Unless someone has knowledge of where the rifles came from, there just wouldn't be any way of knowing. The barrel that was in the rifle was not British proofed, so that eliminates that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by jesse_
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Unless someone has knowledge of where the rifles came from, there just wouldn't be any way of knowing. The barrel that was in the rifle was not British proofed, so that eliminates that one.Quote:
Originally Posted by jesse_
Thats a great story Ramboueille, I cant imagine anyone wanting to sell his. I also cant imagine getting this insight anywhere else so thanks to you and everyone else who was willing to share with me.
Johnny, thanks for the imput about the proofs. It looks like Im going to start getting REAL familiar with proofs (German proofs are more interesting though).
My buddy paid $275 ca. 1978 (before I was born). So it really only has value as a shooter or the sum of its parts?
Does anyone have thoughts about the Federal Ordnace rebuilds?
I have other questions like getting erosion gauge blueprints so I can make my own. Thoughts on where I should ask? I dont know how much I could actually add to this forum, but I have old manufacturing articles (some as early as 1905) on firearms if anyone is interested. Also snippits on materials used eg. National Emergency Steels; many single alloy steels used large perentages of nickle, chromium, ect, while small additions of several alloys produced better steels.
I should think you could buy a set of gauges easier than making them. It's not the machining, it's the hardening that would be difficult...
Ah, yes, quite correct. But I usually use a 17-4 PH stainless in the H900 condition thats comes between 42-47 Rc. I have some rod in the shop right now thats at the top of the scale. Do they need to be harder than that?
I hard turn all the time so Its not a problem for me. I can make them on the screw machine if I need to make several. If I dont need the ductility I can soak it again and while brittle they will come out around around 55 Rc.
No, that should be hard enough. The last time I tried to turn something like that(I think it was stainless) it screamed through the whole thing. I would have to precision grind. I should get a set of those gauges too but it's not like I'll over use them. The problem is around here NO ONE has a set to borrow. I think they would probably cost me about $100 CDN to get.
Greetings Jim,
Yea, I have an old '49 Southbend model A that would squeel on me too. I have at my disposal an entire shop full of high end CNC machine tools (dual spindle lathes, dual spindle screw machines, 5 axis mills). I use Utilis brand inserts that have a 1 degree wiper and a .008 radius. They are PVD coated and Utilis has a way of coating that doesnt round the edge much, maybe .0002". About the ideal edge hone you would want on a fine finishing carbide tool anyway. So for us "hard" is relative.
Did the DOD have prints of the gauges? Is that something anyone has? Or would they only have go/no go for use of the armorers?
I also have a "vision" system. That means I can put a part on a lighted stage, look at it at up to 4 power, and have a cross-hair super imposed on a video screen. The stage (12"x18") moves in X, Y, and Z and feeds back to a computer. In .00001" resolution. I can create features in a DXF format from a tangible part. So if I can see the feature I can make a rendering of it (grooves and such that are difficult to measure with gauges).
But if course if there is nothing to measure... :D
Regards
Jesse
Someone here is going to have a set of line drawings for gauges. Maybe you can just ask on the general discussion forum...
Done.
Thanks Jim
I have no way of documenting this, but my recollection is that the first 500 receivers SA Inc bought were made by Lithgow in Australia. I've never handled one, but I would expect the receivers to have been stamped with the importers markings. Quality was so poor that they found another source for their receivers. Even with better quality receivers (using mostly used USGI parts), sales were poor because CMP opened the floodgates on genuine USGI M1 rifles.
If I were to buy any M1 rifle of unknown quality, I would pay a gunsmith familiar with USGI rifles to perform a "technical inspection". A "US service trained" armorer would have the gauges, tools, & knowledge necessary to evaluate an M1. Fulton Armory charges about $90 for this service, YMMV.
Wow Neal,
I am going to get a chance to inspect that rifle in about a month or so. It has around 2500-3000 rounds through it without any noticeable problems.
The owner told me that he kept checking in with Martin B Retting (Culver City California-still in business) for several months before they finally arrived. He said he paid $275 for it in 1978.
The machining looks pretty nice (except that scar under the serial number), but as a machinist myself I know that nice finishes say nothing about heat-treat, dimensional tolerances, ect. When you mention "poor quality" do you by any chance remember what the issue was?
By the way, we younger guys are glad those with experience are willing to share.
Regards,
Jesse