Anyone serve with IDF or Police using the M1 Carbine ?

[painter777]

If anyone has served in Israel using the M1 Carbine,
We have a few questions for you.
We often see M1 carbines that served in Israel with the number 50 stamped on the stock near the Recoil Plate or the side near the rear sight. Most often we find the Carbines serial number stamped on the left side of the stock. And sometimes a number stamped on the bottom of the pistol grip.

Here are pictures of a example of a Israeli used Carbine with these markings:

50...... Also often found stamped 50 near the Recoil plate, and sometimes in both areas:





Attachment 116870

Israeli style stock SN# marking:



Pistol Grip: Small Circled Number Stamp, Most we've found have a Circled single digit stamped on the bottom often oriented differently.
Sometimes we see Non Circled multiple Larger Digits on the bottom grip, But these aren't as common on the Israeli returns.

Small Single Circled Digit Example:

Attachment 116873

Attachment 116874

What does the number 50 stand for ?
We've 'Speculated' the stamped number 50 near the rear sight or recoil plate 'Might' stand for:
Sighted in for 50 Meters.... because of Highly populated Urban Conditions.

Recently a few members ran across some Surplus IMI .30 Carbine 110gr JSP IDF/Police Ammo being offered for sale. See attached a picture of the boxed label.
Attachment 116875

Another member found this Spec Data Sheet on this IMI Law Enforcement Carbine load.
Noted in the Description it says "This round engages its target accurately up to a distance of 50 meters, providing excellent stopping power for first target hit but with significantly reduced secondary target impact. Ideally suited for use in crowded environments where secondary casualties must be prevented.... " .. Etc.
Attached below:

Attachment 116876

IF Anyone has served or Experience with the IDF, Police Forces or Security, etc and knows anything about the Stamped 50 marking your help appreciated.

Even before seeing the IMI Ammo Data, I felt the 50 stood for the Carbine being Sighted in for 50 Meters. After reading the IMI data sheet I feel that much more confident that's what it stands for. The Stocks stamped 50, 2x ? Maybe sighted in again after a front sight change.
If anyone can help... Please do. If you have a connection in Israel you can ask, Please Do.

Post here or feel free to PM me or Email me.

Thank You,

[browningautorifle]

Note their ammo is soft point...

[jonnyc]

Interesting question.
I ran a village/kibbutz armory in Israel for about 4 years. I had 40 M-1 Carbines in stock and I don't recall any of the stamped markings you have shown. Now back then (1980s) I was military and much more into shooting than collecting, so I may have seen and ignored those stamps. We did use a 50 yard range for Carbine training, so that might explain the 50 mark. We only had stocks of US milsurp ammo, that IMI ammo only being produced for a short time in the 1990s.

[painter777]

@jonnyc,
Is this you commenting on the labels?

IMI Box Label? .30 Carbine - #2 by Fede - General Ammunition Discussion - International Ammunition Association Web Forum

[jonnyc]

Yes, but as you see Fede usually gets there first with the best info. We're convinced that he's really some kind of AI being, living in a super-computer (in Argentina), who has access to everything!

[painter777]

Well Thx all the same jonnyc,
I passed that forum post on to members that were looking for the label meanings.
So a 4+ year old post is still helping today.

[jonnyc]

Always happy to translate Hebrew and give any Israeli insight I can.

[baconslayer]

Mine has a 150, 100 and 1 circled on my IDF re-import.

[browningautorifle]

circled

That's the outside edge of the stamp.

[Sapper740]

Regarding Israeli M1 Carbines: I was a member of the Canadian Contingent to UNDOF (United Nations Disengagement Observer Force) from late 1998 to mid 1999. Being a gun enthusiast I took advantage of every opportunity to see what the soldiers I encountered were carrying on both sides of the border with Syria. Many of the IDF still carried Galils, M16AIs, and Uzis. I also encountered a school group on a field trip to the limestone caves at Rosh HaNikra and was surprised to see the teachers were all carrying M1 carbines with U.S. marked mag pouches on the butt stock.