The Carbine Collectors Club

Click on the image above to learn more about the M1 Carbine


Forum Home Forum Home > The Club > Newsworthy Items
  New Posts New Posts
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login


FEATURED CARBINE- Quality Hardware 4645574

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
moneawon View Drop Down
Grunt
Grunt


Joined: Nov 10 2015
Location: South of MDL
Status: Offline
Points: 1098
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote moneawon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: FEATURED CARBINE- Quality Hardware 4645574
    Posted: Mar 04 2016 at 9:36pm
March 2016-K


FEATURED CARBINE: QUALITY HARDWARE 4645574


For the beginning collector: Quality Hardware and Machine Company (QHMC) carbines can be very interesting, because the parent company only manufactured one part, the receiver. Everything else was subcontracted.  Actually, QHMC didn’t even make all of their receivers.   Those marked with the odd logo UN-QUALITY were produced by the Union Switch & Signal Corporation.

Thanks to Marcus Rust for his contribution of this carbine, which contains some interesting features and parts.  It has the early RMC-marked (rather than Q-RMC) I-cut high-wood stock.  This stock has the internal modification to accommodate the type 1 “spring tube” (with lug) on a type 2 receiver. See Newsletters 114-1 and 328-2.  QHMC used the type 1 receiver for probably less than 2000 receivers, before switching to the type 2 receiver for the remainder of their “in house” production.

Review for the beginning collector: Type 1 receivers have a rectangular hole in the right side rail, that is the slide dismount notch. In an assembled carbine, the rectangular hole is “filled” by the lug on the spring tube, allowing uninterrupted movement of the slide.  In theory, the slide could not accidentally dismount because the lug filled the hole.  The carbine had to be disassembled (spring tube removed) before the slide could be dismounted.  

When Winchester, the originator of this design, switched to the type 2 receiver (without the rectangular hole), the simple solution was to grind the lug off the remaining supply of type 1 spring tubes.  Rock-Ola, however, chose to modify the stock instead.   A notch (or recess) was cut, so that – with the type 1 spring tube oriented so that the lug faced downward, the receiver could be inserted into the stock. See photo at right. (If a type 1 spring tube is installed on a type 2 receiver and placed into an un-modified stock, the lug will gouge the stock and possibly prevent reassembly of the carbine.)


At any rate, this I-cut RMC-marked stock was replaced by the oval-cut stock with Q-RMC marking about two months before this carbine was assembled in about Oct-Nov 1943. Thus, this stock is presumed to be a “bottom of the bin” or a side-tracked “floor sweep” part.




Above, note GE-Q rear sight with large circle staking of pin. Hardness test marks on receiver rear.
Milled recess at a bottom of receiver for “spring tube” (Detachable Operating Spring Housing).


Note staking of rear sight on right side of dovetail.








Faint PO-B marking on front sight, just behind the
“light hole.” Large circle pin staking of both sights.








Q-NL marking is on the inside of the push safety. Safety, LT-Q trigger and LT-Q mag catch are parkerized. GE-Q sear is “case colored.” The hammer spring guide, LT-Q hammer and NL-Q firing pin are “in the white.” Pins are blued.


BE-B trigger housing. IBM shipped a quantity of trigger housings to QHMC in Nov-Dec 1943.

Winchester logo on barrel with QHMC’s proof-firing P mark
below it. QHMC used WRA barrels in this serial number range and beyond.









U barrel band has 3 very weak weld scars on top. Swivel is QU.







Khaki (or very light green) sling with “C’ end tabs and early “narrow” buckle (which is nearly impossible to adjust). Blued oiler is IQ.




See Newletter 334 for the most recent QHMC update article by Ron Wellman.

Marty Black

Data Sheet


Back to Top
Car Wash Chris View Drop Down
Grunt
Grunt


Joined: Dec 27 2015
Location: Dayton,Ohio
Status: Offline
Points: 161
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Car Wash Chris Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 10 2016 at 4:25pm
Thank you very much, you taught me something. Was not aware of the different receivers and cut outs for the spring tube on a QHW. I was on the R/O and Winchester. Chris
Back to Top
wmmwraghd View Drop Down
Recruit
Recruit


Joined: Jan 16 2016
Location: Dallas,Tx
Status: Offline
Points: 46
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote wmmwraghd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 10 2016 at 8:07pm
Thank You Marcus!!!

Back to Top
sergeant major View Drop Down
Recruit
Recruit


Joined: Mar 22 2016
Location: Severn, Marylan
Status: Offline
Points: 9
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote sergeant major Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 25 2016 at 7:43am
I feel like I hit the lottery, I was one of the lucky ones to receive a CMP Carbine this past Thursday 3/17.  What CMP sent me is a Field Grade Quality H.M.C. serial number 46663XX - March 1944, muzzle reading 2, and throat reading 2. Barrel is a Underwood 11/43,  front sight is marked RP, rear sight is a adjustable milled, Winchester marked. Stock is marked: M-U with a circle P, hand guard is marked RMC, barrel band is a type III marked MMQ/EMQ.  Trigger housing is a complete Winchester with all Winchester parts.  The park is about 89% and appears to have not been re-parked.  Not sure why CMP classified this carbine as a Field Grade????  The stock has that "been there, done that look" but after I put five coats of BLO on the stock it appears to me as a Service Grade all day long, but I don't work for CMP...just my opinion. This is my second Carbine, the other is a National Postal Meter that I have owned for the past 15 years. 
Sergeant Major US Army Retired '90
Retired High School Teacher 2011
Vietnam Vet 1966, 1968, 1970
Back to Top
Rcycles45 View Drop Down
On Point
On Point
Avatar

Joined: Dec 27 2015
Location: New York
Status: Offline
Points: 163
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rcycles45 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 25 2016 at 8:20am
Like it
Back to Top
weimar_police View Drop Down
On Point
On Point
Avatar

Joined: Jan 01 2016
Location: near Philly
Status: Offline
Points: 69
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote weimar_police Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Mar 30 2016 at 9:02pm
Outstanding Marcus
Back to Top
James Weaver View Drop Down
Recruit
Recruit


Joined: Jan 04 2016
Location: Reed City, MI
Status: Offline
Points: 23
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote James Weaver Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Apr 01 2016 at 10:57am
That is a beautiful carbine, Marcus.  Thanks for your contribution.  I always enjoy learning new information about carbines.
James Weaver
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.406 seconds.