Front Sight

 

Now there were many instances of parts being transferred from one company to another. Sometimes this was not documented or those records have not been found. In the case of front sights I do not believe it has been documented that Rock-ola sent front sights to Irwin-Pedersen. However they did send sights to Saginaw plant.

Further there have been reports of RP sights with numbers found on the side on original IP and S'G' carbines.

The way to tell what carbine the sight came off is by the staking if possible or other markings. In the case of IP/S'G' there are clear differences.

 

In the case of Rock-ola they not only struck a line across the pin they also were known to stake the front or rear. I am guessing in an attempt to keep the keyway in place or to tighten up the sight. Look at the picture and you can see stake marks as seen on Rock-ola

 

 

Getting back to the transfer of these sights to Irwin-Pedersen. The IP contract was cancelled by the government due to problems with IP production. Saginaw Steering Gear in Saginaw Michigan had a contract to produce carbines (as well as other war items) The government bought or leased the Grand rapids facility and its contents. They then gave the contract to Saginaw SG to produce carbines at the Grand Rapids facility as well as Saginaw plant.

Saginaw sent a team to Grand Rapids and they took all IP stock on hand, checked the parts and salvaged what they could. They then began machining and assembling carbines with these left over parts. This is why you will see parts marked for IP on the early S'G' carbines.

Now to be clear, S'G' (and IP) evidently worked on both serial blocks simultaneously. So early is not purely dictated by the serial numbers in order. The Manufacturer Updates in the CCNLs address the production sequence.

 

I hope that is more clear.