HRA has arrived!

1954 HRA (purchased from Empire Arms).
CMP Service Grade (with certification document)
I'll post pictures, you guys will dissect and I'll learn something.
Note: HRA receiver and barrel only, everything else is SA.

Receiver - 6528291
Windage Knob - DRC
Elevation Knob - LUX
Stock - SA (serifed 'P' underneath behind trigger)
Bolt - 6528287-SA
A15
Gas Cylinder Plug - 'P' 'O'
Op Rod - D35382 9 SA
Barrel - HRA 6535448 8-54 RS36
Trigger Housing - 028290-12 SA

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...521138th-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../gas1yth-1.jpg
http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/5...ergroup.th.jpg

---------- Post added at 05:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

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

Actually not sure on the stock. Serifed 'P', but not in a circle. Short back porch, but offset to the left. 'O' on bottom of pistol grip.

Overton?

Stock looks like a Springfield or Armory replacment. Trigger group is 43-44 Springfield without seeing the hammer or safety to comment on them. Gas cylinder is saw cut which should mean it is a early narrow sight base. We would have to see the back part to see if it was Springfield or Winchester. Nice gun though. I always liked the HRA's.

Attachment 19000

Safety has a serifed 'F' on it, will pull the hammer and check that out as well.

Hammer marked C46008-7 SA

Actually sorry I should have been more clear. The rear loop that goes around the barrel that is against the handguard. That is how you tell. If the rear loop is round, then it is Winchester. If it has a step in it, it's Springfield. Here is a pic of a comparrison between my WRA and Springfield. The one on the left is WRA. Right is Springfield.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...inder005-1.jpg

And actually your gas cylinder is the wide sight base. The narrow is just the width of the site. Here's a comparrison bwt two of my WRA's. The one of the left is wide. The right is narrow.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...inder006-1.jpg

The wide was wider so you could adjust the front sight either left or right. It's intersting on yours as it has a saw cut. The saw cut was used on narrow base cylinders so they would tighten down to hold the front sight more securly. You don't see the saw cut on wide base cylinders very often. At least I haven't seen a lot.

---------- Post added at 10:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:12 PM ----------

7SA hammer was used from 7/44 thru 3/45

12SA trigger housing used from Dec 42 thru Aug 44.

I'm not sure on the F on the safety. Doesn't ring a bell. I would have to see it.

The op rod looks like a flat side 9SA which was used late WWII. Pretty much serial 3.4-3.8 million. Some where around there.

Bolt is 652 series which is post war. It was used in the 50's.

If you have anymore quesitons just ask.

Thanks for the details.

Attachment 19003Attachment 19004

On another sight a member corrected me on the black gas cylinder, informed me that it does not necessarily denote Greek refurb.
He also informed me that my elevation pinion marked LUX is Italian?

I don't know on that safety. That must be something foreign as well. I don't think that is USGI.

Pretty much anything coming out of the CMP is a Greek return right now. Especially HRA. At least that is what they told me the last time I was at the cmp last year.

I know that she is a mixmaster and not worth restoring (8/1954, post Korean war). But I may replace the elevation pinion and the safety, just to have all USGI parts.
Other than that, I like the rough gas cylinder, the patched handguard, the worn butt plate, etc.

I think it looks nice! Mixmaster or not. It would have a place in my safe. lol

Thanks for all of the detailed information, cplstevennorton.

Attachment 19078

Now here is question #?.
On the underside of the stock, behind the trigger group, there are two 'P'.
Top .5" non -serifed
Bottom .25" serifed
Neither in a circle, the smaler is faded almost completely, the larger still has a faint stamped impression in the wood.

There is also an offset 'X' and 'O' on the heel.

Apologies for the poor pictures.
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../stock7c-1.jpg

They almost look like a soldiers idle markings. Well, I am going to assume that this (with the 'X' and 'O') is some Greek arsenal rebuild or a Greek στρατιώτης
carving his girlfriends initials into his stock.

Well, some mysteries solved.
The 'F' marked safety is a later IHC according to Scott Duff's book on post WWII M1's.
The 'LUX' marked elevation pinion is a subcontractor: The LUX Clock Mfg. Company, Inc., Waterburry, Conn. USA. According to RollingThunder from the CMP board.
The stock is definetely an SA, but has been worked over and repaired during refit at least once or twice.
So, I am back to a mixmaster, but at least an USGI mixmaster.

The best part is that I got some Winchester brass and was able to make some rounds for her today! I will get to test her out Sunday AM!

You still have a very nice rifle. Don't obsess over details. Just enjoy shooting it.