Barrel ID Assistance

Couple things.

The re-finish/polishing that doesn't go all the way past the stock line has been common with carbines that the owner wanted a finish shiny. They sometimes did it themselves or paid others to do it for them. Was done more in the 60's here in the USA but sometimes done by someone in the country the carbine was imported from. Some countries didn't mind individuals a carbine was assigned to having/doing "custom" work.

Sometimes they buffed down the GI markings. Obviously wear can wear down markings. Then there are places that take commercial barrels and put "replica" GI markings on them and sell them as authentic (ala Riverbottom Armory).

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Barrel Inserts

This has been an acceptable and even standard practice in barrel manufacturing. Some of the first prototype .30 carbine barrels made by Inland and Winchester were made this way. Carbine barrels made by Green Mountain Barrel Company and used by modern Day Auto Ordnance and Inland Mfg Redux are another variation.

There are gunsmiths in Canada who lengthen barrels so a carbine complies with Canadian law requiring a minimum barrel length of 470mm (18.5039").

Suggestions for identifying a 1903A3 barrel used inside a .30 caliber carbine barrel (without trying to dismantle the barrel), not always or never as there are different ways it can be done:

• GI markings on the gas piston housing and/or rear half of the barrel, with the manufacturer marking missing on the front half of the barrel.


• a barrel with two or six lands and grooves instead of four but may have four


• occasionally the barrel length is longer than M1 Carbine barrel's 18"


• the turned down (smaller diameter) at the muzzle end of the barrel that accommodates the front sight is longer/shorter than 1.6"


• The milled key slot that prevents rotation of the mounted front sight is too far forward, too far to the rear, or noticeably longer than the length of the front sight


• no barrel skirt inside the breach (some have the skirts, some don't)


• a pin through the side of the swaged gas piston housing (may or may not be present)


• examine the breach for one barrel inside the other (see pic below)

Example below is only one way, keep in mind there are are variations with most not usually having a pin.















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A request ....

If you wouldn't mind we need a clear and pic better than the one we have that shows the SAMCO import marking.   



We have a page where we try to show the markings and add any info we have as to dates, quantities, and where they were imported from. http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/imports.html

Thanks much

Jim

Serial number 3552886 is also on the list I posted here:

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/topic4205_post29777.html#29777

David Albert
dalbert@sturmgewehr.com