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Middlesex, NJ
Jacksonville, AR
Hardwick, VT

The ATF Definition used in the AFMER Reports

ATF files a yearly report to U.S. Congress on the number of firearms manufactured by each manufacturer. This report is called the Annual Firearms Manufacture & Export Report (AFMER). This report states, 'For the purpose of this report only, 'Production' is defined as firearms, including separate frames or receivers, actions or barreled actions, manufactured and disposed of in commerce during the calendar year.' The phrase 'manufactured and disposed of in commerce' infers everything was manufactured and sold within the same calendar year, which is rarely the case in manufacturing.

All parts of a carbine, and all other firearms, are manufactured separately and completed at different times. When all of the parts are assembled into a functioning firearm ready to be sold, the date of manufacture of the firearm is usually the first day it is ready to be sold.

None of the companies that have used the Iver Johnson name have provided any of the information you see on this entire website, this page included.

Reconstruction of the dates of manufacture has been based on the history of the company, markings on the receivers, the firearm's serial number and the AFMER reports. Collecting and analyzing the serial numbers and their markings has been an ongoing process for many years. What's offered here may change slightly as more information becomes available.

The Charts

Since the two letter prefix that starts each serial number was based on the model and various models were manufactured concurrently, each two letter prefix has it's own chart showing that particular prefix's dates of manufacture.

Rather than guess a specific year for a specific serial number the charts below present a serial number range and the years that range started and ended based on the markings and additional resources. Most charts narrow the time frame to within a period of 4 years or less. Conclusions as to the specific year within the time frame a particular number was manufactured are left for the reader to decide.

A few receivers with the markings of Iver Johnson over NJ have been observed sporadically among the carbines manufactured in AR by both Iver Johnson Arms and AMAC. Surplus receivers in various states of manufacture, various markings, and s/n's bought from Numrich Gun Parts have been built into carbines by other companies and by owners.

ATF records indicate 4,524 Enforcers were manufactured/sold between 1978 and 1981. The higher serial number quantity may include rejects and those left over and sold to the Jacksonville, AR investors.

These were receivers with the New Jersey markings and AA prefix absent the serial numbers left over from New Jersey. Serial numbers were added by Jacksonville, AR in 1986. Jacksonville, AR selected these randomly for use as Enforcer receivers and added the E prior to the AA to signify the Enforcer model. The numbers should not be viewed as a sequence. These were built into Enforcers in the months preceding Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in October 1986.

All of these carbines have the markings of Middlesex, NJ, all are stainless steel. The A suffix indicates they were surplus obtained from New Jersey and sold by Jacksonville, AR.

Cartridge was caliber .30 Short, for export to France. Receivers with these markings were purchased from the Iver Johnson bankruptcy sale and sold by Numrich Gun Parts.

All stainless steel carbines with the name of Iver Johnson are marked Iver Johnson Arms over Middlesex, NJ over the breach. The one attributed to Arkansas has the Middlesex, NJ markings and can be identified as one Jacksonville, AR obtained from New Jersey by the A suffix.

The American Historical Foundation first advertised this commemorative in the January 1985 issue of The American Rifleman as a limited production of 2500. Production was based on each order received and completed before Iver Johnson filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy October 21, 1986.

The U.S. Carbine Caliber .30

U.S. Army Ordnance
Serial Number Assignments

Understanding Serial Numbers - Understanding Dates of Manufacture

Dating a carbine by its serial number alone is difficult and not always accurate given the circumstances inherent with manufacturing and the logistics situation during the time the carbines were manufactured. Some people estimate a carbine's date of manufacture by adding the quantities manufactured month to month to the assigned serial number blocks. This is not an accurate means of estimating the date the carbine was finally assembled or when it passed its final inspection.

Serial number blocks were assigned by the Ordnance Department on an as needed basis, generally in response to the awarding of a contract to a given manufacturer. Think of each serial number block as a separate contract. Contracts had a completion date but there was no requirement for completing one contract before starting another. There was no requirement as to using the serial numbers in order.

A few manufacturers used some serial number blocks out of order. Some of these blocks were split up and used before or after other blocks. Some manufacturers used more than one block in the same time frame.

A few of the manufacturers used subcontractors to manufacture their receivers. One manufacturer separated out smaller blocks of serial numbers for use by subcontractors who would use these serial numbers concurrent to receivers being made by the prime contractor and/or other subcontractors assigned lower or higher serial number blocks.

The serial number was placed on the carbine receiver during the manufacturing process of the receiver, not when the carbine was finally assembled. The decision for which receivers would be used for the U.S. Carbine Models M1 or M1A1, and some of the M2's, were made well after the receiver was completed as all of these models used the same receiver.

Serial numbered receivers that failed to pass inspection were set aside as rejects if the defect(s) could not be brought up to minimum standards. As solutions to old problems were learned, some of the same receivers were brought back online and completed (i.e. Inland receivers initially rejected because of an off spec deep hole drilled for the recoil spring and guide, later recovered and altered to use a detachable main spring housing). If a receiver was scrapped and not used, its serial number may or may not have been reused.

No documentation from Ordnance, or any of the prime contractors, has been found that indicates the date and serial number of carbines as they were assembled or when they passed final inspection. Given the high volume of production, receivers were generally assembled as part of a carbine within a few months after the receiver was serial numbered.

Barrels were a critical component in the production lines. If inventory ran out it could shut down production. Four of the prime contractors did not have the ability to manufacture barrels. The ebb and flow of mass production created parts surpluses and shortages for all the prime contractors, barrels included. Shortages were common until Ordnance arranged for additional barrel manufacturers.

During the first half of production the barrels were often mounted on a receiver within 1-2 months of when the barrel was made. If a receiver has its original barrel and the barrel includes a date, it may provide a general idea of when the barrel was attached to the receiver.

As time goes on more and more carbines are having parts replaced. Parts wear out, carbines are disassembled for the sale of the parts individually. Carbines have been, and still are, rebuilt from spare parts. Many people have reconstructed many carbines with what they believe should have been on the carbine when it left the factory.

U.S. Caliber .30 Carbine
Models M1, M1A1 and M2

Rather than assume the documents were followed to the letter, the serial numbers in tables C-F are presented with the lowest and highest reported to date. We would like to encourage you to share information you may have that will help reconstruct what was actually done versus planned. If you choose to do so please contact us using the forum.

TABLE C

Subcontracted Receivers

(also see Table E)

TABLE D

Leftover Receivers used by Winchester

- Underwood receivers that had not yet been hardened:

Winchester removed the Underwood name and serial number, then replaced them with the Winchester name and serial number.

- Receivers that retained the Underwood name:

Winchester sometimes lined out the Underwood name, sometimes not.

Winchester added the letters W A or A W to the bevel of the receiver.

- If the receiver had an Underwood subcontractor code, the subtractor code was left in place between the W A or A W.
- One or both of the letters of the W A or A W code may be difficult to see. Some have been reported with only one of the
two letters or in combination with an Underwood subcontractor code.

- The significance of the letter A is unclear.

TABLE E

Transferred Receivers

TABLE F

Serial Numbers Duplicated

(including use of X Suffix)

TABLE G

Irwin-Pedersen, Grand Rapids, & Saginaw

Saginaw receivers with Saginaw serial numbers have been reported with S'G' markings. At least one document has been found that indicates Saginaw received Ordnance authorization to sent an unknown quantity of receivers to Grand Rapids. These receivers may not have had serial numbers when provided to Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids facility stopped carbine production on 01 Jan 1944 but continued to make receivers and trigger housings which were sent to the Saginaw Plant for assembly.

TABLE H

Inland Manufacturing
Engineering & Presentation Gift Serial Numbers

Inland later decided to present carbines as gifts to Inland employees, subcontractors, suppliers, members of the military or government, and others to show appreciation for their assistance and cooperation with Inlands war effort. The serial numbers allocated to these carbines were as follows.

The carbines used for this purpose were not from inventory submitted to or accepted by the government. Many were constructed using whatever parts were available. Examples being outdated parts and prototype parts that had accumulated throughout the various departments within Inland over the years of production. This included a few of the previous Engineering carbines no longer needed.

Carbines that have one of these serial numbers may be an Engineering prototype, a 'presentation' carbine, or both. They are a specialty that requires each be assessed individually to determine its historical significance. They should not be altered or fired. Doing so may alter their historical value.

TABLE I

Carbines with a Serial Number above 8 million Jet audio 7.0.5.3040 plus vx (full version) skin tightening.

The new serial number was hand stamped on top of the receiver behind the rear sight, in the vicinity of the prior serial number.

PLAINFIELD MACHINE CO., INC.
Middlesex, New Jersey

The serial numbers used by Plainfield Machine followed a consistent pattern throughout production 1962-1978.

Serial numbers were hand stamped one digit at a time and are often not aligned with one another horizontally and/or vertically. The distance between each digit often varies.

Serial numbers started with the Millville Ordnance and H&S carbines were continued into the Plainfield carbines and consisted of a letter followed by three numbers. Serial numbers ran alphabetically then numerically, when 999 was reached the next serial number started at the next letter and again ran 001-999. So far, no carbines have been found that start with the letters I or Q.

Serial numbers were consistently at the front of the left side of the receiver above the stock line. The exception being first half of the G series, which have the serial number on top of the receiver behind the rear sight above the letters PMC. Markings and their location are discussed in detail on the pages devoted to Carbines, Parts, & Markings.

When production reached Z999 the serial numbers started over at 001 without the letter prefix, running numerically through end of production in 1978.

Amongst the first 1500 numerical serial numbers the letter A was sometimes added after the numbers and in at least one instance the letter P was observed instead of the A. Of the 43 carbines recorded between 001 and 1500, 27 have the A, 1 has the P, and 15 have no letter after the numbers. The meaning of this A is not known but of the 27 that have the A, 18 of these are known to have been sold to a law enforcement agency. This practice was discontinued after s/n 1500.

Serial numbers prior to 36000 (letter prefix series included) were stamped within an oval cut out. The oval appears infrequently through 63000 after which it was discontinued.

22 PMC Models (5.7mm Johnson caliber)

Plainfield introduced their 22 PMC models as the Plainfield Machine .30 caliber carbines progressed through the H series. The 22 PMC models were assigned the letter A prefix followed by three numbers. So far, the highest serial number found on the 5.7mm Johnson models has been A356. Instead of Cal. 30 M-1, the receivers are marked .22 PMC M-5.

Enforcer Model

The Plainfield Enforcer model markings and their location are consistent with the markings and locations found on the first Iver Johnson carbines in 1978. The Plainfield Enforcer model was manufactured 1977-1978 during the transition of Plainfield's carbine operations to Iver Johnson. It appears the Enforcer was introduced by Louis Imperato as part of his take over of Plainfield Machine and before the first carbines with the Iver Johnson name.

Serial numbers observed so far have started with the letters PP followed by five numbers. Instead of Cal. 30 M-1 the receivers are marked PP30 M-1. The highest Plainfield Enforcer serial number observed to date has been PP00524.

M-2 Carbines

The Plainfield M-2 Carbines serial numbers are within the M-1 Carbine sequence. The serial numbers do not distinguish an M-1 versus an M-2. The difference is found on the receiver following the caliber marking, where the caliber is followed by M-1 or M-2.

Yearly production varied at different times. Production 1962-1965 was far less than 1966-1975 and diminished 1976-1978. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms published a yearly list of total rifle and handgun production starting in 1975.

The only rifles manufactured by Plainfield Machine were their models based on the M1 Carbine. Handgun calibers were reported as either revolvers, or pistols in calibers 22, 25, 32, 380, 9mm, and 45. As Plainfield did not manufacture any .32 caliber semi-automatic pistols it is suspected these numbers represent the .30 caliber Enforcer models.

The highest serial number used by Plainfield is not known. The highest recorded to date is 88,847 which is believed to be amongst the final 10,000.