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    Legacy Member bobg's Avatar
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    Postal Meter question

    I just came across two NPM carbines that were built with Underwood receivers. The word Underwood was lined out but the serial number was still used. The numbers were 276xxxx and 277xxxx. Can anyone tell m about when they were built? I don't trust the date on the barrels as they both went through govt. rebuild and the barrels could have been changed.
    Thank you.
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    Legacy Member jond41403's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by bobg View Post
    I just came across two NPM carbines that were built with Underwood receivers. The word Underwood was lined out but the serial number was still used. The numbers were 276xxxx and 277xxxx. Can anyone tell m about when they were built? I don't trust the date on the barrels as they both went through govt. rebuild and the barrels could have been changed.
    Thank you.
    I can't tell you about the build date but I can tell you that just because they went through a rebuild does not necessarily mean they do not retain their original barrels. I have a rebuild Winchester that still has its original Barrel

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    Hello down in Nigeria Bob,

    Are they marked with just a N below the lined out Underwood ?

    NPM got receivers from Underwood, IBM and Inland.
    Underwood IBM and the Inland receivers would have been lined out and the N stamped below the serial number.
    US&S made receivers would have been marked National Postal Meter (US&S made these for NPM) then had a U stamped below serial number.

    To be honest........... I'll have to look further in to it in the morning.... as far as dates for barrels.. and the split serial number blocks/sequence... etc.

    Plus being in the UEF 2 mil serial block makes it harder to figure because of the way they put this 2 mil block on hold and started their 4 mil block, eventually work on both of these overlapped.
    In this 2 mil serial block is where UEF had 4 different Sub contractors making receivers for them: T,B, W and S any of which marked near the heal.

    Any sign of any of these other Underwood receiver sub contractors letter markings?


    Cheers Buddy
    Charlie
    Charlie-Painter777

    A Country Has No Greater Responsibility Than To Care For Those Who Served...

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    Legacy Member bobg's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    They have the N marked below the serial number but no sign of a sub contractor marking.

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    Legacy Member deldriver's Avatar
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    If you're worried about the barrels being replacements simply look for the NPM proof punch on them. You may have to look under the bayonet lug for the punch marks though.

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    Legacy Member bobg's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Did NPM use the proof punch during their entire period of production or just for a certain time period?

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    Legacy Member deldriver's Avatar
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    No, but pretty close to it.

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    Legacy Member bobg's Avatar
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    Is it known what time period they did or did not use the punch marks?

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    Quote Originally Posted by bobg View Post
    Is it known what time period they did or did not use the punch marks?
    I've seen Punch marks towards the end of 1st serial block NPM.
    Like Deldriver, I believe it was pretty early on..... maybe half way through their 1st serial block (?) that NPM stopped stamping their P on the barrels they received and just applied the Punch mark near the barrel makers P proof.
    I believe it was considered a time saver on NPM's behalf.

    But with that said here's a recent sale by Sam T Bob of a lined out Underwood to NPM that has a no date Marlin barrel with 2 P proof stamps on the barrel. No punch mark and in your serial range~.
    Being STB I can't say if this was the original barrel:




    Jim M,
    Has some info and pictures of NPM proofs near the bottom of this page:
    The U.S. Caliber .30 Carbines - Barrel Manufacturers

    Now for a time frame of UEF receivers to NPM for possible barrel dates.......
    Charlie-Painter777

    A Country Has No Greater Responsibility Than To Care For Those Who Served...

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    Quote Originally Posted by bobg View Post
    276xxxx and 277xxxx
    War Baby page 447 lists lined out Underwood to NPM receivers.
    Serial number examples used are 2,743,286 (pictured) and 2,767.294
    Goes on to note that Underwood sent to NPM the following receivers:

    1,500 completed delivered on Nov 18, 1943
    6,000 Semi-finished on Dec 16, 1943
    7,200 Partially machined on Mar 12, 1944

    Total of 14,700 receivers.

    Guess the question remains......
    Whose barrels were they using at these times and (if) dated what would they be.
    Charlie-Painter777

    A Country Has No Greater Responsibility Than To Care For Those Who Served...

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