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Question: Is this a NM M1 garand barrel? New to M1 Garands
A Heart SA P 7791 T 85 PM Eagle
2 63
Y 14
P T
is over sized is over sized
What does the markings mean and what is the year that the barrel was
maded. How rare?
Thank You for your time and help.
Barrel was manufactured in Feb of 1963 (thus the 2 63) Is is marked NM on the barrel up by the gas cylinder???
Quote:
Originally Posted by tsk
M1 barrels were given many marks in the postwar years and each has its story to tell ....
the Heart identifies the year of National Match assemblage (someone more familiar with NM's here can tell you exactly)
the Y 14 is a steel batch identifier (more commonly referred to as a Heat Lot number)
the small P indicates a Proof Firing of the barrel prior to assembly
The M is a mark showing that the barrels was Magniflux tested after manufacture but before acceptance
the Eagle is the acceptance mark added by Army Ord Inspectors
the over sized P is the mark indicating the rifle was Proof Fired as an assembly
the over sized T is the mark indicating the rifle was Targeted after assembly
hth ~
Here is a 1961 rifle. An originally installed NM barrel should be stamped NM on the LH front, between the gas cylinder rings. According to the article by Bob Seijas in the winter 2003 GCA Journal the 1963-assembled-rifle barrels were not marked with an annual code. so the "heart" is interesting. The article further states that 1963 was the last year of rifle assembly by SA since there were plenty of rifles in inventory. Of course rifles were still built and "updated" by individual armorers after that time.
A manual issued at the 1963 National Matches indicated that the “NM” on the barrel in the vicinity of the gas cylinder was “inscribed” not stamped and was added only after the complete rifle was assembled and passed the targeting and final inspection.
After the M1 was superceded by the M14, I knew a retired armorer who evidently took a number of M1 NM replacement barrels with him. I bought 4 or 5 for $20 each. (Read it and weep). All of them were marked NM on the chamber with all of the other barrel data. I believe that NM barrels were standard M1 barrels that passed the straightness test and the air gauge test. My 1963 NM carries the “NM” marking in both places (Chamber and front in the vicinity of gas cylinder). I have a match rifle (not NM) that was built by this armorer for himself and it has the chamber NM mark only. He was transferred overseas so sold me the rifle before he could use it.
I am sure that someone else on this board will be able to provide better info. My observations are based on my observations as an outsider not as an armorer or historian.