Inland Hand Guard Question

[Banjo1928]

I just bought my first M1 Carbine last week and due to a lack of funds settled on a 1943 Inland with a very small import mark on the underside of the barrel near the front sight. The seller had said it was a Blue Sky Import but it has the ARL ORD ARLINGTON VA where only the upper third to a half of the letters show up. At first glance the import mark just looks like a little rough scratch you about need a magnifying glass to see it. I have just started to disassemble the weapon and get an idea of which manufacturer made which parts. My question is the hand guard has a very clear P-U stamped in it which I’m guessing is Irwin-Pederson for Underwood. I say guessing because while I have seen a lot of information on who made what for whom I somehow missed the P-U so I’m looking to the group for a clarification.

When I get a moment I shall post the pics and hopefully get feedback. In my area of the country M1 Carbines without the import marks are going for $1,200 to $1,400 if they are in good condition. This is a nice Inland in pretty good shape with the Augusta Arsenal stamp (AAD) on the left side of the stock and all the referb. upgrades (adjustable rear sight, low cut stock, bayonet lug etc. but was $650 so out the door it went.

Information

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[cali201]

$650 is a fine price for an Inlaind with a small ARL ORD mark. The best shooting carbine I have out of 9 is the same Inland with the same ARL ORD mark. Your price on regular, unmarked carbines is a bit high ( I live in the Ellijay area). Nothing wrong with your marked carbine, in fact it proves it was overseas somewhere instead of just guarding the latrine at Ft. Dix. That mark is part of it's history. P-U was produced by Peterson Bros. for Underwood

[INLAND44]

If you have an IO stock you should be able to trade your PU (say that and hold your nose just kidding!) for an IO hand guard. BUT - if the hand guard you have fits right and is in good condition, you might consider keeping it. Arlington brought in some Israeli carbines - does yours have a large serial number on the buttstock? The Israelis are good to have because they were very meticulous in their care of them and always used only USGI parts installed by armorers. The thing you don't know is if the carbine is still in rebuild condition or if it has had parts replaced by whomever had it, but it sounds like it has all G.I. parts. $650 is a very good buy assuming a good barrel and nothing funny about about the carbine.

[Banjo1928]

Thanks Cali201 and no large serial number on the buttstock Inland44. besides the price and the fact I wanted one, I bought it for the barrel. The receiver serial number puts it in early to mid 1943 depending on how you crunch the numbers and the barrel is Inland marked 7-1943 and is close to perfect. The hand guard fits well, matches the stock pretty much and has the two rivets which I'm told Inland used so I will probably keep it. Thanks to all for the input.

[INLAND44]

Everybody used two-rivet handguards until they revised them to four-rivet. What's the serial number first half? It might be in the range of the first M1A1 run. That would be interesting.

[Banjo1928]

six digit number 5872XX I'm afraid I'm too new to the M1 Carbine to know the difference or grasp the significance of the number other than to roughly give me a year.

[INLAND44]

Yeah, that's solidly in the first M1A1 run. It doesn't mean it was one, just a possibility.

[Banjo1928]

Cool (I think) thanks for your input. I have been in and out of town not had a chance to really mess with it yet. I will send pics and look forward to your thoughts.

[new2brass]

the P-U hand guard was made by Pedersen Brothers in Wilton CT.
Has nothing to do with the Irwin-Pedersen (note dash) in Grand Rapids MI.

The Robert W. Irwin company was a furniture company and his brother Earle produced steel frame seats.
John D. Pedersen was a long time gunsmith/manufacturer with a history of government work.
The Mayor of Grand Rapids got them together and they formed the Irwin-Pedersen Arms Corporation.
The furniture for IP and S'G' were made by the Robert W Irwin Company