US WWII Quality Hardware M-1 Carbine .30 Cal Rifle 1943 C&R Vintage Rare
SOLD FOR: $1,065
WOA#: WY240302RL004
Make: Quality Hardware & Machine Co.
Model: M-1 Carbine
Serial Number: 1559548
Year of Manufacture: Early 1943
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Action Type: Semi-Automatic
Markings:
The top-rear of the receiver is marked “QUALITY H.M.C.” and “1559548”.
The top-front of the receiver is marked “U.S. CARBINE” and “CAL .30 M1”.
The barrel is marked “INLAND MFG. DIV. / GENERAL MOTORS / 1-43” and with the “P” proof mark.
The front barrel band is marked Diamond “SI” and “2” in electro pencil.
The safety is marked “H.T.”.
The front sight is marked “J-O”.
The rear sight is marked with the Shield “I.R. CO. / 7160060”.
The right side of the trigger group is marked with the Inland logo. The bottom of the trigger group is marked with “LGK OÖ / 1372”. Those markings denote use by the Landes Gendarmerie Kommando (Rural Police) of Oberösterreich located in Upper Austria during the US occupation period 1945-55. As soon as the US occupation began, the Austrian Gendarmerie were issued US M-1 Carbines for patrolling the countryside.
The hammer is marked “IN”.
The magazine release button is marked “M”.
The inside of the sling cut is marked “TRIMBLE TN”.
The charging handle is marked “2” in electro pencil.
The buttplate is marked “S-S3”.
Barrel Length: 18″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade with protective ears. The rear sight is a late sliding adjustable aperture sight dovetailed to the receiver.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a Type III low-wood with a Type I 2-rivet upper handguard, Type III (T4) barrel band, and a checkered metal buttplate. This rifle also has the rotating bolt safety. The LOP measures about 13.25” from the front of the trigger to the back of the stock. The wood on this rifle has scratches, scuffs, and compressions throughout. The only notable wear is a chip on the front of the pommel and a chip in the upper handguard just above the charging handle. The buttplate has scratches and dings, and has lost the finish on the upper and lower edges. Overall the stock and handguard are in Good condition for C&R.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: This rifle includes one after-market 30 round magazine in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Parkerized, Purple/Plum Finish
Finish Originality: Original and Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is semi-defined. There is little visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 7/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% of its refinished metal finish. There is finish loss near the muzzle, the friction surfaces on the receiver, the bolt, and the underside of the barrel. The purple/plum color on the trigger group is related to its nickel content. Metals were scarce during the war, thus more nickel was approved in the manufacture of the trigger groups to free up a metal in shorter supply. The nickel content required a higher temperature during the heat treating/refinishing process resulting in the purple hue. Overall this rifle is in Good to Very Good Condition for refinished and C&R.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle includes the mag mentioned above.
Our Assessment: Early in WW2, the US military recognized the need for a lightweight rifle that would bridge the gap between the heavy M-1 Garand and the standard issue sidearm, the M1911A1 pistol. The goal was to provide troops with a compact, easy-to-handle shoulder arm that offered more firepower than a pistol but was lighter and more maneuverable than a full-size battle rifle. In 1941, the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Department contracted with various manufacturers, including Winchester, Quality Hardware & Machine Co., and General Motors’ Inland Division, to develop and produce the M-1 Carbine. The rifle was designed by a team led by firearms designer David “Carbine” Williams, who drew inspiration from the successful Garand and the short-recoil action of the Thompson Submachine Gun. The M-1 Carbine featured a gas-operated, semi-automatic action and fired a .30 caliber cartridge known as the .30 Carbine. The cartridge, while less powerful than the standard .30-06 round used in the Garand, offered greater capacity and reduced recoil, making it more controllable and well-suited for short to medium-range engagements. The M-1 Carbine saw widespread use in World War II in the hands of US infantry, paratroopers, Marines, and support personnel, and was loved by the troops for its ease of use, compact design, and reliability. Quality Hardware produced 360,000 M-1 Carbines in total during the war. Please see our photos and best of luck with your bidding!!! -R.L.
