Spotters Report SBAMA Stock Marking SR

Tony Simonetti reports an interesting carbine observed at a local show.

The carbine looks as if i was fresh from a rebuild with the standard upgrades. Parts were minty fresh park and an amazing looking stock.

The stock has the letters SBAMA stamped on the left side of the butt.

Behind the recoil plate and the side of the slide have an orange stamp that was a bit illegible.

A quick search of SBAMA result San Bernardino Air Material Area.

SBAMA was hosted at the Norton Air Force Base and was charged with providing logistical support, supply, maintenance, and procurement responsibilities to all the Atlas and Titan ballistic missile bases that were coming online in the 1950s. They also had the same responsibilities for the Thor sites in England.

By the mid 60s SBAMA was responsible for the deactivation of America's first generation of missile bases where they oversaw the removal and transportation of missiles, preservation of the complexes as well as the disposition of the installed equipment and properties.

At first glance it looks like it has the number 89, but it is upsidedown

When filliped it appears to say

OK-10

  59

CLOSE (the bottom word I am unsure of.)

The orange marking is interesting.

did it have something to do with the a rebuild?

Is it an form of acceptance of inventory that happens to be from an earlier rebuild?

Tony tells me there is no import marking or rebuild marking.

Thanks to Tony for reporting