STANDARD PRODUCTS REBUILD PROGRAM, 1951
Printed From: The Carbine Collector's Club
Category: The Club
Forum Name: Newsworthy Items
Forum Description: Newsletters and Featured Carbines
URL: http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2849
Printed Date: Apr 19 2024 at 8:59pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: STANDARD PRODUCTS REBUILD PROGRAM, 1951
Posted By: Newsman2
Subject: STANDARD PRODUCTS REBUILD PROGRAM, 1951
Date Posted: Mar 21 2017 at 5:08pm
|
http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/uploads/4683/STANDARDPRODUCTSREBUILDPROGRAM1951.pdf" rel="nofollow - March 2017-H STANDARD PRODUCTS REBUILD PROGRAM, 1951 We’ve long known that Standard Products rebuilt carbines in the postwar period. Their rebuild mark of STD PRO RWH, on the left side of the stock close to the sling cut, has been a commonly seen stamp. But we’ve never really known anything about their rebuild program.  We still don’t know much, but - thanks to Jim Mock’s computer skills - we have found a newspaper article from the May 27, 1951 edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer Pictorial Magazine, that gives us a time-frame and provides a few details. Unfortunately, the article leaves more questions than it provides answers. We can safely assume that Std Pro did more than just refinish the carbines. Postwar overhaul procedures called for installing adjustable rear sights, bayonet lugs, and rotary safeties, among other things. But none of these modifications are mentioned in the newspaper article. War Baby! page 473 states that Std Pro received the carbine overhaul contract in 1949, but the newspaper article implies that work had only recently begun in 1951. The sudden outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950 may have been the impetus to gain priority funding for the overhaul project. Although War Baby! reports that the “repair and overhaul contract was for 400,000 service-worn carbines,” it is not known how many carbines were actually processed at Standard Products. On a related subject, we’ve known that Underwood also rebuilt carbines in the postwar period, marking them with a ·U· on the left side of the butt stock. However, detailed information on this program remains elusive. An internet search of newspaper articles has only yielded a time-frame, the same as Std Pro. The May 3, 1951 edition of the Hartford Courant contains a Police Report of a 19 year old man who was “accused of stealing an Army carbine from the carbine assembly department of the Underwood Corporation.” Also, a “paper bag containing carbine parts was found under his bed.” (He was subsequently fired by Underwood, found guilty, and was sentenced to two years probation.) The September 21, 1951 issue of the same newspaper reported on an Open House held at Underwood. It stated “While the chief interest of the 3600 visitors was in the operations in connection with production of typewriters, there were many who were surprised to witness the operations in connection with changes made in the army carbines. Underwood has a big contract for making the changes from the original productions for use in World War II.” This, of course, confirms that carbine rebuild operations were being done concurrently with those at Std Pro, but offers no other details. We’ll keep searching for more. Marty Black Click http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/uploads/4683/CC2017StdProrebuildarticle.jpeg" rel="nofollow - here for larger version of the image below  For information on the Underwood Rebuild Program http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/underwood-rebuild-program-1951_topic3928.html" rel="nofollow - Click Here War Baby! |
Replies:
Posted By: m1a1fan
Date Posted: Mar 24 2017 at 11:29am
| Seem to see these everywhere though most aren't as crisp as the one pictured if you know what I mean. |
Posted By: wd4ngb
Date Posted: Mar 24 2017 at 7:48pm
|
Very neat Marty. Never knew about them. ------------- Retired Army, 22 years. |
Posted By: jonjeep
Date Posted: Nov 25 2017 at 1:56pm
| Beautiful research! Thank you! |
Posted By: Mujiir
Date Posted: May 12 2022 at 3:07pm
 My IBM has this mark. It's just as clear as the one shown, but is rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees.
------------- Dave Mehl Retired NRA Life Member |