W.R.A. Bolt

First post here. I've been cataloging my M1 parts. The bolt in my shooter I put together 20+ years ago has markings: "D28287 1 W.R.A." Nothing else. From what I can determine it's a Winchester bolt probably from 1939-1940-ish. Is that right?

Early Winchester bolts do have have the bottom hole, production started in 1941. Collectors have found four variations.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mineralman55

has markings: "D28287 1 W.R.A." Nothing else.

W.R.A. = Winchester Repeating Arms.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...59741498-1.jpg

All of them (almost) are marked like that. What else do you need to see if it is Winchester? Or am I missing something?

Bob is right - early is a no hole in the bottom, beyond that nobody is quite sure where any of the 'types' identified go ... and I doubt they ever will. About the best we can say with Winchester is give a date when a certain part first appeared, after that it can be used any time as Winchester never bothered to use things up like SA (for several reasons), at least not until the contract was ending (grin). This is why Win-13's can be so frustrating - they were using up everything and anything that was left; everyone wants a nice little pattern and the Win-13's don't really have one - any early parts can pretty much be correct (well, 'cept flat buttplates and keystones). I am to the point that nearly any early part wouldn't surprise me, and I have even seen sight seals on them!!! SA did reach back for a few early parts on later rifles but with the numbers produced at SA and the procedures they seemed to have preferred, well, ... these early parts on later rifles are just not quite as prevalent, especially later in the war. At the beginning of production, now that is another story - just try to sort out the changeover of early sight parts, go ahead, I dare ya ... (I'm working on it - grin).

Best all.