New to me carbine

Recently purchased this carbine from a friend.  Barrel is stamped UNDERWOOD 8-43 with a flaming bomb below it.  The receiver is stamped QUALITY HMC and the serial number is within the second block of numbers given to Quality Hardware.  It appears to have the newest gradient type sights, lever safety. Wide stock band and bayonet holder.  The clip that came with it  was an aftermarket 5 shot unit.  I had some other clips from my Fathers old gear.  The stock is a lightly sporterized 4 rivet, low wood potbelly type.  I have not separated stock and barrel yet.  There is an original M1 manual and armory parts list brochure.  Also a bayonet and rifle case.  There is a metal box stamped US with a bunch of parts, springs and cleaning rod as well as a wrench of some type and two other tools.  A gunsmith friend of mine has evaluated this as an original WW2 carbine that has been armory reworked and later released into civilian hands, either to a commercial sporterizing house or private party who sporterized it.  I would appreciate any insights or observations on this rifle. It certainly shoots well as two 50yd 5 shot groups attest.  Thanks for any comments

Good looking carbine. Any markings in the sling well of the stock? The stock does not appear to be a "potbelly" looks like a type III, possibly a type II in earlier life. How about the bayonet markings?

Rebel92 wrote: I see a couple of sears, I think a firing pin, recoil spring, recoil spring guide, and a gas piston nut wrench in your spare parts box. I also think i see a couple of the spare recoil spring tubes, which would make sense being that yours is a Quality Hardware (QHMC) and they used that style of receiver all throughout their production! I am Sure there are other parts I cannot see.

One of the sears is for a M1911 pistol (below the recoil spring, left of the extractor.)

Matt_X wrote: I'd be interested in knowing what manuals you have there too. The reprints I've seen are not complete - missing a lot of the interesting stuff about training.  So I'd say your paperwork has historical value as well.

An eclectic group of cool items.

Matt_X wrote: The addenda in the field manual is Change 4 (19 August 1946) to the April 1944 edition. You may find the earlier changes attached there as well. The existance of those changes is listed here http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/books.html But I'm not aware of a description of those changes. ORD 7 B-28 Organizational Spare Parts and Equipment I'm not seeing a 5 November 1945 edition listed on either the club webpage above or David Albert's list.   It might be useful for identifying changes or continued us of spare parts and accessories. For example in you collection there is a thong for cleaning. We've seen those in individual soldier carbine accessory packs from the 1950s, but its possible they were being issued earlier than that.  http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/spare-parts-for-m1-carbine-m1a1_topic5292.html metalwrkr wrote: Here are some pictures of the manuals and other items.  The manual has what appears to be an addenda of several pages stapled to the front cover.  I can't read what is on the sling.  The scabbard looks legit and it appears as if maybe someone purchased it at an Army Navy store for $1.98. Go figure! Sling markings are often difficult to read, and not all were marked. Some are marked MRT for Mildew Resistant Treatment, whcih I think is post WW2. Yours looks to be a manufacturer's mark. Follow this link http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/forum/ibm-sling_topic6109.html

Hey Matt_X,  Thanks for the info.  I will follow up on the links.  The cleaning thong and jags all go into the silver tube which has an oiler at the other end (but I guess you know all this).  I think there is a small tube or rod that is missing from the oiler cap.  It might have come off in the oil itself and be glued in there.  I will have to check.

Good eye on the sear!  I would have never recognized it.

Q RMC = stock was made by Rock-Ola Mfg Co. for Quality Hardware

metalwrkr wrote: W5USMC wrote: Q RMC = stock was made by Rock-Ola Mfg Co. for Quality Hardware Looks like this carbine is a real "Dukes Mix"! Oh well, She shoots.  All I was after!