Chinese copycat M1 carbine (pics)

[LToms]

Ok, for those that followed my other thread about this carbine I now have pictures. I just made three quick ones, got a new camera for Christmas so I am still trying to figure it out.

Production date is Feb 1950 and the rifle as a mix of early and late features plus some odd Chinese changes. First off the bolt is cromed along with the bore. There are 3 US parts on the gun, the rear sight, buttplate and the firing pin. The stock is crude much like a late war Japanese type 99 but the wood looks little like walnut. All the main parts are serial numbered matched to the receiver. There is an import mark on the barrel I am unable to make out exactly what it says ( will have to get out the magnifier).

My budy wanted $750 for the rifle, I was torn since I was not able to find one on the internet. I went ahead and bought the rifle. If any one would like more pictures let me know and I will try to post them.

[LToms]

Dang, do I feel stupid, first picture was one I found on the internet of just an action. try again. This one should be the Makers mark.

[LToms]

Well that worked a little better. Note the cromd early type bolt. This next picture should be the serial number and the production date. Note the early flip sight that is a US part.

[LToms]

Last picture is of the left side of the rifle. Note the early type barrel band and the rought texture to the stock.

[Gene]

Really cool. Is this a ChiCom copy or Taiwanese?

[LToms]

Gene

According to what I read this would be a Chicom gun.

[regular122]

I think you did REAL good on this one. Although you mention an import mark, do you think it is a battlefield capture weapon brought back? Steve

[Douglas Jr.]

What a find! Never seen one before.

[Ronnie Fry]

As a carbine fan, this is MOST interesting !! Many thanks for your trouble !! Keep the photos coming Please. Any marks on the bbl??

r

[Matt Weber]

I agree. Please take some more photos of it, and any other markings on it. I too have never seen one before. Very interesting.

Matt

[LToms]

Thanks for all the positive comments.

Steve - Don't really know. Personally my guess would be that it was captured from the Chinese during the Korean war and stuck in a South Korean arsenal. When all the M1 carbines were imported in the 80's it came in with them. This is just my SWAG. The import mark is upside down on the barrel and the best I can make out it reads E.E.C.S.A. PENISAH_C NEW JERSEY. This not an import mark I have seen before.

Ronnie - There are no makings on the barrel except the import marks.

Matt - The only other marks beside the serial numbers on the main parts is a small mark that looks like the makers mark on the top of the receiver.

I will try to take some more pictures this weekend and post them.

Thanks
Phil

[david stone]

Thats something I've never seen before!!! Thanks for posting the pictures!

Dave

[Oiva]

Gent; Do you remimber when the NRA was selling M1 carbines for ninteen dollars. I was just starting college and purchased two of them. Regard,Oiva

[BPC]

Well I have two of these, both made in 1949. One importer marked and one seems not.

I've commented on the history of the carbine on the other thread, which was well documented. Orders were issued in the summer of 1949 to have Factory 51 (Mukden Arsenal) to trial copy the M1 Carbine and the PPSh-41. Sometime in 1950 the copy of M1 was abandoned and the copy of PPSh-41 became Chinese Type-50 SMG, which was used widely in the Korean war (I saw one of these sold in 2008, and was mistakenly labeled as Russian).

[LToms]

BCP

Thanks for the information. Where did you find yours? What is the import mark on the one that is import marked? Do yours have the same features as mine? If you don't mind would you post some photos. Do youthink these were imported with all the M1's from Korea in the 80s.

Thanks
Phil