Winchester M-1 Carbine sights

[Ron C]

Re my question below about repro flip sights, my two carbines actually have a type one band on one, serial # 5,6xx,xxx the other has a type two band and is serial # 6,5xx,xxx. Both have type III (stamped?) sights with H in a shield. Mixed parts otherwise. Could the H marked sights on them be original and would either carbine have had a flip sight in this range? I like the flip sights but hesitant to remove the adjustable if they are original. Barrels on both appear to be original, marked with W.

One more ?. Zeroed both and the windage has to be set far to the left side to be on, only a couple of clicks from stop, front sights appear to be slightly canted to the right, can this be corrected so rear can be centered?

Thanks for any advice.

[Bill D]

I have an all correct Winchester 6.5 mil and it has the type 3 rear sight.

[lbelflowers]

The most knowledgeable person on Winchester carbines is BQ97. He wrote the last article in the Carbine Club newsletter on 6 & 7 million Winchesters. He is the guru on Winchesters! His email is:

brianq97@embarqmail.com

Loren

[Donzi]

My Win carbine, S/N 5742XXX, built, I think, in Oct. 1944, came to me w/a type 3 H-In-a-Shield rear sight. Does the group think it's possibly correct? TIA.
Donzi

[Bill D]

My Win carbine, S/N 5742XXX, built, I think, in Oct. 1944, came to me w/a type 3 H-In-a-Shield rear sight. Does the group think it's possibly correct? TIA.
Donzi

Larry Ruth, in his War Baby study of the carbine, states "'H' in shield on right side of sight body. (The most commonly marked Winchester milled sight)".
Quantity/SN Range: late 6,000,000 and early 7,000,000 SN ranges.

Riesch, in his book, U.S.M1 Carbines states that the type 3 rear sight was used from serial number 6,450,000 on.

I'm not sure what to make of this as the "milled" rear sight is popularly known as a type II and the "stamped". windage adjustable as a type III. Both were made by I.R.Co. (H in Shield). Riesch also states that both types were introduced at about the same time and were used interchangeably, depending upon availability.

In either case, your carbine probably predates the use of either of these sights. IMHO

[emmagee1917]

...Ruth's book is a little dated. After all these years some info has been narrowed down. Also , in this case , when a new type entered service , the old ones were still being made. At the end of production close to 1/2 the carbines still left the factory with type 1s on them . My 5.6 has a type 2 , my 6.5 has a type 3 both of which appear orig. I would imagine yous are correct. Also H in a shield and IR Co are two different sub contractors.
HTH , Chris

[Bill D]

...Ruth's book is a little dated. After all these years some info has been narrowed down. Also , in this case , when a new type entered service , the old ones were still being made. At the end of production close to 1/2 the carbines still left the factory with type 1s on them . My 5.6 has a type 2 , my 6.5 has a type 3 both of which appear orig. I would imagine yous are correct. Also H in a shield and IR Co are two different sub contractors.
HTH , Chris

I had a couple of errors in my post, primarily that H in a shield and I.R.Co. are two different contractors. I also failed to note that two (or possibly three) types of rear sight could have been assembled onto new carbines at the same time.
I have a little trouble following Craig Riesch's book on some of the parts. He might be just a little out of date also. I just don't know it because I don't keep up on carbines as I should. I get interested in something else (Garands, Krags, Trapdoors, etc.) and fail to do my research.

Sorry.

[emmagee1917]

..these here carbines are a real tangled web. What we "know for sure" today can very easily be " well , not quite" tomarrow.I have in my notes where Ruth told me the 6.0 figure may be as low as 5.0 , On page 131 of his book , he lists 5803681 as correct with a type two. Looking at examples and comments , I think AROUND 5.5 / 5.6 is a likely starting point for type 2s.
Enjoy , Chris