Sarco, Inc

In 1968, when the Gun Control Act (GCA) was passed in the United States, all items that are recognized as firearms by the federal government were required to be produced with serial numbers. This includes all cartridge-firing, centerfire and rimfire handguns, shotguns and rifles, among others. Many other types of arms, including muzzleloaders, are also commonly produced with serial numbers, despite the fact that they are regulated differently from modern firearms. This, along with other identifying marks on the receivers and frames of most firearms, makes very precise identification possible, even down to when and where the model was produced. However, before the present time, many firearms, nowadays considered curios or antiques, were produced not only without serial numbers but with a dearth of identifying characteristics. This does not mean, however, that they are without their unique marks. Sometimes all you need to do is a little bit of digging or investigation in order to iden...

The M1 Carbine was produced for U.S. troops as a service rifle during The Second World War, and was later carried by American servicemen throughout Korea and the Vietnam War. Despite common gripes about the inadequacy of the .30 carbine in which it was chambered (the larger M1 Garand, which has been called the greatest battle implement ever devised, was chambered in the significantly more powerful .30-06 Springfield) it has since been adopted by paramilitary forces around the world and is now in the hands of a substantial number of civilians. Also despite the gripes about firepower, the lighter, much more maneuverable M1 Carbine was produced in several variants, such as the M1A1, which was designed as a service rifle for airborne troops. M1A1 variants are almost immediately recognizable by their folding stocks, which made them both more compact and significantly lighter, two factors which are chief concerns for paratroopers. Today, the M1A1 variant, though perhaps not as common as f...