My favorite Winchester M1 Rifle

My favorite Winchester M1 rifle came from the CMP Auction in 2011, I won the bid (free shipping to your door too) I bid on this rifle because it was a three digit serial number and appears to be in original finish too. I had the correct WRA RS no trap stock and some early correct parts (had help from friends) to complete this project. Canfield's book also has a photo of this receiver,Attachment 132565Attachment 132566Attachment 132567Attachment 132568Attachment 132569Attachment 132570 and his Winchester serial number data indicates this serial number 100931 was stamped on Jan 15, 1941

Wow, a double-spring WRA! Super rare!

Just over the educational series?

That an interesting question because it has been discussed before. The late Billy Pyle told me that rifles that were out of specs were sent back to be re-worked, rifles that failed
function firing were also sent back to be re-worked, maybe (just guess) 10 % of each. This will increase the actual serial number range for the first 500 rifles

I am certain my 100931 is not among the E.O. group and I find it interesting that both Springfield and Winchester do not have an actual list of the 500 serial numbers that
has survived from such a historical event

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Originally Posted by RCS

10 % of each

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Yes, but to perhaps 550 or so. I saw a receiver here that was being carried through a gun show, the whole rifle actually...and the receiver number wasn't far off the EO. The new owner had never heard that story either. Now he has.

When you get the current GCA Journal, read my article on the first production lot of the M1... I consider it very much like WRA's Educational Order: it took SA almost a year to make the first 1500 guns as they learned how to do it along the way. I also estimate that serials for the first 1500 ran as high as 2100 for the reasons Robert listed. There were LOTS of machining mistakes that required reworking and even scrapping. Since the receiver serial was already applied when it got to actual assembly, they just reached for another. The contract simply called for a number of rifles. and, at least at SA, no thought whatsoever was given to serial numbers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bob Seijas

When you get the current GCA Journal, read my article on the first production lot of the M1... I consider it very much like WRA's Educational Order: it took SA almost a year to make the first 1500 guns as they learned how to do it along the way. I also estimate that serials for the first 1500 ran as high as 2100 for the reasons Robert listed. There were LOTS of machining mistakes that required reworking and even scrapping. Since the receiver serial was already applied when it got to actual assembly, they just reached for another. The contract simply called for a number of rifles. and, at least at SA, no thought whatsoever was given to serial numbers.

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That was an excellent and informative article Bob, thank you.

Very nice rifle :thup: