Correct Bolt for 1944 Inland

I was hoping someone could tell me if this bolt would be correct for an Inland with serial number 5448978. Also if it looks like its been refinished. It's marked IO and 3. Thanks

On your Bolt.  If the finish matches the wear on the Carbine it Might be Okay.  Bolts were All blued/Black Oxide finish.  According to Carbine Club Newsletter 361-10 The change to Round bolt was around 5076xxx according to Data sheets.  Overlap did occur for some time.  Parts like Bolts were pre-assembled and in parts bins for fitters to put into carbines before head spacing.  Bottom of bin parts went in later than normal.  As stated, if finish and wear matches rest of Carbine may be correct.

The finish on the bolt is almost identical to the finish on the reciever. But im not sure if the reciever was refinished too. 

Okay that makes sense..I'm not seeing bare metal in the stake mark or on either of the punch marks, so that would suggest that they've been refinished. Thanks for the info!

Taraw1943 wrote: Gentlemen, Since this IS an Inland Carbine we must remember that Inland Reparked their Barreled receivers AFTER Assembled with front sight, Band and rear sight!  This was common practice from early production.  Reat sights often show the repark finish!!

Regarding Inland barrels: if you see an Inland barrel that has had its front sight taken off, most of them are completely bare looking like the barrel was never parked to begin with until later when the whole unit was parkerized. Just an observation from an old person.

So just to make sure, youre both referring to the rear sight stake mark and the punch marks that are located on the reciever in front of the rear sight and on the top of the bolt? These were done after finish was applied so they should have bare metal. 

Yes, see those two NLs - 336-13 and 384-2. Re: rear sight stake marks - the various manufacturers used different staking tools, and bare metal is not a certainty. On flip sights, some manufacturers only bent down the corner of the dovetail with a blunt instrument. Others used a thin chisel type device that may not have broken thru the parkerizing. I suspect - but don't know for sure - that these stake marks were applied manually by a targeteer with a hammer.

On the adjustable rear sights that are factory-original only on late-production WRAs and Inlands, and perhaps a few other manufacturers (I forget!), the stake marks are generally bigger and rounder, and deeper, and so white metal is visible (at least, on those I've observed.)

These are only my observations from decades of collecting carbines, although I haven't collected in over 20 years now. Other collectors' observations/opinions may differ.

The Inland proof-firing document in NL 336 states that the receiver, barrel and bolt stake marks were stamped with a machine, so they are consistent (at least with Inland carbines). Again, in my observations, the punch mark on a really clean barrel may not show white metal because people routinely pick up a carbine by the barrel, and an accumulation of dirty hands and perspiration may tarnish that punch mark.

Regards, mb

Yes, Marty I are an Old Person.  Missed the part where Parkerizing was IN the Stake marks.  Indicates Repark by Depot somewhere.

I'm not really surprised that its been arsenal reparked, its still in very nice condition. I paid $1,900 for it, and I think its mostly correct.