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I just purchased a vintage stock for my H&R M-1 Garand with proper DAS cartouche. The stock also has a unit marking painted on it, that was at one time probably white in color that now has a nice cream colored patina. My question is should I clean the stock and preserve the markings? Is it worth more to keep this intact? Is this indicative of a rifle originally overseas or perhaps a ROTC or National Guard unit marking? Thanks all in advance for your replies. -Thunderbolt
What is the unit marking?
The number 54 is painted on the side of stock. Could this be a rack number? Thanks in advance - Thunderbolt
If its just 54 and thats it then im betting its a rack number. You can leave it , it is history but not like its anything rare or special in my opinion. Also , it could have been from anywhere, Army down to ROTC.
Thank you for confirming my suspicion. I feel as you mentioned that it is a piece of the history of the rifle and will leave it as is. Thanks for your reply. - Thunderbolt
Why are some markings in white and some in yellow?
Why the differences in size and locations of the markings?
I have a loose mint EMcF stock with a yellow three digit number ( 252 ) on the right side of the butt in 2" high nicely stenciled numbers. Would this be a rack or unit number?
The location of the rack marking often has alot to do with the type of rack used to store the M1. If you have the "A" type D34807 or D34737, you might want the rack number behind the receiver or on the top of the handguards. On the different wall racks, often the pistol grip area is used - sometimes the side of the butt too. You want to be able to locate the rifle in the rack without removing and checking alot of rifles to find the correct rack number to issue.
Also evry unit is differnt, I painted my own way of numbers in my arms room in the Army. Ive seen many types.
No need to use a rack number, just carve your name into the stock (had to be a SPG stock too)Attachment 22339Attachment 22340
So who's gun is it, Novack's or Mary-Ann's ? I saw exactly one man do that to his F.N. Did he ever get in sh*t !
Actually Kovak's stock has a rack number, next to the stock drawing number D28293 is the rack number B-105
RCS
Hope this is the same guy
When the 4th group returned from the Miljet raid we took a quick bath and changed clothes. We had built a portable shower from empty five-gallon cans. With limited sleep, we had reveille the next morning called by Captain Eichler and we returned to our duties on Vis. At dusk we went to our shelter on the hill; we were certain that the Luftwaffe would send an armada to retaliate for our raid on Miljet. We were not disappointed. The German Air Force bombed us that evening and it was hell. Looking out from our bunkers it reminded me of the Fourth of July. Bombs were dropping all over the island; fortunately our sanctuary was not hit head on. One bomb that turned out to be a dud landed in one of our bunkers.
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Individuals involved in raid
Major P. G. Lovell
Capt. A. W. Keer
Capt. R. E. Eichler
Lt. W. C. Bentham
S/Sgt. W. S. Mierwejewski
T/5 M. Redovian
T/5 J. L. Luf
T/5 J. Bogo
Sgt. L. M. Nowicki
T/5 J. J. Helinski
T/5 D. E. Van Gampleare
T/5 Youhouse
T/5 J. Simon
Sgt. W. A. Zach
T/5 E. L. Chmieleski
T/5 H. S. Kozlowski
T/5 E. Sliwa
T/5 F. G. Smolinski
T/5 W. S. Kopacz
Sgt. G. J. Kirchner
T/5 J. W. Baron
T/5 J. W. Koutelis
T/5 B. Economou
T/5 M. Kalissz
T/5 C. J. Bartz
T/5 E. S. Nagler
T/5 S. A. Pobutkiewiscz
T/5 H. F. Wozniak
T/5 S. Gniewek
T/5 C. J. Novak
T/5 L. Franczyk
T/5 N. R. Kasmierczak
T/5 F. Kovalkevich
T/5 T. P. Soulas
T/5 T. E. Lefakis
Sgt. C. C. Christie
Sgt. T. P. Georgalos
T/5 D. J. Christ
Cpl. A. P. Phillips
Cpl. A. S. Mousalimas
T/5 A. G. Grevis
T/5 J. H. Pulos
T/5 G. S. Kalliavas
T/5 D. Fotinatos
T/5 T. S. Kastanes
Operational Groups of the Office of Strategic Services
Yugoslavian Island Operations: (with operation numbers)
T/5 C. J. Novak 5 6 8
More here Office of Strategic Services Operational Groups
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Found a few more old or vintage M1 wood with rack numbers.
On the early SA SPG no trap stock, look at the end of the pistol grip for the number 18Attachment 22500Attachment 22501
While in the Marine Corps I was an armorer and never saw rack numbers, unit numbers or any type of markings on stocks of the M1 Garand or any other weapon. This may have been a practice in other services but you will not find a Marine Corps M1 rifle with stock markings. When I was in the Marine Corps in the 1950s we kept our rifles in our wall lockers along with uniforms and everything else. Packs with bayonet attached was straped on the end of the rack. I never heard of a rifle or bayonet being stolen but it may have happened. There were rifle racks in the barracks but they were never used as they had no lock on them. I heard that by the 1960s rifles were kept in the armory and drawn out as needed. We had our rifles in our possession 24-7.
I personally like the rack numbers on the guns. I think it adds something.
There are those that disagree especially if looking for a correct gun.
Unfortunately, to 'clean them up' I think you would basically wind up in a state of stock refinishing which might be worse.
I think leave them.