Inland M2 - link to pictures added

some BA markings may be Bennica Arsenal--nice m2--shame it aint over here with papers! $8000 toy here

Car Wash Chris wrote: welbytwo wrote: some BA markings may be Bennica Arsenal--nice m2--shame it aint over here with papers! $8000 toy here Ditto That ! Very Nice M2. Here's a over stamp on GB which should make us M2 owners happy. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=535201583

FYI, stock markings are covered on two of the web pages. The one for the stocks and the one for the post war ordnance ops that includes a list and examples of the rebuild markings. Benecia Arsenal included.

http://www.uscarbinecal30.com/postwar.html

Jim

I have an ongoing project on the various additional markings that appear as part of the rebuild marks. Along with orientation, location and other characteristics.

I have not seen the number 16 below the BA but based on all of the rebuild markings from the various Ordnance facilities there are variations to most of them.

a) usually, but not always, located in the same place. Often do not follow directions of where the location was supposed to be.

b) usually, but not always, oriented the same way

c) usually, but not always, the same font and size

d) sometimes they have 1-3 additional letters or numbers following or below the Ordnance designated markings

e) sometimes these extra letters are one of several Ordnance inspector's initials

f) sometimes some of these markings appear with a box, sometimes not

Unlike the Ordnance inspector marks on the stocks during WWII, those that do accompany rebuild marks are not the Ordnance District Chief. They are the supervising Ordnance inspector at the facility at a particular time.

Keep in mind several of these arsenals and armories conducted inspect and rebuild operations more than once after WWII, with lapses in time between them. As evidenced by two sets of rebuild marks. We don't know if there was a different protocol rea rebuild marks at a given facility at a given time.

Rebuild marks that include the Ordnance inspector initials can often be dated to the time period that person was the supervising Ordnance inspector at that facility.

What the bosses in Washington ordered be done and documented it, was not always documented at the operational level were they did the best they could with what they had at various times. Keep in mind the rebuild locations and their final inspectors were dealing with an unimaginable volume of Ordnance, the small arms inspectors included.

Unrelated to inspect and rebuild ops but to gain insight on operations at these facilities, I have first hand eye witness accounts of the operations at Benecia Arsenal in the mid to late 1950's. Benecia Arsenal was designated the primary arsenal in charge of receiving everything coming back from the Pacific theater of WWII and the War in Korea. The place was a madhouse and overwhelmed to the point they had to expedite some things to keep the flow moving.

The carbine was never officially declared obsolete. Benecia Arsenal received permission to declare certain items as in excess of inventory needs and dispose of them.

They tossed tons of material into a furnace at the arsenal to anneal and warp them, then sold them off to scrap metal dealers for recycling the metal. Saw cutting and torch cutting became too time intensive for the volumes they received. And, metal recycling being the scrap buyers and dealers they were, they were sometimes amenable to selling access to things via a back door. While we can be critical of those who bought access to that door, they saved literally tons of receivers and parts.

The point being some of the arsenals and their personnel were focused on expediting things, whatever they were, which likely impacted the way they did things at various points in time.

One of my goals is to place many of these things into the historical context. Black and white was the film of the time but these things take on a level of color that is sometimes amazing when viewed within their historical context.

Eventually more will be added to the Post WWII Ordnance Operations page. For the moment the priority is getting the "coming soon" pages built.

There is a research project waiting for an experienced researcher and investigator to pinpoint the dates and learn the quantities at each of these facilities that did rebuilds. we know a few, but only a few. Rebuilds by Underwood and Standard Products are right at the top of this list.

Hope this helps.

Jim

P.S. I'm out of town at the Shot Show this week. Leaving now. Doing more research.