New Member Kentucky

I just was approved for membership in the CarbineCollector's Club - thank you moderators. I've been reading some threads and appreciate the enthusiasm and expertise of posters.

Last month I was gifted an M-1 Carbine from a lifelong friend. It belonged to his father, who passed away recently. I believe his father bought it in the mid 60's from a gun shop in Oakland called Siegel's Guns. Siegels used to be on MacArthur Blvd. in Oakland, California. There was a tag on the trigger housing saying "Siegel's Guns", with this firearm's serial number.

First off - I'm not selling this M-1 Carbine. I'm honored to have been given it and will treasure it. I was given it because I have children and my friend does not.  I also served in the US Navy in the 1980's and my father served in the Korean War. I've been reading how carbine collectors caution against "buying the story" because so many stories aren't verifiable. That sounds like pretty good advice!  The story of this particular carbine is lost to history. The story of the man who bought it is of interest - at least to me - and perhaps to you.

My friend had a rocky emotional relationship with his father, who retired from the US Army after a full career. I never personally met my friend's father, but I know he was a taskmaster and a very strict dad. According to my friend his father was among, if not the, youngest Master Sergeant ever in the Army by the end of the Korean War.  Enlisting at 16, being stationed in post WW II Japan with 8th Corps in 1950, being the first to ship out to hold the line after the North Korean invasion of the south - and being in the thick of the fighting up and down the peninsula for over two years - and surviving - can get you quickly promoted. Whatever the facts about his rapid promotion are, the fact is he was a war-fighter and had six silver stars (I'm not sure if these were six battles on a Silver Star ribbon, or actually six Silver Stars for bravery), among other decorations.  He was captured twice (not that uncommon in the see-saw battles north and south) and escaped twice to return to the fighting.  I've seen a photo of this heroic man walking up a hill with his squad in Korea carrying a BAR.  I don't think Master Sergeant ever carried an M-1 Carbine, but certainly M-1 Carbines were all around him did.  M-1 Carbines and M-1 Garands, and some BAR's.  Master Sergeant, when he made Sergeant, had a private carry his extra BAR ammunition.  So says my friend...

I've had guns all my life, but only modern firearms. Well, one exception - I have a Browning .22 "T-Bolt" rifle my father gave me when I was 12. So this gift was a surprise, and an introduction to WW II rifle development history I never knew existed. I've been interrogating ChatGPT and Google's Gemini the past few weeks trying to ascertain the origin of this Carbine. Quite revelatory, to say the least! What a fascinating story of American design and manufacturing capability! My wife and I even watched Jimmy Stewart's "Carbine Williams" last week *grin*.

From what I have gleaned I think my new to me M-1 Carbine was manufactured by Inland Division in March, 1944. I also think it never went through Arsenal Rebuild either here in the US, or overseas.  It came to me disassembled (Field Strip) in very good shape.  I've oiled up the metal pieces and raw linseed oiled the stock, put it together, and I plan on shooting it (once in a while).

More later - I have some questions.  I'm glad to have found this forum and look forward to reading and learning more from all of you.

Finface

Maybe you, or another person if you can't, can tell me how to post photos.

Earlier today I tried to create a new thread asking what the "stake markings" are - and look like - with regard to the rear sight.  I tried to drag a photo from my Apple Photos app into that post, which didn't simply didn't work.  Then I tried to copy and paste the same photo of my rear sight.  That didn't work - in fact that effort resulted in me getting knocked out of the forum altogether, with some verbiage of "not authorized" message.

Best,

Finface

Yes, the "edit" option should appear on the top line of you post just to the right of time stamp. I don't post photos often enough to help. 

Please tell us the manufacturer.