M1 Carbine barrel

[10X]

A coworker has a Winchester M1 Carbine.

He wants to know if there is a way to tell if the barrel is Winchester also.
He took off the hand guard and did not notice any markings.
The barrel is 4 groove. The serial is is in the 5,7xx,xxx range.

Any suggestions what to look for and where to look on the barrel?

 

[dmftoy1]

According to "U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production" by Craig Riesch you should see a marking behind the front sight. The markings for Winchester are "WRA" with a flaming bomb, "W" or a "W intersecting with a P" in an oval proof mark.

Just from a quick look.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[RustyHammer]

 

[10X]

Thanks for the info.

We don't see any of those markings on the barrel.
The only thing we see is an odd "V" on the top of the barrel just forward of the bayonet lug. It could be just more than the right half of a poorly stuck "W", but the location seems too far back.

 

[dmftoy1]

Can you get a picture or two?

 

[10X]

He will take some pictures tonight. I will post them tomorrow.
Thanks again for the help.

 

[cuervo]

I just got my Winchester from the CMP. It does not have the flaming bomb and date on it. There is a W stamp behind the sight, and then the Winchester proof mark a little farther back.

 

[10X]

M1 Carbine Barrel Mark

We finally found a camera with good resolution.
Can anyone identify the mark on the barrel?
The mark is just forward of the bayonet lug on the top of the barrel.

 

[rcmodel]

It has almost certainly been re-barreled at some point in its life.

An original WWII M1 carbine from any of the makers would have the ordinance bomb and barrel manufactures info behind the front sight.

A lot of carbines have come back into the U.S. as surplus from our lend-lease programs to foreign countries.

My guess is that it had a replacement barrel put on it while in the hands of some other friendly nation.


rcmodel

 

[lencac]

that looks like a poorly struck "W" to me

 

[10X]

lencac, I tend to agree with you it could be a poorly stamped "W".
Does the location look too far back? I thought the mark should be right behind the front sight.

 

[paintballdude902]

i though most m1s were mixed masters and normally wouldnt match

or is it barrel and reciever should

 

[buttrap]

Most Win barrels have a smooth finish vs having the rough tool marks still on the barrels as most carbine barrels have.

 

[dmftoy1]

+1 for the poorly struck W.

 

[lencac]

I've learned that in this game of identifying markings on firearms never say never.

Does the location look too far back? I thought the mark should be right behind the front sight.

 

[10X]

Based on the opinions here, we will declare it a "W" and therefore a Winchester barrel. Made my coworker happy!
Thanks to all.