New National Postal Meter M1

If you look at the top view of the rifle's action and focus on the recoil plate, you can make out the very faint, small c located just above and the left of center of the screw. That is a marking I can find no reference to.

It's not a C, it's more of a horse shoe shape.

Top of recoil plate, note small horse shoe stamp just above and to the left of the screw to secure the plate. It is faint, but way too uniform to be an accidental mark. .U. Is on the bottom

I read your posts about your M1. From all I have learned NPM made a nice rifle. The only stake marks I have found on my Carbine are for the original sight and a second stake mark seating the milled adjustable sight that was replaced on my gun. No import marks, clean, slightly worn cartouche, sharp TRIMBLE (edit) TN stamp in the sling cut-out with no additional marks in the hand guard (which was correct for Turnbul). So far the gun has been a very pleasant surprise. Much more to learn about this great little gun.

Sorry, yes TRIMBLE TN. My bad, thinking about the Colt restorer in New York. Different subject...lol.

Fantastic resource, thanks.

Get the Books...You will see and get Great Information about almost everything you need to know.

I understand and know about that site being based on some spread sheets, I did happen to say that there were mistakes, but there is good credible Information that I seen is true. I also happened to mention get the books. I asked lots of questions when I started and you have helped me out quite a bit and Thank You for that, but a lot of information I found out myself was looking at everything on the Web, Forums and almost every book there is. I also forgot to mention the best thing to do and don't over look this is get the Field Manuals. Those Field Manuals will give you accurate information about the M1 Carbines that you need to know.

Knowing that the Serial Number (1955104) of my M1 is in the second production run of National Postal Meter's contract, is it possible to date when the gun was assembled (closer than September-November 1943)? Late September, early October) I am trying to establish a time line for several parts that appear to be newer (and possibly older) than the original production run. (Sear, hammer barrel, etc.) I know my milled adjustable sight is definately a later armor's update as most likely is the sear and possibly the Marlin barrel.

Assuming that NPM's second block run was 44,999 (45,000) rifles, and the production run was 3 months, I did a little math to try to more accurately date my M1. Assuming 500 rifles a day was their output, my Carbine would have been assembled on the 35th day of the run on or about October 5, 1943. Does this analysis hold water? So an Underwood 9-43 barrel would be a good target? I wish I knew when Marlin delivered product to NPM just to see if my barrel could be original... all of those honest scars could be telling a story. Also, it would be nice to know if the Carbine was issued to the Army or Marines? Any way to know by the dates?