What do I have ?

[sealer]

I purchased six 15 rd. 30 carbine mags at an auction mixed in with a bunch of other things. Marked as follows on the spines :
1 SS
1 LU
1 BW
1 AI
2 IS
All have some pitting. Are they worth anything ?
Thanks, Dennis

Information

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[rcathey]

1 SS
1 LU
1 BW
1 AI
2 IS

Shelby Products
M.S. Little
Bridgeport Metal Goods
Inland
I think also Inland.

[browningautorifle]

I thought IS was International Silver... What I found is 15s usually work. If you need mags, those are the ones I'd buy.

M1 Carbine 15 rnd Magazines

[rcathey]

I thought IS was International Silver...

M1 Carbine 15 rnd Magazines

That may be. My reference book is quite old. It covers “all” US military markings. Neat but a little vague sometimes. Mile wide and a foot deep, ya know.

[browningautorifle]

That site I posted is worth keeping...very nice to have.

I think OP's sale ad is fair and should move them. Someone should be happy...

[jimb16]

IS is international silver. It is basically a "generic" mag that was general issue and not assigned to any particular carbine manufacturer. LU for example was generally used by Underwood, hence the U. BW was usually used by Winchester. AI was Autoyre for Inland.

[rcathey]

I think OP's sale ad is fair and should move them. Someone should be happy...

And someone is indeed happy
Thanks again, Dennis! My carbine will love them.

[painter777]

Note: That the SW marked mags were not Winchester.
Made by Stanley Works and supplied directly to the Government under contract.

Source: Carbine collectors club forum-
SW Magazines NOT Winchester Spotters Report - The Carbine Collector's Club

[rcathey]

The ones I got from OP didn’t have an SW in the bunch.
That’s neat though! I used to collect antique tools so that combines a couple passions. I didn’t realize Stanley did government work but I probably could’ve assumed.
One neat artifact of the war on their regular production was what are now called “type 17” hand planes. Their woodworking planes had rosewood handles and a big brass adjuster knob. During the war that changed to painted hardwood and a plastic knob. They couldn’t get the rosewood (Brazilian stuff, hard to get now due to CITES) and of course brass was needed for the war effort.