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On the right side of the barrel, before the marking 3SA 2 45 P, there is TSA GAI AV VA.
Which is the meaning of the latter letters?
The rifle is a Springfield Armoury SN 3,490,719, on the top of the barrel there is the marking of the no. of drawning and heat treatment lot, D35448-34-A-92--1.
Many thanks in advance for any info.
The rifle is an import, and the TSA GAI AV VA is the importer which apparently is in Virginia. It appears that the barrel is original to the receiver with the February 1945 date.
Thank you Johnny for the info.
What is strange with this rifle is the block for the scope mount fitted on the barrel, similar to that of the M1D but with a section of about 180° instead of 360°. On the left flat side of the block, beside the threaded hole for the mount, there is also the hole for the pin but no pin inside the hole.
It should read T.S.A. GALAX, VA. The Southern Armory in Galax, Virginia. I don't know if they are still in business as T.S.A. The owners used to put on gun shows and may still. I haven't seen them in quite a long time and did not know that they imported firearms until I bought one off of AuctionArms in 2003 from someone else.
Thank you EdG! The marking has been made before 1990, when I purchased the rifle which is a Dutch army surplus.
gioca,
I bid on the rifle I have with the T.S.A. import because I know the folks in Galax and thought it would be neat to have a rifle with their import stamp.
The description given on the auction site stated that my rifle was imported by Navy Arms Co. in 1992 from Mexico which received Garands in the late '40s or early '50s as part of military aid. It is 1785383 with a 7-43 barrel.
If ever I run across the owners of The Southern Armory, I'll have to ask them about their role concerning these rifles.
Thanks for the info on yours. I wonder if yours has a Navy Arms Co. history also.
EdG,
I don't know if mine has a Navy Arms Co. history. I purchased the rifle at Excalibur, a gun shop based at Milan, Italy, about 20 years ago. I was said that it is a Dutch army surplus and this is all what I know.