Photos of my first M1 Carbine

[INLAND44]

I don't know, but it's obviously a U.S. stock, I think a Type III. Have you heard of 'steaming' a stock? Yours could use some steaming, a stripping, stain and linseed oil. This is one of those carbines I would be sorely tempted to refinish/restore (but not 'correct' with different parts). There's just one reason I would not do it - the M1A1 connection and the fact that the barrel and receiver have been together from day one. A correct trigger housing wouldn't be hard to find - uh oh, here I go 'correcting' it after just saying 'don't'. Its hard to resist.

[jimb16]

If the crossed cannon marking is very small, it could be a wartime replacement stock manufactured by Jewel Bros. Often, that is the only marking. They also used a J in the sling bevel. But to the best of my knowledge, they didn't use both an any stock. Those with the J were normally made for a particular manufacturer. Those with only the x-cannons were spare replacement stocks for the military and not for any particular maker.

[INLAND44]

That would certainly explain it. Thanks, Jim.

[shadycon]

Steaming stocks; My S-HB stock I picked up for my Std. Pro. was more dinged up that yours. I steamed it with a Tea-pot. It was slow, I started at one end and worked to the other end. I kept paper towel next to stove to catch what dripped out of wood. A lot of old oils. Most of the small dings disappeared and the larger ones got smaller. Be carful around any cartouches. I reoiled with BLO and now it has that been there look.
For all new to carbines a good book to start with is the blue one by Ruth & Duff , "The M1 Carbine OWNER'S GUIDE"!

[Banjo1928]

Thanks to all. A wartime replacement stock sounds logical. The crossed cannons mark is definitely there, but my HI in the sling well may just be my complete imagination. As I said, the reality is there are three strokes about the same length " ll l " I just decided that it must be HI actually it may just be three little lines. As the stock has been messed with by a previous owner and the gun being what it is I may do something with the stock. I don't mind a beat up stock if it's honest but somebody did a poor job stripping it with something then tried to stain the light wood dark and got it blotchy then dumped some BLO on it. I'm not sure I could detract too much from it or from the history of the weapon if I worked on it a bit. Thanks again for all the help I have a copy of Ruth & Duff on the way.

[INLAND44]

If you want to start over with the stock, wash it with lacquer thinner. its going to be pale when you get through so be thinking about a stain.

[Banjo1928]

I have heard, but not done the research yet, that with a pale wood that has a grain like birch there is some sort of a pre-treatment or pre-stain that should be done after it has been stripped so the color is even and does not end up looking blotchy when stained.

[shadycon]

Use the search at the top;
Look up 'Seasprinter'
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=56179
This is a start.

[INLAND44]

With an old stock that has had all kinds of vegetable and mineral oil on it along with possible stains, you are going to have dark areas. I don't see this as a negative. The stock doesn't look bad now and appears to be in good condition, although you should check behind/under the recoil plate for soft wood. I don't know if a restoration is possible or indicated for it. But you could steam it and clean it, which will lighten the color. At that time, if you wanted to darken/change the color you could use an alcohol-based dye which gives instant penetration. You're going to have dark spots and areas regardless unless you decide to go all out and include aggressive sanding with the clean-up, which I wouldn't recommend. Using the darker dyes will reduce the contrast between the different hues and make it look more like a walnut stock. I think guys are using Fiebling's Leather Dyes which come in many colors for concocting the color you want.

[new2brass]

Look closely at sling well mark, do you see JLB?
that crossed cannon is bigger then the Jewel CC

for the bolt look carefully on the lugs or on body of bolt under the small lug for a mark.

Recoil plate appears to have a line on the top, can you confirm. if so its a cast replacement

your front sight is a replacement when they upgraded rear sight and/or barrel band