I just got a nice Six digit Inland post-war rebuild.

[imarangemaster]

Through sell selling and trading, I got a REALLY good deal on a nice mix-master 6 digit Inland, serial# 254690. It has an Underwood barrel with ordnance bomb " -44" date (no month). The ME is "0" as the bore and crown looks mint and the M2 ball round shows a full 1/4". Since I want this as a shooter for carbine matches and such, this should fill the bill

It has a "AMCO" type III band, stamped rear sight, Type II stamped front sight, Type IV brazed trigger housing, flat bolt, and early slide. I'll do a break down later. The finish matches overall, probably from the post war rebuild. At first I thought it was black dullite, but it is more an even dark grey like I have seen on some other post war rebuild weapons.

The stock is a sanded, intact High Wood "IO" with a trace of Ordnance wheel cartouche on it. I did not see a rebuild cartouche on it, though. I think I may put it in my cartouche shooter potbelly stock and save the high wood.

Pic tomorrow. Today is Mother's Day, and it would be death to haul it out today!

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[Bob K]

Looking forward to seeing the pics.

[imarangemaster]

I know Underwood had contracts for rebuild stuff, and lots of their barrels were used in late/postwar rebuilds. Since this was an early Inland, it makes sense by late or after the war it would need a new barrel. With the perfect barrel and crown, and an ME of "0", I seriously doubt that the barrel was taken off another weapon before mounting on the 6 digit during rebuild!
Is the Underwood barrel with the month part of the date left blank an indication the barrel was made for rebuild?

[INLAND44]

Look all over it for a .U. mark for Underwood rebuild. I've seen them on the front face of the front sight. Should be on the stock, but the stock may have been changed since. The smooth dark gray finish is probably Manganese Phosphate which has been in use since WWII and is the current mil-spec steel finish.

[imarangemaster]

Thanks, I'll look for the .U. when I tear it down. It looks like there might be a faint "U" on the bottom of the pistol grip. I'll have to check closer.

The finish does look just like the "parkerizing on 1970 M16A1 barrels. It is that same dark grey. I had a1950s rebuild years ago that had the same finish. The only negative is that the rear sight was a tad loose. I lined up the sight base notches with the original shallow stake marks, setting the rear sight slightly left of center, which is about right most of the time, and re-staked it snug.

It is a pretty nice Type II IO high wood stock, and the weapon looks good in it, but it is probably still collectable, even though it has been sanded some. If it does have a .U. stamp, it is likely original to the weapon from rebuild, so I may still leave it on the Carbine. If not, I may go with the pot-belly, and save the high wood.

[DaveHH]

.U. is the mark. My NPM has an I cut Inland stock with the .U. on the left side wrist. Here is original Inland finish:

[CrossedCannons]

Dave, How can you tell it is the "original Inland finish"? I've recently become very interested in when the major parts were finished during the manufacturing/assembly process and the evidence for such. Could you post a picture of your receiver's proof mark (just in front of the rear sight)?

[DaveHH]

You will clearly see where the finish is different top side vs bottom. That line is where Inland sand blasted the top portion of their receivers. The bottom portion was not sandblasted because it was hidden by the stock. Inland receivers were also finished as an assembled unit. Below is a photo of the same Inland. Notice the difference of the finish in front of the gas cylinder? This is where the band was placed when the carbine was finished as an assembled unit. When the sandblast line and band shadow are present, the finish is the original factory applied parking.

[INLAND44]

'It looks like there might be a faint "U" on the bottom of the pistol grip. I'll have to check closer.'

That may be the front part of a large 'P' in a circle which is the original Inland proof mark. Look at it in the oblique in direct sunlight - usually more of the marking can be seen in this way, like the Ordnance stamp.
Over the years, the indentations of marks holds dirt, oil, linseed oil, etc. and turns black, soaking into the wood, so even when you can't ordinarily see or feel it, the 'ghost' can still be seen. An LED flashlight is also great for seeing these. I'd be lost without one now that I have gotten used to using it all over guns to spot things that you just don't ordinarily see. I wouldn't go to a typically dimly-lit gin show without one.
Many rebuilds also have a large 'P' with no circle heavily stamped into the inside curve of the pistol grip. The .U. on the front face of the sight is not the Underwood rebuild stamp for the whole carbine, now that I think about it, although it could mean that the front sight was installed at Underwood. Rebuild stamps are always on the LH side of the stock, either in the area under the rear sight or just in front of the sling cut. Check those areas with daylight or LED light as above and you may turn up some more markings.

[tenOC]

Rebuild stamps are always on the LH side of the stock, either in the area under the rear sight or just in front of the sling cut. Check those areas with daylight or LED light as above and you may turn up some more markings.

Incorrect info. Stamps from rebuild can be seen on both sides of the stock. Ive got more than one example.