Bolts Interchangeable?

[Tired Retired]

My understanding is that Plainfield (and most commercially produced carbines) did not produce bolts - they used surplus USGI. Actually the same is true for 1st generation Universals - USGI bolts. But the 3rd generation Universal bolts are a total redesign.

From personal experience, I have taken my 3rd generation Universal bolt apart and compared/measured some of the differences. While I am sure that a USGI extractor would fit in the Unversal bolt, the Universal extractor is a tiny bit larger, appears to be cast and the angle cut on the extractor lip is different. The Universal ejector assembly was a bit different length and diameter than a USGI also.

Please note that my comments were aimed at safety and to prevent failures - not to see what will fit. I own a 3rd generation Universal and it shoots fine, but most of the parts are not interchangeable with USGI parts. The bolt is a total redesign.

[rocky321]

See what markings are on the bolt. I had a Plainfield years ago that had all GI parts except receiver. I have heard that Plainfield did supply law enforcement and foreign military (Italy?) with Carbines in the 60s. Your FAT Plainfield would seem to support it. Does it have the FAT or a star stamped on the barrel under the handguard?

FAT with the star on the stock. Rifle in another location. I have to break it down and look for other markings.

[DaveHH]

which I bought as a spare for my shooter NPM. I've never spent a lot of time looking at M2s except when I carried one in Vietnam for a few days. This bolt seems to be pretty beat up at the back, actually at the left side of the FP, the FP was also peened at the tip as if it hit the primer pockets of a lot of rounds. Would these be signs of a heavily used M2 bolt? It is still a good serviceable part but that thing took a lot of rounds. Has anyone noticed this on an M2 bolt?