Click on the image above to learn more about the M1 Carbine
|
Import mark ? |
Post Reply 
|
Page 12> |
| Author | |
Siefly 
Recruit 
Joined: Mar 06 2025 Location: NW Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 12 |
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote Reply
 Topic: Import mark ?Posted: Apr 16 2025 at 11:01pm |
|
I have a IMB m1 carbine with the marks on the right side of the barrel. Any idea as to what it says? It looks like a bunch of vertical lines with IVI SO E M here is a couple of pictures..
  |
|
|
Dan
USMC Veteran |
|
 |
|
|
W5USMC
Moderator Group 
Joined: Apr 29 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 3640 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 16 2025 at 11:50pm |
|
Take a look at the Export/Import page linked below and see if you can find a match. Definitely not much to work with.
|
|
|
Wayne
USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
|
|
|
|
Siefly
Recruit
Joined: Mar 06 2025 Location: NW Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 12 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 12:13am |
|
Yea, I already looked at the import marks on this site. I didn't find any that even seemed close which makes me believe maybe they are some other type of markings. Maybe we'll never know?  Thanks anyway and Semper-fi.. |
|
|
Dan
USMC Veteran |
|
|
|
|
Jond41403
Hard Corps 
Joined: Feb 21 2021 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 874 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 12:18am |
|
I believe his marking shows federal ordinance inc SO El Monte Ca. The marking is in the link Wayne provided.hth
Edited by Jond41403 - Apr 17 2025 at 12:35am |
|
|
|
|
New2brass
Moderator Group
Dan Pinto, How Can I help Joined: Nov 29 2015 Location: CCC Status: Offline Points: 5527 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 8:48am |
|
I think Jon may be on to something. I cannot make out the section on the left, but right I think it is SO EI (broken L) poss M and a few other letters. What we know it the barrel has been observed on barrels is FED ORD INC S. EM CA, note just S. and not SO the receiver variations have SO and So Siefly, perhaps you can take a few pictures with a flashlight from the side so the light creates shadows in the stamping.  Might be something to add to the web page. |
|
|
|
|
Siefly
Recruit
Joined: Mar 06 2025 Location: NW Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 12 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 9:47am |
|
Thanks guys--I think Jon is right, it probably is Fed Ord inc SO El Monte ca. The strikes on the barrel are so light some lettering simply look like vertical lines. I'll try that flashlight method and see if I can see anymore lettering. Apparently questions on this site are answered quit fast!  Of the six m1 carbines I have only one other has a import mark. That one is a Israeli return marked C.A.I.Georgia Vt The other 4 are unmarked ........
|
|
|
Dan
USMC Veteran |
|
|
|
|
Jond41403
Hard Corps
Joined: Feb 21 2021 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 874 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 12:53pm |
|
I think I see what you're saying Dan, this may be the first time that marking has been observed on a barrel. From the link it looks like the OP's import mark on his barrel would match the ones found so far on receivers only, But in a straight line instead of a stacked marking.In the link there is no import mark that is one long line with the SO El Monte Ca. So the OP's marking may be the first reported. This is one of the reasons I love this hobby, nothing with carbines seems to be set in stone haha. It also seems to be put in a new location from the others as well, further back on the side of the barrel further down from the front sight. The other federal ordinance Inc markings are on the bottom of the barrel near the front sight
Edited by Jond41403 - Apr 17 2025 at 1:13pm |
|
|
|
|
painter777
Hard Corps
Joined: Feb 18 2016 Location: Central MI Status: Offline Points: 2352 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 4:14pm |
|
Guess that stamp was good nuff for the Feds.
Just can't see why stamp it if you can't read it? Now Blue Sky.. They knew how to Stamp a Barrel  Ch-P777
|
|
|
Living Free because of those that serve.....
|
|
|
|
|
Jond41403
Hard Corps
Joined: Feb 21 2021 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 874 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 6:19pm |
|
They sure did Charlie, all the way to the point It messed with the inner diameter of the boar I've read on some. Have you ever heard of a blue sky barrel where the stamp actually screwed up the barrel?
|
|
|
|
|
W5USMC
Moderator Group
Joined: Apr 29 2017 Location: Missouri Status: Offline Points: 3640 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 6:56pm |
Page 95 of Jerry Kuhnhausen's Shop manual.
