Help with P Proofs

[The Lemming]

Asking for help to identify/verify P proofs on 2 CMP rifles. The first came on one of the 7.62 rifles in 2004. The handguards on this rifle are pretty well worn walnut, the stock is brand new looking birch. The stock has no cartouche or P. Of course I don't know if the stock was changed at CMP or previous. Anyone seen this before?
Second rifle is a gorgeous LEAD 9/65 rebuild 428XXX w/12/41 barrel. Again, the handguards are walnut and stock is new birch. This one has a non-serif P w/o box or circle and a faint triangle in what appears to be orangish ink. Are these LEAD characteristics? Sorry that the middle photo is poorly exposed and really hate the weird circular scratch around/through the triangle.
-TIA, Mike

[The Lemming]

Oops, guess I should have added "lack of P proof" to that first sentence regarding the first stock.
Doh!- Mike

[Tom Doniphon]

The orange triangle is a Letterkenny Depot mark.

[mack]

I bought from the North Store several years ago, two of the most perfect examples of Letterkenny rebuilds imaginable and they both have new birch stocks, one complete with an orange colored stain and the other a kind of faded walnut color. Neither stock has any marks on it nor any orange triangle. When I asked, the store personnel there at the North Store told me these rifles came directly from Letterkenny. They seemed very pleased to be able to offer these rifles in such superb condition and I, of course, reacted by buying twice as many as I needed.

As to the "P", the serifed letter in a circle is an original arsenal mark and the plain "P" without the circle is a rebuild mark.

There are also proofs in boxes, usually a non-serifed letter on rebuilt rifles.

All proofs may appear as singles or in sets indicating multiple rebuilds. I saw a stock recently with no less than four rebuild proofs including the original.

Add to this, the local depot rebuilds including Anniston, Red River and even SA (Springfield, postwar).

Looks like these are part of the Vietnam era rebuild program, which used older walnut stocks, new birch replacement buttstocks and foreands and probably anything they could find to make the older rifles into first class firearms. As they were training pieces, the grade was usually service from what I have handled.

You do not see many of these rifles for sale as these are USGI armorer rebuilt firearms from a time gone forever. Anyone in possession of one will almost certainly want to hang on to it as long as possible. This rebuild program is the beginning point for many, if not most, of the refinished barreled receivers sold a few years ago by CMP and the rifles sold in the CMP stores for some years before that.

I should hasten to add that the 7.62 NATO rifle may have other origins since I don't know of any rebuilt in this caliber during the Vietnam era rebuilding.

You are lucky to have these rifles and should consider them as valuable in your collection.
:beerchug:

[The Lemming]

Tom and mack-
Many thanks for sharing your knowledge. I got the LEAD rebuild as a luck of the draw in 2001. At first that silvery grey park of the barrel and receiver contrasted to the other parts which were very dark put me off. But over time it has really grown on me and I now think it is about the prettiest rifle I own. I feel very fortunate to have it. Especially since the barrel dates to Pearl Harbor.
Thanks again- Mike