My NM M1 I got 2 days ago (56k Warning)

I think I should buy a lottery ticket after this epic score because I didn't pay much at all for it. It doesn't have paperwork but appears to be legit in my novice eye. The gun grades to about 98% condition and I am still twitching when I think about it. It has a 1952 barrel on a 1953 receiver so I think I started its life out as a type 1 build in 1953. Now I need to start the long process of figuring out how to authenticate it. Here are some pics, what do you experts think?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01013-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01010-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01012-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00993-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00997-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00992-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00999-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC00998-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01000-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01003-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01004-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01006-1.jpg

Don't forget that Type 1 NM rifles were selected from new production so the serial number of those 800 NM rifles built in 1953 would be in the 4 mil range. The serial number of your rifle would help in determining it's history. Looks to have been built or rebuilt in 1962 based on that year code. Someone else will have to explain the 1952 barrel. I would have thought maybe a 1960 build based on the barrel but no 1960 year code ??

The SN of the receiver dates to 1953 and is 5319909

Very nice. Now just flip your sling around ( metal clip in rear swivel ) and your range ready.
Chris

yeah I know the sling is backwards. It was like that when I got the rifle and it has a major amount of dust on the clip of the sling so it has been that way for a while. I am going to flip it around I think and put it in the safe. Since the rifle is essentially unfired, I am afraid of hurting the value by shooting it.

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Originally Posted by nattcmars

The SN of the receiver dates to 1953 and is 5319909

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I am thinking more like mid 1954. Only problem I am having is that in the 1953 through 1957 time frame NM rifles were selected from regular production. I would suspect a rifle with a 5319909 serial number would have originally had a barrel dated around 3 of 54. After 1958 SA started to use just about any that they had on hand as M1 rifle production was over and they were just about out of new receivers. Meaning the fact the receiver is from 1953 or 1954 does not really indicate the rifle was originally a Type 1 built in those years. SA also used many WW2 receivers in the post 1958 time period for building NM rifles. My only guess is that the rifle was built as a Type 1 NM rifle in 1958, before the use of the "year code", and then returned to SA, maybe by the original owner, for upgrades in 1962. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice rifle and you got it for a steal. Just that the barrel had me stumped a bit. I am sure if I am wrong in my thinking,there is an answer and hopefully, either Bob Seijas or Dave McClain will see this thread and provide that answer.

I too have a near perfect NM with an HRA receiver. It has all correct NM parts but the HRA receiver has me stumped. CMP had no record of it but it is a beautiful rifle. I too am stumped as to origin and strange things like a totally unmarked stock with the exception of the last four of the SN in white numbers inside the stock. I didn't know how this forum works so I tacked on to this one. Any comments on an HRA NM? Thanks.

Looks like a legit '62 NM rifle. According to Canfield's new book all known '62 NM rifles still used standard barrels which had passed inspection for use on NM guns. The special production barrels were not used until '63. The only slight discrepancy is the non hooded aperature.

Inspirational!

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Originally Posted by ethomsen

I too have a near perfect NM with an HRA receiver. It has all correct NM parts but the HRA receiver has me stumped. CMP had no record of it but it is a beautiful rifle. I too am stumped as to origin and strange things like a totally unmarked stock with the exception of the last four of the SN in white numbers inside the stock. I didn't know how this forum works so I tacked on to this one. Any comments on an HRA NM? Thanks.

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AFAIK, SA never built a NM rifle on a non-SA receiver. They were proud of their product (SA rifles) and had plenty of receivers available. Chances are that your rifle was built by someone else, like a good civilian gunsmith, or a military gunsmith. Unlikely you will ever be able to find any supporting documentation for it.

Looks like a standard 1962 Type 2 to me. The barrel date means nothing, at that point SA used any barrel they could find that had the minimum bore diameter and headspace.

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Originally Posted by emmagee1917

Now just flip your sling around

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Help me here Chris when using that sling... Does one not unhook the sling, loop around the upper arm, tighten, and then hook the butt hook on the upper swivel?

