M1 Carbine identification help

TJHxxo1 · December 31, 2024, 01:00 PM

I’m looking for information on an M1 carbine I received recently. It is a Rock-Ola with a serial number in the 6093xxx range. Barrel is stamped “Rock-Ola” on top and “ARL ORD ARLINGTON” on bottom. The gun also has a bayonet lug and type 3 sights. What I need help with is finding information on the stock. I don’t think the stock is original as there are no markings stamped in it anywhere. There is the number “28” painted on it and some Chinese or Korean characters on the butt as well. These characters do not look like any of the stand markings I’ve seen on other carbines with Korean markings. Any help would be appreciated.

mikejonestkd · January 1, 2025, 06:34 AM

here is a brief history of the carbines:
https://m1family.com/a-little-histor...bines-t16.html

The paint on the stock is from an armorer - its most likely just a rack number for easy identification

eastbank · January 1, 2025, 10:31 AM

the importer was stamped on the barrel and replacement stocks were not always marked. these carbines were from rotten to very good, if the overall condition was not to bad and a decent shooter and the price was right i would buy.

RC20 · January 1, 2025, 07:59 PM

He did say he received.

They were very popular pass onto all sorts of counties including South Kore and Philippine, Thailand.

TJHxxo1 · January 2, 2025, 08:32 AM

In my limited research, I have not come across a butt stock with white painted Asian characters. I was hoping someone could direct me to a place to look. I’m toying with the idea of replacing the stock with a correct vintage one, but that would take away from the guns true history. Any thoughts?

tangolima · January 2, 2025, 09:47 AM

Can't make out the characters for sure. They look like Korean. Could that carbine be South Korean return?

If it was my gun, I would mask out the characters and apply stripper to the stock to remove the old finish, and reapply oil finish. That way I restore stock and preserve the characters.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Dfariswheel · January 3, 2025, 10:38 PM

Most of the Arlington Ordnance and Blue Sky Carbines came from Korea.

Many of the returned Carbine stocks were sanded and refinished, so any stamps were long gone.

The white paint is almost always a rack number.
It was easier to find your rifle in a rack by white painted numbers on the stock then looking at small serial numbers that were often nearly invisible under the rear sight.

TJHxxo1 · January 3, 2025, 11:48 PM

D, thanks for the input. Sounds very logical. So do you think I should keep it the way it is of replace the stock with one that has the Rock-Ola markings?

eastbank · January 4, 2025, 10:44 AM

i would keep it the way it is, collectors tend to look down their noses at import marked guns. and a good original stock will not be cheap.

TJHxxo1 · January 6, 2025, 10:06 AM

East bank, I think I will keep it the way it is. It’s part of the guns history. I guess I’m not a hard core collector of guns. To me the import stamp is just part of its history. I personally don’t look down on a gun for having that. I’m more interested in function. Does the gun go bang and can it be shot safely.

eastbank · January 6, 2025, 10:19 AM

well done.

January 1, 2025, 06:34 AM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,761	here is a brief history of the carbines: https://m1family.com/a-little-histor...bines-t16.html The paint on the stock is from an armorer - its most likely just a rack number for easy identification __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

January 1, 2025, 07:59 PM	#4
RC20 Senior Member Join Date: April 10, 2008 Location: Alaska Posts: 7,334	He did say he received. They were very popular pass onto all sorts of counties including South Kore and Philippine, Thailand. __________________ Science and Facts are True whether you believe it or not

January 2, 2025, 09:47 AM	#6
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 5,192	Can't make out the characters for sure. They look like Korean. Could that carbine be South Korean return? If it was my gun, I would mask out the characters and apply stripper to the stock to remove the old finish, and reapply oil finish. That way I restore stock and preserve the characters. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk Last edited by tangolima; January 2, 2025 at 09:53 AM.

January 1, 2025, 10:31 AM	#3
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,513	the importer was stamped on the barrel and replacement stocks were not always marked. these carbines were from rotten to very good, if the overall condition was not to bad and a decent shooter and the price was right i would buy.

January 2, 2025, 08:32 AM	#5
TJHxxo1 Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2024 Posts: 4	In my limited research, I have not come across a butt stock with white painted Asian characters. I was hoping someone could direct me to a place to look. I’m toying with the idea of replacing the stock with a correct vintage one, but that would take away from the guns true history. Any thoughts?

January 3, 2025, 10:38 PM	#7
Dfariswheel Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2001 Posts: 7,565	Most of the Arlington Ordnance and Blue Sky Carbines came from Korea. Many of the returned Carbine stocks were sanded and refinished, so any stamps were long gone. The white paint is almost always a rack number. It was easier to find your rifle in a rack by white painted numbers on the stock then looking at small serial numbers that were often nearly invisible under the rear sight.

January 3, 2025, 11:48 PM	#8
TJHxxo1 Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2024 Posts: 4	D, thanks for the input. Sounds very logical. So do you think I should keep it the way it is of replace the stock with one that has the Rock-Ola markings?

January 4, 2025, 10:44 AM	#9
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,513	i would keep it the way it is, collectors tend to look down their noses at import marked guns. and a good original stock will not be cheap.

January 6, 2025, 10:06 AM	#10
TJHxxo1 Junior Member Join Date: December 28, 2024 Posts: 4	East bank, I think I will keep it the way it is. It’s part of the guns history. I guess I’m not a hard core collector of guns. To me the import stamp is just part of its history. I personally don’t look down on a gun for having that. I’m more interested in function. Does the gun go bang and can it be shot safely.

January 6, 2025, 10:19 AM	#11
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,513	well done.