Marine M1903 Parked Finish on M1 Carbine?

[cplnorton]

The troopies were not allowed to keep their issued weapons after any war. If it actually is a so-called 'Vet Bring Back' service weapon, it's stolen. No rear sights like that in Korea either. Buy the rifle, not the story.

There is evidence of early featured carbines in use by the 1st Provisional Brigade early in the war. It is said the need for weapons was in such great demand that they pulled them out of mothballs from WWII and handed them out and that was that. In fact the demand for bodies was so great, the vet above never even went to boot camp. He went straight to the fight.

Now for this Underwood, I imagine he changed the flip sight and type I band. I think it was probably a pretty well original rifle except for the upgrades and the vet might have wanted to swap it to something more original. I don't think you could piece this together from an armory rebuild and have it all match like that on the rest.

I did talk with some Marine experts offline and they agreed they think it at least appears to be Marine Corps finish. I'm hoping the family will be able to provide more evidence of where it was acquired. It might have been just luck he found one in say the 60's that had that finish. It's hard saying.

As far as stories go, I've been able to document some kick butt stories. I agree most are crap, but some stories are real. That is why it is so important to investigate everything and see what all you can document. Looking at the rifle the story does seem plausible, so that is why I am investigating it more.

But here is a pic from Korea of the First Provisional Marine Brigade near Pusan. That carbine sure looks like it has a type I band. For the 7th Marines, the unit this vet fought with, all pics show the late features. Again I think this one has probably been changed. Just showing early featured carbines did exist in Korea.

[CPC]

Long thread and I'm not sure I've got everything correctly ordered but in wwii if you were hospitalized it was hard to keep souvineers so I suspect it would have been even more difficult to keep a personal weapon in Korea. Also I have not seen any combat weapons with white painted rack numbers. Most I have seen were garrison weapons post war. Was this a common Marine trait? Just a couple of thoughts. While this weapon may have been corrected to wwii ( not sure why since most carbines at that time had bayo lugs and from what I've read and been told they
Wanted them) it is possible. A few years ago I purchased an outstamding 43 inland once that I believed was a true bring back. Only problem was a couple of years ago the vet had a hack put a bayo lug on it after he visited the Marine Corps memorial. I asked him why he did it and he said if it was good enough for the Maines it was good enough for him. I couldn't tell him it was an artists mistake at least I think it was.

[browningautorifle]

It IS a nice carbine. Love the grey park and blue bolt and over all hand worn finish. Great looking carbine.

[Maniac]

Nice Underwood, cplnorton. It could well be a former USMC weapon, have you ever looked for a Springfield Research Service hit on it? Thanks for sharing!

[cplnorton]

USMC's are all mixed here and there in the SRS in this range, but nothing concrete.

1335454 111544USMC - QUANTICO
1336959 041046RCMP (SEIZED)
1337090 02 44EVANSVILLE ORD PROOF WEAPON
1341849 101849USMC - 4TH MARS CAMP LEJEUNE
1344088 110652DEPT OF JUSTICE
1346141 031445OSS FLD PHOTO CEYLON
1348104 030850USA RADIO STA
1350219 040544BUTTON RIFLING TEST

1360636 (My Underwood)

1363465 032950PENNA NG (TURNED IN FOR REPAIR)
1363631 030948RED RIVER ARS
1367310 0315431ST INTERCHANGEABILITY TEST
1368044 0315431ST INTERCHANGEABILITY TEST
1368333 020250RED RIVER ARS (SCRAPPED RECVRS)
1368815 0315431ST INTERCHANGEABILITY TEST
1368866 0315431ST INTERCHANGEABILITY TEST
1369251 0920451379TH AAF
1369430 0315431ST INTERCHANGEABILITY TEST
1375886 013048USMC - MAG-33
1381100 120546USMC - CAMP PENDLETON

[Embalmer]

love how that pic, they are using (I assume the troopers) own b.a.r. as a stretcher of sorts to carry him

[gsp45]

cplnorton other than the obvious......replacement stock, I have to question your opinion on the rear sight and bbl band having been replaced. The posted pics are not conclusive. You obviously have a better view, but what is makiing you think they've been replaced? Just curious

[cplnorton]

cplnorton other than the obvious......replacement stock, I have to question your opinion on the rear sight and bbl band having been replaced. The posted pics are not conclusive. You obviously have a better view, but what is makiing you think they've been replaced? Just curious

This is the post with really good pics. I posted it over on the cmp forum as well and they said the flip was fake.

http://www.jouster.com/forums/showth...-and-band-real

[cplnorton]

And for the band there is no question the front sight has been off. The pin has been driven out before.

[gsp45]

Much better pics. It sucks, but I agree.