Very early Rock-Ola

**M1Adam** · 04-11-2012 06:26 PM

Hello! Id like to share my Rock-Ola M1 Carbine with all of you. It was brought back from the war by my grandfather and it became mine after he passed a while ago. I'm a big history buff so I thought it would be nice to share this with everyone! Enjoy!
This has never been rebuilt or imported. It just sat there for so long until i got a hold of it. I broke it down as far as it can and the research started from there.

-Serial #-1678969
-Butt Plate-Rock-Ola Early
-Barrel Band-Type 1 (Early Narrow Band)-Rock-Ola: Marked "MR"
-Rear Sights-Type I (Flip Sight)-Rock-Ola: Marked Right base: "RR" | Left base: "S" | Leaf: "RR"
-Front Sight-Type 1-Rock-Ola: Marked Front: "RP"
-Bolt-Type II (Flat Bolt)-Rock-Ola: Right Lug, Marked: "ROCK-OLA"
-Extractor-Type I (Early)-Rock-Ola: Marked "R"
-Firing Pins-Type I-Rock-ola: Marked "ROCK-OLA"
-Slide-Type I (Arm Joint 11/32")-Rock-Ola: Marked on bottom "ROCK-OLA"
-Trigger Housing-Type II (Single Bevel)-Rock-Ola: Marked "ROCK-OLA" (Quality Hardware: Marked "Q-NL" Stamped OVER the Rock-Ola mark)
-Trigger-Early-Rock-Ola" Marked on left side "ROCK-OLA"
-Sear-Type I-Rock-Ola: Marked on left side "ROCK-OLA"
-Hammer-Type II-A (Fat Boy)-Rock-Ola: Marked "KR"
-Safety-Type II (Button)-Rock-Ola: Unmarked
-Magazine Catch-Type III (Short Plain Face)-Rock-Ola: Marked "A-R"
-Recoil Plate-Type II-Rock-Ola: Marked "ROCK-OLA"
-Barrel-Rock-Ola-Smooth machined (Interesting pattern on interior section): Marked "ROCK-OLA"|"4-43" Barrel date| "P" Proof mark
-Barrel Flat-Rock-Ola: Marked "R"| Unknown "2" shaped mark (possible Hieroglyphics?)| Stamped 'Flaming Ordnance Bomb'
-Barrel Skirt-Type I (Long Skirt)-Rock-Ola
-Receiver-Threads- US Ordnance "Witness marks"
-Gas Piston-Type II (Swagged Gas Cylinder)-Rock-Ola: Marked on right side "ROCK-OLA"
-Stock-Type I (Early)-Rock-Ola: Marked "RMC" in sling well|"RMC" Inspection mark above| Early Rock-Ola Cartouche mark, right side of stock|"I"-Cut sling/oiler well| Early "High Wood" over slide| Cherry or Walnut wood
-Hand-guard-(Early)-Rock-Ola: Marked "RMC"| Deep sighting groove| 2 Rivet| Short plate
-Miscellaneous- All parts are "Blued" and original| "Historically Authentic"

Please let me know what you think. I welcome all comments, questions and any corrections or additional information I should know about. I'm curious about the trigger housing being double stamped and what wood the stock + hand guard are made out of. I also have three magazines for it as well as a gas piston lug wrench that was a serial # that has always been with the rifle for as long as I can remember, although the gas piston lug has never been tightened or loosened.

-Gas Piston Lug wrench- Serial #-171543.1
-15 Round Magazine-Type III (Blued)-National Postal Meter-Union Hardware: Marked "UN" no serifs
-15 Round Magazine-Type III (Blued)-Union Hardware-Union Hardware: Marked "U" wide "U" with serifs
-30 Round Magazine-Type V (Split Back)-Unknown Manufacturer: Marked "MADE IN U.S. icon

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**wtmr** · 04-11-2012 07:32 PM

be proud of that one!!

**M1Adam** · 04-11-2012 07:33 PM

Oh I am! It has created a new addiction in me haha!

**M1Adam** · 04-11-2012 09:49 PM

Just some more random pictures. http://photobucket.com/rockolam11

**painter777** · 04-11-2012 10:43 PM

Welcome M1Adam,
Very nice example.
That Trigger Housing started out being made for QHMC but was sent to RMC. The pictures show the Rock-Ola stamp over the top of the Q-NL stamp. Example of lateral support. This trigger housing may be listed in Larry Ruth's War Baby book as a parts transfer.

Curious if the original flip sight on it has any type of staking done to the receivers' dovetails?
Possible to find small chisel type stake marks, there to keep the rear sight from moving.
Again, Very Nice and we do appreciate your Grandfathers service. Can you tell us where he served. Any chance of him having any paperwork tying him to this carbine? That would be a huge +

Oh,
Your stock and hand guard are both made from Walnut.

Thx Again,
Charlie-painter777

**USGI** · 04-12-2012 02:48 AM

I like it! Welcome to the forum. - Bob

**JimF4M1s (Deceased)** · 04-12-2012 05:46 PM

One nice looking Rock-Ola. Good going grandpa.

Looking in "War Baby"

Rock-Ola integrated 500 complete trigger housings to Quality H.M.C. 3-8-43.
But it only shows 500 each of bolts and slides going from Quality H.M.C. to Rock-Ola 2-1-43, no housings.

**LeagleEagle** · 04-12-2012 06:00 PM

Wow! Nice!

**painter777** · 04-13-2012 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

One nice looking Rock-Ola. Good going grandpa.

Looking in "War Baby"

Rock-Ola integrated 500 complete trigger housings to Quality H.M.C. 3-8-43.
But it only shows 500 each of bolts and slides going from Quality H.M.C. to Rock-Ola 2-1-43, no housings.

Maybe that trigger housing Q-NL was ready to ship to QHMC, but then boxed up and shipped to Rock-Ola by NL. Over stamped with the Rock-Ola then?
That's the only Rock-Ola verticle stamped housing I think I've ever seen.
This could explain why no QHMC parts in the housing.
We've sure seen stranger things.

Very nice staying in the family.

Charlie-painter777

**Bruce McAskill** · 04-14-2012 01:44 PM

The trigger housing is one of 500 sent by Rock-Ola to Quality Hardware. These were sent in March 1943 and were complete housings with all parts being Rock-Ola. How it got on a Rock-Ola is anybodys guess. Maybe during a cleaning detail or such.

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Very early Rock-Ola

very nice one

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