Serial Number Influance On Purchase

Nothing rare or low, simply one even I can remember!  NPM 4,255,255.  That had some influance on my purchase.

The story,

Last Sunday was our Central Pennsylvania Antique Arms Assn. monthly meeting.  No hard fast rules, just show up with a gun/guns to display according to the month, (May=WWI and or Remington).  Something to sell?  Put it on your table with a price.  We have about 1.5hrs. display and dicker time before the actual meeting. 

Carbines are one of those weapons that if I don't have at least one, life is off balance and wobbley in some ways.  I have an Underwood and at least one of all my other balance guns, so life is chugging along okay, but I'm carrying money...just in case.  A member happened to have a nice clean carbine in the next row, price-$1,200.  The fellow said he was selling it for a friend or neighbor and the price was fairly firm.  I looked it over several times over the course of an hour, (I'm surprised someone else didn't snatch it up in that time).  Sitting at my table thinking, ''That IS a pretty cool serial number...  I'll go have another look.''  Looki'n led to buyi'n and a deal was made, $1,150. out the door-CASH.  Included was a sling, oiler, and 1-30rd. magazine. 

As stated, it's a nice clean non-import example, though rebuilt post-war, though probably before Korea.  The obvious are, type C stock made by IBM and scrubbed, type C front band with lug, type B rear sight, (though available when produced W-B says type A throughout production) late swinging safety, and magazine catch with the extra leg for the 30rd. magazines.  Correct seem to be, IBM barrel, NPM receiver of course, NPM bolt, NPM slide, and I ''think'' an NPM trigger housing, (no letter, but correct number stamp). 

I'd have still probably bought it no matter the serial number, but 4,255,255 IS kinda cool!  Late March, 1944.  I've replaced the barrel band with a correct type B, and What A Country had a cartouched and wheeled type C NPM stock to replace the scrubbed IBM stock which will be here next week.  No other parts to be replaced.  Photos when I get the stock. 

Took t apart again with flash light and magnifying glass and here are the results.  Trigger housing-N and 9 on the left side rear.  Hammer-Left side-W, right side-S.  Slide-light strike N with 5 below it.  Bolt-looks like a A on the left lug, only marking other than a punch mark.  And...28 is the number under the lug.