Un-Quality M1 Carbine

[harold]

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This receiver looks odd.
I would appreciate any
Thoughts on this .

[Hal O'Peridol]

Ahat looks odd about it? Kinda hard to tell from one pic.

[Johnny P]

The Union Switch & Signal Company that produced the Model 1911A1 pistols was also contracted to make slides, bolts, and receivers for three of the M1 Carbine manufacturers. One of the M1 Carbine manufacturers, Quality Hardware and Machining Co., received almost 29,000 receivers with an unknown quantity marked UN-Quality, creating a distinct variation.

Nice Carbine.

[Dick Hosmer]

Have spent my collecting life in another genre, but have always wanted a carbine. Passed on the $59 DCMs when in high school, and now feel that the prices are nothing short of OBSCENE for a weapon produced in such huge quantities. I'd like to get ONE representative carbine, in solid shootable order, not start a "new" collection. I DO want a GI piece, having heard nothing good about the commercial knockoffs, but it can be the commonest maker, with none of the "rare" features required. What would the experts here recommend, and what, approximately, should I expect to pay? Thanks in advance.

[Allen]

Have spent my collecting life in another genre, but have always wanted a carbine. Passed on the $59 DCMs when in high school, and now feel that the prices are nothing short of OBSCENE for a weapon produced in such huge quantities. I'd like to get ONE representative carbine, in solid shootable order, not start a "new" collection. I DO want a GI piece, having heard nothing good about the commercial knockoffs, but it can be the commonest maker, with none of the "rare" features required. What would the experts here recommend, and what, approximately, should I expect to pay? Thanks in advance.

I will be the first to go out on a limb here.

It use to be on Gun Broker you could call up closed auctions to see what things actually sold for. I don't see that option any longer so I will make a guess that the lowest $ GI carbine you will find will run between $800 to $1200. I believe Inland was the most produced manf. so they will most likely be among the cheapest.

If you find a re-imported stamped rifle it usually knocks off a couple of hundred. Some of the "Blue Sky" stamps on the barrel are quite deep but the others I've seen are tiny and shallow so accuracy would not be affected. With USGI guns drying up the re-import models are now selling for almost the same.

If you decide on a commercial model (which it sounds like you're not) the Plainfield's were pretty good but as you might expect, they are selling for near the cost of a GI make now.

Before shopping you might consider the cost and availability of 30 carbine ammo too.

Tuna seemed to be the most knowledge one here on carbines.

[jangle]

Harold,

I do not see a problem with the font, style or placement of UN-QUALITY in the example shown. Do you have a closer photo? And also a photo of front receiver ring?
What barrel is on it? Please share more photos if you have them.
Thanks

[harold]

Here are a few mor pictures;

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[Johnny P]

Nothing wrong with the Carbine shown. Correct serial number range. QHMC did not produce any barrels, and obtained all their barrels through the government free-issue barrel program. Barrel could be from any of several barrel makers.

[jangle]

All due respect. "Nothing wrong with the carbine shown", is impossible to prove with the limited detail shown.
The only information that can be ascertained from the three very small images posted, is the Carbine is in the correct serial number range. I realize the OP's original question was only concerning the "originality" of the rear of the receiver...which looks to be 100% original. I was hoping to get a barrel maker and date, if any, to place with the proper timeframe when these were made, along with a photo of front receiver ring, which proves a real UN-Quality receiver. Larger photos of the entire Carbine would have also been nice for the membership to learn from.
Respectfully, JA

[Johnny P]

You wanted a close up of the placement of the UN-QUALITY, and there is nothing wrong with the placement. The original poster thought the receiver marking looked odd, but the marking is correct.

[jangle]

?????
Thought that's what I said in post #6. I give up.

[Johnny P]

Go back and look at your post #9.

[Tuna]

There is nothing wrong with the stampings on the receive. The stock is a type 2 oval cut oiler high wood. Correct for later 1943 onward production.
Better photos of the carbine rear sight, barrel stampings and trigger housing area will help date it and tell if it has been updated and then an attempt to restore it.

[Johnny P]

In addition to the 28,949 receivers US&S produced for QHMC, they also furnished 55,246 slides and 55,482 bolts.

US&S was to produce 108,000 receivers for Rock-Ola Corp., but none were delivered before the military started cutting back on M1 Carbine production.