Interesting modification

[BPierce]

I aquired a GI carbine quite a while ago from a company that was selling guns purchased from gov. stores. It was in good condition but malfunctioned frequently. Thinking something might be assembled wrong, I brought home one of the carbines from the police Dept. where I worked. I took them apart side by side and what I found was
If you examine the receiver on a GI carbine, you will find that the works are held togeather by 3 pins all of which are a different size. My gun had one small pin and 2 large pins. Looking closer, I could see that the medium pin had been replaced with a large one with the necessary "drilling out" having been done. Even more surprising, I could see that an attempt had been made to harden the receiver in the area of the enlarged hole. The hardening had not worked well and the hole had worn into an oval causing the gun to malfunction.
I ordered the necessary parts including a new receiver (legal then), put it together and it has worked fine ever since.
I can only guess at why such a modification was done. As I said I am reasonably sure I was the first civilian owner and even if not, the correct parts were so easy to obtain, I see no reason for it. Also the evident wear, after the modification, was considerable, so it saw a lot of use after the modification. Could it have been a "field expedient" repair done on a badly needed weapon. Parts shortages in the field???

[jimb2]

On ocassion, hammer pin holes were drilled out of proper alignment. While it is unusual, some were redrilled to correct the alignment problem. It wasn't proper, but it was done. I just don't know if it was a field or arsenal mod.