Postal Meter M1 Carbine Stock "105" Embedded in Woodgrain

[gregs]

A guy I know has a National Postal Meter M1 Carbine for sale. Looking at all of the stampings, it shows to have been rebuilt twice due to the double P's on the front of the handgrip. My question is that the stock has what looks to be a 105 embedded in the woodgrain. It is not stamped or engraved. The number 105 is lighter that the darker American walnut. You have to look close but it is there and only on one side of the stock. After looking at many pictures online, I have never seen this before. Can anyone help? Please see the piucture attached. I tried to attach the picture but it is too large and I do not have software to minimize the size. Please send me an email to gschoenfeld@austin.rr.com and I will send the picture. Thanks.

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[painter777]

The P's could just mean test fired after some service work.

The Ghost numbers in the wood grain may be left from some painted on rack numbers that weren't stripped away properly if the stock was re-finished.

Hth,
Charlie-painter777

[gregs]

Charlie-painter777,

Can you send me an email at gschoenfeld2austin.rr.com? I would like to send you some pics of this gun and see what you think to make sure it is the real thing. I sure could use someones help with this since I don't know much about the guns. Thanks.

[painter777]

E-mail sent...

CH-P777

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

Gregs,
If you use photobucket as a host, you can use their edit feature to change the image size.
Jim

[gregs]

Thanks for the recomendation for Photobucket. Below is the link to the pictures. The barrel has a Marlin stamping; the pic just came out blurry. Thanks for everyones time and help. I just don't want to make a mistake in buying this gun. The guy wants $800 to $900 for the gun.

Greg

---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:46 PM ----------

Pictures by gschoenfeld - Photobucket

[INLAND44]

It's a rack number. It was painted on. You could remove it but I wouldn't. Looks like the stock was on a carbine at one time that was rebuilt at Augusta Arsenal and again at (I think) Anniston Army Depot (AN). There's no way to know if the carbine now in the stock was in it then. I don't think the pictures are adequate to appraise this carbine, but my initial feeling is $800 is too much.

[DaveHH]

Looks neat and is part of this weapon's history.

[painter777]

USGI Bob,
Was just telling me about the poor Recoilplate fit on a WWII IR replacement stock.
I happen to have one of those stocks here and slid a plate on it, he's right, poor fit.
The stock pictured in this threads post is better, but not by much, also seeing it looks to be a M2 stock.

Gregs,
A barrel used by NPM will have what I call the NPM PUNCH MARK near the stamped P proof on the barrel. One of the only ways to tell if that barrel may be original to that receiver.
Here's a recent link to a old post about the PUNCH, near the bottom of the page....
m1 carbine barrel markings

I see your seller has a few extras, but I too feel his price is to high.
A list of part types and there markings may add some value or could remove some.

Good Luck,
Charlie-painter777