|
|
|
Wayne
USMC Retired NRA Life Member |
|
|
|
|
Smokpole
Hard Corps
Joined: Oct 21 2019 Location: Madison ohio Status: Offline Points: 1484 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 8:28pm |
|
I had a Blue Sky that was hit so hard that the barrel was oval. It was an Underwood. Had to replace the barrel. It looked like you could see the letters on the inside of the barrel! It was the only one i ever saw that was that was stamped so deep. I bought it directly from Blue Sky. BTW, as soon as I saw the letters on the barrel, my first thought was "SO EL MONTE".
|
|
|
OGCA Life member
NRA Life member Ashtabula Rod and Gun Life member |
|
|
|
|
Siefly
Recruit
Joined: Mar 06 2025 Location: NW Wisconsin Status: Offline Points: 12 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 17 2025 at 10:05pm |
|
A couple of more pictures of my IBM import marks on the right side of the barrel. They were taken outside in the sunlight and using a flashlight. I agree about this import mark being in a unusual place...   |
|
|
Dan
USMC Veteran |
|
|
|
|
M1CarbineMAN
Recruit
Joined: Oct 22 2023 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 88 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 18 2025 at 1:56pm |
|
I think Ive got one mark not a import I think its on my Garand .
It looks like a GI running with rifle over head in both hands and left knee is bent and lifted . its either that or running Hawaiian with big dreadlock's lol but its so small you cant tell for sure what it is . You guys ever see any thing like that?
|
|
|
|
|
Jond41403
Hard Corps
Joined: Feb 21 2021 Location: East Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 874 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 19 2025 at 12:18am |
|
I've never heard of that m1carbineman, have you tried putting it under magnification? Maybe use a jeweler's loupe
|
|
|
|
|
M1CarbineMAN
Recruit
Joined: Oct 22 2023 Location: US Status: Offline Points: 88 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 20 2025 at 9:52pm |
|
I used my phone and a super magnifier still couldnt make it out totally
and have a jewelers rouge its a high definition stamp probably need a microscope all i could make out is the body and legs the stamp may have bounced and did double tap on top Just wondered if some one had a clearer version.
|
|
|
|
|
Taraw1943
Recruit
Joined: May 18 2021 Location: Ohio Status: Offline Points: 95 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 20 2025 at 10:16pm |
|
The "running man" with hand over head sounds like a British export proof. Should also have Tons per fraction and 30.
|
|
|
I really like carbines
|
|
|
|
|
Marty Black
Moderator Group
Editor in Chief Emeritus Joined: Dec 30 2015 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Status: Offline Points: 100542 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 20 2025 at 10:44pm |
|
British proof marks (prior to export) were covered in depth in CCNL 349.
Regards, mb |
|
|
Marty Black
|
|
|
|
|
A Seabee
Recruit
Joined: Jan 13 2018 Location: San Diego Status: Offline Points: 31 |
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 21 2025 at 8:39am |
|
I have an Inland that has a similar (to the OP's) mark on the bottom of the barrel. I will dig it out of the safe later and snap a picture. For some reason I think it's Arlington Ordnance
|
|
|
|
|
A Seabee
Recruit
Joined: Jan 13 2018 Location: San Diego Status: Offline Points: 31 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 21 2025 at 12:04pm |
|
here is my import stamp. I'm sure nobody really cared how good or bad the stamps were, just going through the motions to get them out the door  |
|
|
|
|
Marty Black
Moderator Group
Editor in Chief Emeritus Joined: Dec 30 2015 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Status: Offline Points: 100542 |
Post Options
Thanks(1)
Quote Reply
Posted: Apr 21 2025 at 12:28pm |
|
That's definitely ARL ORD ARLINGTON VA
and that's the common stamping for Arlington Ordnance. Top or bottom of barrel, between front sight and barrel band, with only the top or bottom of the die lightly stamped in the barrel. Jim Mock did a thorough job of identifying these "importer" marks, and info on each company's history, in CCNL 362. Regards, mb |
|
|
Marty Black
|
|
|
|
|
Post Reply
|
Page 12> |
| Forum Jump | Forum Permissions You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot create polls in this forum You can vote in polls in this forum |
Topic Options
Jond41403 wrote: