Email from Ray Fowler to Keen A. Umbehr

December 17, 2011

From: Ray Fowler
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2011 12:56 PM
To: Keen Umbehr
Subject: IMI 9mm Carb ammo

Keen,

I did a bit of research on the 9mm carb headstamp that you spoke of. It appears that the “CARB” portion of the headstamp is an abbreviation for Carbine, not the ammunition manufacturer name. I’ve never seen nor heard of that particular headstamp on 9mm ammo though it doesn’t surprise me. I have seen 9mm ammo headstamped 9mm PARA and 9mm LUGER; PARA being an abbreviation for Parabellum and I believe that Luger refers to the old German WWII 9mm Luger handgun. Regardless of the headstamp confusion, “LUGER”, “PARA”, and now “CARB”, they are not made for different firearms – all of them will fire in any weapon chambered for 9mm. I found some headstamp examples at a website called AFTE (Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners) in their Image Gallery. The rest of the website might also be helpful to you. The pics are attached. Interestingly enough, IMI is the manufacturer of the only “9mm CARB” headstamped ammunition that I found. That’s not to say that there isn’t any other manufacturer of 9mm ammunition with “CARB” on the headstamp, just that it’s the only one I was able to find on the net. Because IMI sells military surplus ammo, its not likely that you’ll find it on the shelf at your local Walmart or your average local gun store. There is a better chance that your ammo was bought at a military surplus type store or better still, at a gun show.

Ray