Receiver: NPM (N 17) Serial number in late 1943 range. It is complete with a early style green canvas sling and a two-pocket stock magazine pouch that is marked KAPIN 1943 on the back side. I recently picked up one of the Italian M1 carbines that CMP sold back around 2008. The handguard is also an early version with the two rivets also stamped 'TN' on the underside.

Ordnance dealt with this by directing an X be added after the serial number of the receiver that exceeded the assigned block if duplicates were found. The stock is a high wood version that has a re-stamped, boxed 'NPM/FJA' cartouche on the right side of the butt with a circled 'P' proof in the pistol grip area and the sling slot is marked 'TRIMBLE TN'. Inland s/n'd receivers sent to National Postal Meter: N: 438,xxx: 590,828 : Inland s/n'd receivers sent to Rockola. It is fitted with the first type barrel band without the bayonet lug and the early style flip rear sight that is marked 'N-A' on the side. It is fitted with the early smooth sided push button safety, smooth face magazine catch marked 'NS'. The various parts are correctly marked as follows trigger guard 'N-16', hammer 'Z', Operating Slide '3 N' and the left side of the bolt is marked 'N-14'.

The rear of the receiver is marked 'NATIONAL/POSTAL METER/4298005' and the front section of the barrel is marked 'I.B.M. These NPM carbines had a very low production rate and original surviving samples are very difficult to obtain. This is a very nice example of a partially restored National Postal Meter M1 Carbine.

National postal meter serial numbers