Info Needed on WWII M1

[Anthony T]

Hi All
A friend saw an M1 for sale last week. No camera or pics, but he wrote down the serial number as "MB2804" Is there any way to find out MFG by this alone? According to online numbers it appears to be produced in 1938.
Thanks

[Johnny Peppers]

Assuming that you are referring to a M1 Rifle, and none of the M1 Rifles had a prefix to the serial number. Serial number 2804 would have been produced in June of 1938, but not with a prefix.

[Anthony T]

Thanks Johnny
Yes, an M1 Garand
I have to travel a couple hours to go see it myself. Just checking to see if its worth the ride. He said it the serial was definitely MB2804. I wonder What else could it be. Hes not a gun guy (neither am I) but he nailed the description of an M1. There was also several clips and a small box of ammo with it. It looks like a 6 hour round trip is in my future.

[Anthony T]

Johnny, did M1 Carbines have a prefix/serial number?

[Johnny Peppers]

Johnny, did M1 Carbines have a prefix/serial number?

Just like M1 Rifle, M1 Carbine did not have a serial number prefix.

[Johnny Peppers]

Thanks Johnny
Yes, an M1 Garand
I have to travel a couple hours to go see it myself. Just checking to see if its worth the ride. He said it the serial was definitely MB2804. I wonder What else could it be. Hes not a gun guy (neither am I) but he nailed the description of an M1. There was also several clips and a small box of ammo with it. It looks like a 6 hour round trip is in my future.

Even a bad photo would be better than a 6 hour drive. Send him some photos of a M1 Rifle to compare.

[herd118]

Just like M1 Rifle, M1 Carbine did not have a serial number prefix.

Most of the plethora of post war commercial M1 carbines had 2 letter prefix serial numbers.

[Johnny Peppers]

Most of the plethora of post war commercial M1 carbines had 2 letter prefix serial numbers.

Most of the commercial copies of the M1 Carbine had a single letter prefix.

Serial Numbers

Manufacturer Name Carbines Years Lowest S/N
(to Date) Highest S/N
(to Date) *Approximate*
Total Production
Millville Ordnance .30 carbine 1962 *A107 A361 260-400 +/-
H&S .30 carbine 1962 A432 A615 200-250 +/-
Plainfield Machine .30 carbine 1962-1965 B214 **Z618 23,000 +/-
Plainfield Machine .30 carbine 1965-1978 001 88,650+ 89,000 +/-

Plainfield Machine 5.7mm Johnson 1962-? A123 A328 330 +/- ?

Plainfield Machine Enforcer 1977-1978 PP00195 PP00298 300 +/- ?

* Production may have started at A001 or A100
** minus letters I & Q so far

[Anthony T]

Thanks for the info guys. I ended up calling his daughter last night. She did not have access to the rifle at the time, but she had an old photo her father took for insurance purposes. He had 7 rifles total, and all she has left is the M1? and a Romanian AK. Here's the pic she sent me. It looks newer to me--Even if a newer model, what would be a fair price to pay her? Gunbroker is all over the place as far as price goes. Thanks again for all the help.

[Johnny Peppers]

The gun in the middle of the photograph is a M1 Carbine type. Could be a commercial copy. If a commercial copy, I would pass. When they ran out of GI parts to assemble them, the quality of the new parts was not that good, and also had problems with gas cylinders coming off.

[Ronnie Fry]

I agree with Johnny, commercial copies are likely poor. But from the photo, looks like no bayonet lug, and has peep sight. Could be a sleeper! M2 stock maybe? Hard to tell from the photo.

[herd118]

Most of the commercial copies of the M1 Carbine had a single letter prefix.

Serial Numbers

Manufacturer Name Carbines Years Lowest S/N
(to Date) Highest S/N
(to Date) *Approximate*
Total Production
Millville Ordnance .30 carbine 1962 *A107 A361 260-400 +/-
H&S .30 carbine 1962 A432 A615 200-250 +/-
Plainfield Machine .30 carbine 1962-1965 B214 **Z618 23,000 +/-
Plainfield Machine .30 carbine 1965-1978 001 88,650+ 89,000 +/-

Plainfield Machine 5.7mm Johnson 1962-? A123 A328 330 +/- ?

Plainfield Machine Enforcer 1977-1978 PP00195 PP00298 300 +/- ?

* Production may have started at A001 or A100
** minus letters I & Q so far

You left out one of the most prolific post war manufacturers, Iver Johnson. They are mostly 2 letter prefix serial numbers.
Prefix
AA - Military & Paratrooper blued steel
BA - Enforcer blued steel
BS - Enforcer stainless steel
CA - M2 Select Fire various
DD - D-Day Commemorative blued steel
EA - 5.7mm Johnson blued steel
EAA - Enforcer blued steel
EF - Enforcer blued steel
ES - 5.7mm Johnson stainless steel
FF - French Short blued steel
J - M1 Carbine blued steel
JJ - 9mm Parabellum blued steel
SS - Military & Paratrooper stainless steel
WW - WWII Commemorative blued steel

[Ronnie Fry]

Seems like I've seen some "presentation" carbines with funky s/n's like that....
Interesting puzzle!

[Anthony T]

Thanks guys, Im intrigued to say the least. The serial # is MB2804. Not listed on the charts above?
When I asked my buddy if he was positive, he said YES, I wasnt even drinking...lol
Hopefully she can send me some better pics this weekend. I was also disappointed to see how cheap Romanian AK's sell for.
Glad I did not jump on that one. She has already sold an AR-15, 30/30 w/scope in pic, a .308 and 2 over under shotguns.

[Anthony T]

Man, after hitting the internet Im even more confused.
M1, M1A, M1A1, A2, A3, M2, M3...All strting to look the same to me....oh man.