I stumbled across a US Army training film from 1943 titled: "Rifle Marksmanship with the M1 Rifle - part 2" and a couple of things jumped out at me.
I thought lockbar sights came on the M1 in WWII, but the rifle in the film looks to have the T105 style...and the gas tube appeared to be in the white.
When did they start using the T105 sight?
were the gas tubes hard to parkerize? (I just thought mine had the finish worn off)
Ah...I didn't think about the flush-nut sight...I don't think I have ever seen one. I didn't know the gas cylinder was stainless steel...explains a lot...
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but regarding Winchester gas cylinders, would any experts be able to identify if the finish on this particular one is original? It's just not something I am adept at yet. I only to look for a Du-Lite finish but I don't even know if I'm properly understanding it.