Tracing how they got here

I'm interested to know if anyone has any firm evidence of how their carbine got into the country.

I would be really keen to hear from anyone who has documents that shows either importation or auction of any M1's imported from overseas.

What I am trying to piece together is a possible importation of a bulk lot of carbines into NZ post WW2,that may explain some markings I have on a couple of mine.

I've been pondering over that question for a few years Alex. I think that besides the few that may have been bought in by travellers, if there were any bulk imports of them, the Police will have a record of it. I've been trying to find a time when my local Arms Officer is not too busy so I could ask him about that matter and see if they would assist from a researchers point of view but he is always so busy !. One Day !!. Mike.

Based on personal knowledge and first-hand stories from veterans of various wars, I offer the following info.

The first Carbines in NZ were those brought here by the US Forces stationed here in WW2. They were frequently used for bush hunting (pigs & deer) on trips organised for the US troops by local hunters. These hunters were frequently rewarded with the gifts of carbines and ammo, presumably "destroyed or lost on manouvres"! A fair number were brought back from the Solomons by returning 3 NZ Div men (including my father - 1x carbine, 1x Garand, 2x Winchester Trench guns, 2x Arisakas, 2x Katanas, 1x Nambu pistol, 1x .45 auto - all stolen by wharfies in NZ!) Some more were brought in by Korean veterans, including M2's which the NZ Police happily registered as M1's! Some more were souvenirs of the Borneo, Malayan, and Vietnam veterans. Commercial imports were all in fairly small batches but quite a few shipments arrived, mainly in the late '60's throught to the early '80's. A lot of these were refinished and upgraded models, mainly originating in Europe (including the various German Police marked models). Some commercial models, mainly Ivor Johnson, also came in through normal trade sources.

I would suggest that most of the early and original condition carbines in NZ are those that were obtained during WW2. The US embarked on an extensive refinishing and upgrading programme after WW2 and not many original carbines survived that intact.

Woodsy, I can't prove it's true but I've heard a story a couple of times about an NZ P.40 Kittyhawk pilot who bought about ten of them back from the Solomons concealed in the wings of his plane. I wish I knew where they are now. Mike.

"...concealed in the wings of his plane..." Hi. Unless the guns and ammo were removed, there's no space in the wings of any W.W. II fighter for anything but gas, MG's and ammo. Certainly not a P-40. Possibly in the fuselage though. A pidgeon needs a place for his kit bag.
I would almost bet that most U.S. milsurps were imported before the whole world went nuts and decided that having a firearm is evil.
Mind you, there were lots of carbines sent to SEA long before and during the VNW. Some of the local kit likely was 'liberated' by enterprising troopies.
I know there were Australian troopies sent to the VNW. Don't think NZ was involved though.