M1 Carbine Stock Markings

[Larry Lipps]

Guys,
I have an M1 carbine that I purchased through the NRA sometime in the early 60's. Since firearms are not my primary collecting interest I was hoping to get a little assistance identifying some of the marks on the stock. I've heard about import marks and various other marks that significantly reduce a rifle's value or maybe help identify its history, but I've no idea what I'm looking at. The rifle itself is marked Winchester on the receiver with a "W" on the barrel. The stock reads like an Egyptian tomb, but maybe you guys can make some sense of it. First up is an AAG stamped on the left side of the forend.

[Larry Lipps]

And a "P" in a circle on the front of the grip.

[Larry Lipps]

"ED" with an arrow pointing toward the muzzle stamped on the bottom of the grip.

[Larry Lipps]

"SB" Stamped inside the inletted part of the forend.

[Larry Lipps]

A bunch of marks on the bottom of the forend just in front of the clip.

[Larry Lipps]

Lastly is a "W" in a circle that is stamped over some other writing in the sling well in the base of the stock. There is another arrow stamped in toe just in front of the butt plate with no letters.

[DaveG]

Most of the markings appear to indicate that it was a lend-lease rifle. The broad arrow mark for a start, the "U" and "P" marking is an English marking meaning "unproofed". The "W" in the circle is probably a Winchester mark. The "P" in the circle is a U.S. proof mark. Don't know about the other markings.

Dave

[carbinekid]

I've been collecting US arms from WWII for sometime and have seen carbine stocks more numerous to count, but never with stampings like what you have.

The markings forward of the trigger housing opening appear to be what you'd expect to see on a Remington made 1903A3 stock. The circled P is odd because a circled P proof stamp is a one piece stamp, it has the circle and P all in one. Yours appears to have had the circle stamped seperatley from the P due to it being off centered. The circled W is not a winchester mark. The only marking Winchester put in the sling well was a small W. The SB marking is odd aswell as it is comprised of two different sizes and fonts. The stamps on the bottom of the grip look real.

Your stock is very strange and if I encountered it at a show I would immediately think humped up piece of sh*t.

Also from what I understand "lend-lease" weapons were never returned to US inventories.

Your stock is question mark.



Kyle

[Ronnie Fry]

If it was just an "AA", I would say that it stood for Augusta Arsenal Rebuild mark. The "G" makes me wonder.... I've seen that before, but my little pea braing is not cooking to well right now. Someone else can help us with that, methinks.
I concurr with the "kid" that the circle P looks very strange. And also that the marks in front of the mag well remind me of an 03A3 Remington --- what they call "assembly marks". First I've ever seen on a carbine stock.

r

[carbinekid]

The "AA" is for Augusta and the "G" is the initial of the inspector. There are many different inspector initials that can been seen following the Augusta "AA".


Kyle