Springfield M2 questions

Just picked up an M2, SN 10449, barrel date 9/32. Parked finish and a non-grooved stock with checkered buttplate. Stocks has no rebuild marks or part numbers on the exterior. Bolt is marked NS M2 and electropenciled with the serieal number. A few questions:

1. Is the barrel likely original?

2. Is the parked finish original?

3. Is it correct for an NRA sales stock to be without any markings?

4. If it is an NRA sales rifle, what would the Springfield database likely have on it if there was to be a hit?

Any thing else I should be looking at to determine whether the rifle has been through re-build?

Thx for the help!

Congratz on your score. Could you post some pics? Herschel is the resident expert on Model 1922s.

-Jeff L

M1Thumb, I will answer your questions with numbers corresponding to the question number.

1. I think the barrel is probably original original as I have detected no strict correlation between barrel dates and serial number on the M2's. My M2 #6478 has a 10-38 barrel and my M2 #10514 has a barred date of 6-37. I am confident both these rifles have the original barrel.

2. All M2's came with the parkerized finish. Both mine mentioned above have the black parkerizing as was used in the 1930's.

3. The NRA stock will not have any markings except some have a drawing number on the bottom of the stock near the rear sling swive.

4. Your M2 rifle #10449 is not on the SRS list and it almost certainly would be listed if it was an NRA Sales M2.

The bolt well (round channel) the bolt moves in was in the white when these rifles came new from Springfield Armory. Parkerizing or blue in this area indicates the rifle has been refinished. If my answers bring up more questions, feel free to email me or post more questions in this thread.

M2 #10449 should have been in the M2 stock when new. But, I have in my possession an M2 that was sold in 1959 as surplus through the DCM. I have the sales paperwork and I bought it from the original purchaser's son. It came in the NRA stock and the man who sold it to me said he watched his father unwrap it in 1959 and the NRA stock was what it was in. I suspect that the arsenals that were preparing these rifles for sale as surplus used whatever stock was in inventory.

I had a slight brain seizure when making my initial post. After consulting Brophy, the rifle has the M2 stock with grasping grooves, not an NRA stock. The bolt rails of the receiver look parked to me, but the bottom of the interior of the receiver looks like it is in the white -- perhaps just worn?? The finish is 95% plus and their are no markings or numbers on the stock except something that looks like a W under the buttplate. I paid $1100 for the rifle and two mags (one M2, one commercial, but both work well). May have paod too much but I really wanted it.

I took the rifle to the range this afternoon and had a lot of fun with it! Tried a bunch of different ammo and it seemed to like RWS best, putting ten shots in to a little over 1 1/2" at 50 yards. What a fun rifle! It was unable to outshoot my Pre-A Model 52 with an 8X Lyman Targetspot . . .

Thanks again for all your help!

For youur enjoyment.

Hope you like them. Anyone have tips on getting photos posted on this site?

from photo bucket. Keeps telling me files are too large!

M1Thumb, Congratulations, I would say that finish on your M2 rifle is the original one. I would carefully remove the front sight hood and LEAVE IT OFF. Each time it is removed or installed there is more damage to the finish.

From my experience I would say that 5% or less of the M2 Rifles escaped refinishing. The late Fred Ewalt, a expert and author on the Springfield .22 rifles, told me he had looked for a nice original finish M2 for years and never found a nice one. I sold him mine a few months before his death and was able to buy it back from his estate. Yours is one of the most noteworthy Springfield .22's I have seen lately.

Your compliments are most appreciated. I will take the hood off per your suggestion. I am enjoying the rifle very much and look forward to taking it back to the range next weekend.

I'll second Herschel on removing the site hood. They're a nice idea, but make for a poor sight picture. Someone mentioned on the 03 board to use extra oil before removal.

Nice pics of a very fine rifle.

-Jeff L

I'll second the bit about leaving the sight cover off -- my M2 has ugly scars there. It's a shame Springfield didn't come up with a bigger front sight cover, one that was designed for shooting while in place.

They did make the USMC ones that are larger and are made to keep in place, but they're hard to come by.

-Jeff L

You would think someone would make up reproductions of those USMC sight covers.

They do make reproductions of them, but I don't know for certain who sells them now.
They had them at the some of the gun parts companies. Ask the question on the 1903 forum and I'm sure someone can help you.

Thanks, I'll try.

This is my M2. I have had it for about 40 years. And some NRA Springfields.

EriCal, Those are certainly nice rifles. I notice the top Sporter has the front sight hood . I have a couple that have the sight hood. I suppose they came that way. I have not taken them off nor do I intend to as I don't want to mar the blue.

Sight Hoods.

Thank you for your kind words, H.

Here are photos of some sight covers. I don't have any of these covers - the photo was downloaded. (Perhaps from you, H)

E.

The USMC front sight was much thicker and taller than a regular front sight. It brought the combat notch down to 200 yds from the 550 yds. I don't know if enough of the blade will stick up into the bigger globe to get a good sight picture. Might inquire first if someone's done it. Chris

I recently purchased a Springfield M2 from Rock Island Auctions. The rifle exceeded all my expectations. My gunsmith believes it had never been shot. The stock was a very good black walnut and has great checkering.

Is it likely that it is new? Is the stock original?

Photos, Please! :D

I noticed this is your first post. Welcome!

You'll be much more likely to receive replies if you post some detailed photos.

Below is a link to a tutorial of a couple of ways to post photos here.
Looking forward to seeing your rifle. It sounds great!

How do I upload or post images on MILSURPS.COM? - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

It is possible you rifle is unfired and this is the original stock.

However, the checkering is not original, and that makes it unlikely the gun is new -- who would go to all the trouble of lovingly checkering a stock and not shoot the rifle? If the finish looks new, I suspect it is new -- newer than the rifle.

[QUOTE=Herschel;71817]M1Thumb, Congratulations, I would say that finish on your M2 rifle is the original one. I would carefully remove the front sight hood and LEAVE IT OFF. Each time it is removed or installed there is more damage to the finish.

Why do you recommend taking off the front sight hood?