WWII Saginaw Gear SG M1 Carbine 18”.30 Cal Semi Auto Rifle U.S. C&R 1943
SOLD FOR: $1,005.00
LSB#: WY240715LP145
Make: Saginaw SG. Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors– Saginaw, Michigan.
Model: M1 Carbine.
Serial Number: 3427716
Year of Manufacture: May of 1943-February 1944, Most likely Late 1943
Caliber: .30 Carbine
Action Type: Semi Auto, fed by Detachable Magazines.
Markings:
The top of the receiver is marked “U.S. CARBINE / CAL. 30 M1” and “SAGINAW SG / 3427716”. There is a firing proof punch present.
The top of the bolt is marked “X”. This could have several meanings. This could be a Rock-OLA made bolt that they used for testing and then returned to the parts pool to be used for production.
The top of the barrel is marked Very faintly “SAGI / GENERAL MOTORS” and a “P” about five inches back from the front sight. The barrel flat has some very faint station markings. Originally before the barrel was refinished it would have read SAGINAW S.G. Div. GENERAL MOTORS.
The barrel band is unmarked
The slide is marked with a “P”
The front sight is marked with a “N” for International Business Machine IBM.
The rear sight is marked Shield “H”-Hemphill MFG. Co.
The trigger group is marked “N” for National Postal Meter with a batch number on the left side of “9”. The marking is very faint.
The mag release is marked “A-R” for Rock-Ola
The rotary safety is marked “CM” a post war rebuild code.
The left side of the hammer is marked “WMB” an IBM Part
The sear is marked “RI”- Inland Division.
The lug is unmarked
The upper handguard is marked “P-U” Pederson Bros. supplied Underwood Handguard.
The sling well is marked “S-HB” for Hillerich and Bradsby aka Louisville Slugger made originally for Standard Products.
Barrel Length: Approximately 18 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a fixed blade set between protective ears. The rear sight is the later style sliding aperture sight with a serrated windage knob dovetailed to the receiver.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is an oval cut, low wood, with two rivet handguard, type 1 barrel band, later rotary style safety and metal checkered buttplate. The LOP measures 13 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The upper handguard has very minimal scattered lines, scratches and compressions with a chip out of the edge of the right side sighting groove. The stock shows minimal scratches, lines and compressions, with only two small dings in the nose, and only one small chip out of the bottom of the oval cut. There are no cracks in the wood. The metal buttplate has semi-sharp checkering with finish loss and brown patina beginning to form in and on the checkering. The edges of the buttplate have begun to develop surface rust. The handguard fit is very loose on the receiver side. Overall the stock on this rifle is in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is well defined. There is no visible erosion in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 96% of its refinished metal finish. The majority of the wear is on the friction surfaces of the receiver, bolt and slide. The leading edge of the muzzle shows some finish loss. The front sight has finish loss on the leading edges as does the trigger guard. The screw heads are sharp, the markings range from very faint to very clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition for 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: None.
Our Assessment: The Saginaw Gear M1 Carbine is a significant variant of the iconic M1 Carbine, produced during World War II by the Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors. The M1 Carbine itself was a lightweight, semi-automatic rifle designed to provide greater firepower than the standard-issue sidearm while being more portable than the M1 Garand. Saginaw Steering Gear Division, located in Saginaw, Michigan, was one of several companies contracted by the U.S. government to manufacture the M1 Carbine. Production of the M1 Carbine by Saginaw Gear began in 1943 and continued through the end of World War II. The company was chosen for its expertise in precision engineering and manufacturing, essential for the production of reliable military firearms. The Saginaw Gear M1 Carbine, like other variants, is chambered in .30 Carbine. It operates on a short-stroke gas piston system, allowing for semi-automatic fire. The rifle has an effective range of about 300 yards, making it suitable for various combat roles, from close-quarters engagements to medium-range skirmishes. Today, the Saginaw Gear M1 Carbine is a sought-after collector’s item due to its historical significance and being manufactured by Saginaw Steering Gear. The M1 Carbine, in general, remains a popular choice among collectors and shooters for its historical value, reliability, and ease of use.
This example was made in late 1943 and features several interesting parts. The Inclusion of the Rock-Ola safety and potentially the Rock-Ola test bolt are both fairly limited production parts. I say potential for the bolt as I only break the rifles down enough to get as many markings as possible without risking damage to the gun so I rarely remove bolts. Also as anyone who reads my M1 write ups knows I love seeing Hillerich and Bradsby aka Louisville Slugger stocks on rifles. It’s pretty awesome that a baseball bat company would make gun stocks for the war effort. Has to be one of the most “America” things ever. To get a better understanding of this M1 please see our high quality photos via the link and best of luck with your bidding!!!-R.L.
