Springfield Armory

Bear's rant at the end of the Japanese Garand thread deserves a fuller discussion. Bear makes some very good points... Springfield Armory was very insular and contemptuous of all others. However, when you say "Springfield Armory" in this context, you really are referring to the prevailing mindset of the work force up there. Was there a conscious attempt to sabotage IHC with the wrong spring settings on the function firing machine? Probably not by the people in charge, but very likely by employees on their own initiative. Maybe to protect jobs, maybe just out of contempt for competitors.

"They" hated Winchester from the day Pugsley criticized John Garand and the M1. Art Tuttle practically foamed at the mouth when talking about them, said they should have been prosecuted for their op rods that put GIs in danger they were so bad.

They despised IHC as amateur tractor builders and were livid that SA supplied receivers to them at $2 and IHC marked them up to $3 for the M1 contract.

So Bear hits on a sensitive subject that has some merit.

Didn't mean to stir the pot but my generation lived with the "M16 debacle". I have friends that tell some horrendous stories of being overrun and weapons jamming at critical times.
Love or hate the M16 style rifle, we have lived with it for 50+ years. Despite its shortcomings, that is an envious record for a service rifle.
Not to take anything away from Springfield Armory, they are not referred to as "Arsenal of Freedom" for propaganda purposes. Personally I think SAs glory days were during the M1903 production period. My favorite rifle.
And yes, I own and shoot a M14 style rifle, M1 rifle and my first assignment in an Airborne unit I carried a "Hog"(M60).
BEAR

I am surprised to hear this, but I see it within the realm of possibilities. Wouldn't Springfield want another outlet for the manufacture M1s for the GI had the Cold War gone hot and SA had been hit by a Soviet Bomb?

Did SA employees know that IHC was selected because of the possibility of SA being destroyed by a Soviet bomb? Or did they think OR feel it was an attempt by the private sector to get in on their work, despite what the government had said.

elitism. no one really wants to live with the fact that the "tractor company" can make the same rifle to the same quality standards as they can..