No , not really . Here is a step -by-step to make it a match slung sling ( say that 5 times fast ) .
http://www.ray-vin.com/tech/websling/webslinghelp.htm
I really don't do much match shooting , so I just use the hasty sling set-up. I do cheat a little and set all my slings for that setting , then pull out the arm loop spoken of above to tighten up the sling to the stock . I then lay the loop up along the sling toward the front swivel and wrap a 6-inch piece of double -sided velcro around the strap and the flatened loop so they won't snag anything . When I get to the range or field , I remove the wrap and yank up on the sling to pull the loop out and voila , I'm ready.
Chris

Oh! I see now, I thought it went the other way round. Something I saw that was likely cockeyed...I only ever used the two point sling...

If you were a GCA member you would have seen a 3-page article with 12 color photos on exactly how to use the leather sling in the last issue. The next issue will have the same on the web sling.

I get it Bob...or maybe I should be...

As I recall that was how the web sling was used for Sitting, Kneeling and Prone, but for off hand, a "hasty sling" was used. As best I recall, for off hand you just unhooked the bottom clip, turned the sling 1/2 turn out board ( or was it in board), and re connected the bottom clip. Note I said "as I recall", it has been close to 60 years ago that I learned this in boot camp.

---------- Post added at 09:53 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:49 PM ----------

[/COLOR]When I was shooting High Power, the sling was required to be in the "parade" for offhand. The sling was optional for the NRA rifle, but was required for "service" rifle.That was a few years ago.

Web Sling Usage
Everyone seems to agree with Ray-Vin’s usage of the web sling as shown in “emmage17’s” entry. I always set the sling up so that when the sling was in the parade position, the short end of the sling and the keeper lock were on the side away from the rifle. This served three purposes:
1. It made it easier to return the sling to the ‘parade’ position for off hand.
2. It put the smooth side of the sling keeperagainst the forearm in the firing positions.
3. It made it easy to readjust the sling length while in the firing position-if necessary. All one had to do, was to pull down on the short (tab) end which would aid in unlocking the keeper. The sling length could then be readjusted using the short tail, and the keeper lock could be re-engaged without losing one’s position.
Just a thought.

By "parade position" do you mean the sling is pulled tight as it would be when carried in a "parade" or during inspection, and is not used at all during offhand ??

According to the latest rule book that I have, the sling is optional for off hand on the NRA match rifle, but is required on the “service” rifle.
By rule book definition: PARADE POSITION (OF THE SLING)“The position of the sling when it is attached to sling swivel on the butt stock and the forearm and drawn tight.”
Hope this helps

M1 with sling in Parade Position
Shows how i mount a web sling


http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps9e2c8b2a.jpg

Thanks for clearing that up for me. The "parade sling", as you point out, is as I thought. Not ever having been a competitive match shooter I was unaware of the rules for "off hand" regarding the use of the sling.. I could only go by how I recall being taught in boot camp and how the sling was used in yearly qualifications. I had seen reference to the keeper being reversed, as you pictured, and can see how it would be helpful for match shooting. I also know that had I fell out for inspection with the sling on in that manner it would have been a lap or two around the parade ground. LOL
My guess is that the military decided that with the latch of the keeper on the inside there was less chance of accidently opening the keeper while carrying the rifle at sling arms.

HI Joe,
I can see that with the keeper lock on the inside (opposite from what I use) the keeper lock would not irritate the shoulder when marching at right shoulder arms. I just think that for match shooting my way is a little handier.

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Originally Posted by Cosine26

HI Joe,
I can see that with the keeper lock on the inside (opposite from what I use) the keeper lock would not irritate the shoulder when marching at right shoulder arms. I just think that for match shooting my way is a little handier.

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"Irritate the shoulder", come on, we were Marines. LOL :D

doesnt look complete. Contact cmp with letter and 25 bucks fro them to research.

Will the CMP research a serial number to see if it had ever been sold by the DCM or CMP?
We will perform the research. Research often involves going through boxes of old records. Our files are only complete from 1996 to the present. We do have some earlier files, but know they are incomplete. We require a letter request with payment and we will respond by letter stating if we found anything, and if so – when we sold it and what model it was we actually sold. We will not identify original purchaser. Allow 2-3 weeks per serial number.
We regret not being able to perform this service for free. We receive dozens of requests each week and it can take up to one hour just to find that we do not have any record of a serial number being researched. Charge is $25.00 per serial number, prepaid, whether we find anything or not.
If interested, send letter to CMP, ATTN: Serial Number Research, 1401 Commerce Blvd., Anniston, AL 36207.