Square P and ESSA on M1917 Stock

I'm restoring my great Uncle's US M1917 that was sporterized by cutting the stock off just below the lower stock band.

The sights, barrel and everything metal is in tact.

I picked up a replacement military stock that has a square P and ESSA on it. I've only seen reference to Circle P's. Can someone help me out with what these mean?

Here are a few pictures, I don't have any close ups of the stock markings.

http://hkguns.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p829949410-5.jpg

http://hkguns.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p900035625-4.jpg

http://hkguns.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p689879967-4.jpg

http://hkguns.zenfolio.com/img/v3/p770089028-5.jpg

Nice looking for sure. Where are you located? I have 1-2 extra upper handguards.

Thanks Calif-Steve.

I have the upper hand guards, they're just not pictured as I can't get the front sight off to put them on the rifle. Dropped it off at a gunsmith this morning to get that rascal front sight off.

Any thoughts on the Square P and ESSA marks on the stock?

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Originally Posted by HKGuns

Thanks Calif-Steve.

I have the upper hand guards, they're just not pictured as I can't get the front sight off to put them on the rifle. Dropped it off at a gunsmith this morning to get that rascal front sight off.

Any thoughts on the Square P and ESSA marks on the stock?

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I can't give you an answer as to why the P is in a square instead of a circle but my Underwood M1 Carbine has the same mark:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...kandgrip-1.jpg

The P in a square is the proof mark of San Antonio Arsenal. The other mark (ESSA) is the San Antonio rebuild mark.

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Originally Posted by Tom Doniphon

The P in a square is the proof mark of San Antonio Arsenal. The other mark (ESSA) is the San Antonio rebuild mark.

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Would it make sense that my carbine has the San Antonio proof mark and the Red River Army Arsenal rebuild mark?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nalMarks-1.jpg

Cool! Thanks for the information......much appreciated. I was concerned it was a lame attempt at a fake.

Your carbine has a Red River Arsenal proof mark. Red River Arsenal also used the P in a square proof mark.

My Garand has the square P stamp. Also has the RRAD stamp.

The square boxed P was done at both Red River and San Antonio.
HK Guns, does it actually read ESSA or would it be ESAA?

Dan

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Originally Posted by Dan Wilson

The square boxed P was done at both Red River and San Antonio.
HK Guns, does it actually read ESSA or would it be ESAA?

Dan

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Dan Wilson, it reads ESAA thank-you for catching my type-o!

Actually, the more I look at a picture, the more it looks like a CSAA on the stock. It is somewhat faint. I suppose I should do a rub on it when it comes back from the gunsmith.

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Originally Posted by c&rfan

Would it make sense that my carbine has the San Antonio proof mark and the Red River Army Arsenal rebuild mark?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...nalMarks-1.jpg

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Yes it basically indicates the stock was recycled twice and used on two rebuilt carbines.
If a major component such as a barrel or bolt required replacement an additional proof firing may have been performed

Regards,

Jim

Well Jim , in this case he was asking if his Red River Arsonal rebuild would have a San Antonio Arsonal "P" in a square stamp. It does not . It has RRA "P" in a square stamp. But what you say is correct. I've seen a few stocks with three arsonal rebuild marks and I belive one with four. We must remember though , that each trip through , the stock may have not been placed on the gun it came in on. So , even if the stock is marked four times , it's no reason to think the rifle was through more than once. Chris

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Originally Posted by emmagee1917

Well Jim , in this case he was asking if his Red River Arsonal rebuild would have a San Antonio Arsonal "P" in a square stamp. It does not . It has RRA "P" in a square stamp. But what you say is correct. I've seen a few stocks with three arsonal rebuild marks and I belive one with four. We must remember though , that each trip through , the stock may have not been placed on the gun it came in on. So , even if the stock is marked four times , it's no reason to think the rifle was through more than once. Chris

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Right - that's why I said the marks indicated the stock was 'recycled'. It would be a minor miracle if a stock was reassembled to the same action during the course of a rebuild.

Regards,

Jim

Several 1911A1 pistols are known with RIA, FK, and ordnance bomb stampings that are totally original pistols with nothing done to them. It appears that if it went to Rock Island, it got stamped whether they did anything or not. This may also apply to other weapons sent to arsenals and rebuild facilities.

Many things dictated how a weapon was treated when it went through a rebuild facitity. They could be going through a large shipment comming back in country from a ( or several) large bases due to closures , reductions , or weapon upgrades. The guns may be in great shape and are just stripped , cleaned , inspected , reassmbled , stamped and sent on thier way.
During times of wars , large funding , lots of work , they did a lot of total takedowns , big batches of refinishing , and hodgepodge reassembling resulting in the mixmasters we so know and love.
There was also times of budget cuts , low manpower , little to do. In these times we may find guns that were stripped down , refinished , and reassembled with thier old parts , except for upgrades , stammped and sent out. Almost a custom rebuild that would be done at a small shop.These are rare due to the small output of the times.

The life and times history of the rebuild facilities and thier outputs would make a wonderful research project and collection in itself. Chris