (looks like MC??. was hoping were some markings on inside of stock but none
Sling recess - in the top part has letters RSG or C
Center looks like Flaming Bomb ??
Bottom hard to make out, but looks like a S U ( maybe light struck O ) then a letter L Note I took a lot of pictures
Bottom of pistol grip is a stamped P
BAD part of the stock - some idot sanded down the top of the butt next to the buttplate ( you can see top of buttplate is higher than the wood the rest fits ok. I tried a new buttplate but did not help.
Trigger housing is a type 1 ??? marked N on right side & 9 on left side.
Hammer no marks ( I didn't take the trigger group apart yet )
BOLT- Flat no marks except on left lug that slides in the receiver slot had some marks ( maybe AL L & backward C ??? worn almost off. I didn't take bolt apart until I get bolt tool.
SLING - looks to be maybe USGI Post War ???
SLIDE - maybe type 3 ??? down in side the bottom is letter S & and #'s 17 on out side bottom.
Recoil Plate ( type 3 SG )
Post rebuild - Rear Sights HI, barrel band with lug type 3 MMQ, front sight RIA, 4 rivet hand guard with letters & numbers on inside, flip saftey,and M magazine catch.
OILER- looks to be a good one ???? maybe International Silver Co.

Maybe you guys can tell more by looking at the pictures ( I tried using Craig Riesch book but get mixed up )
All help will be appreciated
Thanks
Dick
NPM CARBINE pictures by montana19x - Photobucket

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[JerryB08]

My opinion will differ GREATLY from most. If it shoot's great and functions properly in every way then you have a wonderful M1 Carbine. Luckily it's an American Weapon where all the parts are for the most part interchangeable and do not need hand fitted. I say shoot it enjoy it and count yourself lucky that you have a fine piece of American military history. As a side note easily over 50 percent of matching milsurp weapons are forced matched (faked) by collectors (or venders) purchasing stamps. I have some that are all matching, most have been in my family since new so I have the luxury of knowing those ones are the real deal. I have paid the premium a few times for all matching but I never will again. There are no ways to really KNOW if it is in fact all matching. I was almost fooled and easily would have been had it not been a friend. Now if it's period correct I am happy and would only pay a tiny bit more for all matching unless someone could really "Prove" it was all matching. part numbers matching just don't mean that much to me personally.

[deldriver]

Nice NPM when it comes down to it. It probably has the original trigger housing, although it looks like the mag catch and safety have been changed as usual. The stock looks nice even with the sanding. The slide is a Standard Products one. Are there any marks on the hammer? I don't remember seeing one in you photo album. I couldn't tell what it said from the bolt. The description you gave I'm not familiar with; maybe some one else can help there.

[DaveHH]

I got one of the last SG NPMs a couple of years ago (4.25). It had the original barrel (IBM) and what appears to be the orignal trigger housing (N16). My stock was an I cut Inland. Same front sight as yours, a PI rear sight and Winchester bolt. I bought it as a shooter and I wanted an example of the NPM because Ruth said that he thought they were the best made carbines. So it was essentially the same as this one. I love it and will never change anything on it. It shoots pretty well and functions fine. Yours should too. Your barrel looks brand new and the muzzle is perfect. I'd certainly be happy with your carbine.

[painter777]

Your stock is a Robert Irwin made stock for Saginaw Steering Gear, Saginaw, MI. It has the coke bottle shape under the barrel channel. The right side box looks to be the correct size for the SG stamp. I believe if you could make out the SG letters they would be stamped upside down. The CC looks to be long gone, but many were so lightly stamped they could be hard to see just a few years in to service. The slingwell being marked RSG in the top and having the commonly found letters or numbers stamped in the bottom are very common on SG used stocks. I can't tell if thats a Bomb stamp in the slingwell.
I just went thru dozens and dozens of buttplates to find the best fit for a RSG stock. Most of the plates had a huge hang over. Best fit I could find was a real PM-IP plate. Still had some hang over near the top but a huge plus compared to the other WWII plates I tried.

Your D tip sling looks USGI, made post WWII.
Your LW marked Handguard is a replacement WWII era made by Lumb Woodworking.
Your bolt, though hard to see looks to be a Inland bolt, marked OI or AI with a sideways number ( 1, 2 or 3 ).
Your Trigger housing is a NPM, IIRC NPM made both the Type I and II. But didn't use the front bevel found on other makers Type II housings. So with yours having the narrow rear mag wall, it would be a Type I.
Op Slide with the straight cut rear wall and narrow arm joint is a Stan Pro Type III.

Can you see a punch mark on your barrel? Barrels used by NPM had this punch mark.
Or was that IBM used barrels? Tired and can't remember.....

Nice looking carbine, I hope you did well $$ on it.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

Cheers,
Charlie-painter777

[painter777]

DickX,
I didn't want to go to bed after leaving the punch mark question hanging.

Found these older posts about how NPM used their own punch mark on barrels they used.

HTH, Good Night !
Charlie-painter777

Help needed for correct barrel for NPM
NPM Front Sight Question?

Here is some good info from Hercules Powder for barrels used by NPM and their punch mark locations,
Npm

P.S. Here's a picture of your barrel. Is that your punch mark down below the bomb, just a hint to the left? I'd guess 6" from end on the barrel.

[DICKX]

Thanks Charlie,
I appreciate your help on the ID of my pictures and your knowledge of the Carbines. It's nice to have some one help me out on this carbine.
The Barrel is a Underwood 6-43 with a flaming bomb and a punch mark about 7" below the bomb. I ordered a new USGI buttplate ( SA ) but it didn't fit any better. I will try and see if I can check the diamonds on the plate to ID. When I get a bolt tool and can take bolt apart maybe I can get better pictures. I paid $ 625.00 + tax, so I think I got a fair deal
Many thanks
Dick

[painter777]

So I was 1" short............. story of my life !!
Real nice carbine for $625. very happy for you.

Cheers,
Charlie

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

A lot of guys wouldn't mind having that date barrel either.


Charlie,
And I appreciated all that butt plate checking. It looks good on there.

[DICKX]

The buttplate checked out to be a SG ( missing dot ) found it on page 115 in 6th edition by Craig Rieschs book. I think I will just keep it even if fit is a little off. Also the Carbine has a SG recoil plate ( type 3 ).
If I could find a 2 rivet hand guard made by Trimble Nursery & Furniture co. ( TN ) I may have a complete SG stock
I may have to do some more checking this out to be sure.
Dick

PS Thanks to all you guys that replied to my post.