unissued springfield stocks.

hello all.
I recently ordered what is supposedly an unissued c stock from holland that was intended for degauls french troops. it arrived today in mint condition minus some heavy brown paper stuck to the handguard and given some steel wool and linseed oil should clean up very nicely but I have some concerns. there are no cartouches or proofs anywhere on it so I was wondering whether an unissued stock would be in this condition or if I just unknowingly purchased a reproduction stock. :ugh::sos::confused:

There should be a flaming bomb proof on the very tip of the stock where the barrel peeks out. SOME (but not all) makers also stamped a letter in the dish cut for the bolt stop.

The rest of the "proofs" you are looking for were added by the armorers when they fit a stock to the rifle, gauged that fit to be correct, and then test fired the assembled arm. un-fitted replacement stocks would not have those assembly and firing proofs (ahead of the trigger guard, P at the stock wrist, factory/armory ID stamp and the ordnance wheel).

It's likely real.

Claven has it figured out. When FN closed it small arms plant years back, piles of new/mint parts showed up in the US. Northridge Int'l got most/all of it. They brought over tons of parts but the bulk is still in Europe. Likely the stock is out of the FN plant. Likey real, as well.

so for resale purposes does it hurt the value if it doesn't have any proofs?

Well, no re-stocked rifle will be worth as much as a WW2 original with proper cartouches - but it would be worth more than one stocked by Boyd's or whatever.

If someone just wants a stock to make a shooter the stocks are excellent. If someone is wanting to restore a rifle, they would want it with the proper acceptance marks and P proof.

the flaming bomb stamp is a Remington mark, as well as a RIA mark...not all replacement stocks came with that mark...

My bad :( The two "unissued/unfitted" stocks I had in front of me were both Remingtons.

I'm curious as to the marking in the magazine cutoff notch. Replacement stocks made for USGI arsenals had an "S" (Springfield Armory) or "K" (Keystone) in the cutoff notch. I'd be surprised if FN actually made stocks, American Walnut being fairly difficult to get in Europe during WW2. FN had a huge contract to rebuild M1 rifles in 1947-1949, but not 1903-type rifles.

I just noticed on my scant stock I bought from Dupage that it doesnt have the "P" proof on the grip or any rebuild stamps on the left side or in front of the front action screw. It has a 4 digit number on the right side but stock - like the greeks, and a letter "U" on the under side of the butt. Interesting.

I am no Springfield expert. But I thought FN had the contract to rebuild ALL US all small arms after WWII. It was far easier to build them in Europe instead of shipping them home. As well, it helped FN get back on its feet. I know piles of Carbine parts came in from FN and so did '03 parts. I understand there is a warehouse in Belguim full of BAR parts. Lots of neat stuff still in Europe.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Calif-Steve

I am no Springfield expert. But I thought FN had the contract to rebuild ALL US all small arms after WWII. It was far easier to build them in Europe instead of shipping them home. As well, it helped FN get back on its feet. I know piles of Carbine parts came in from FN and so did '03 parts. I understand there is a warehouse in Belguim full of BAR parts. Lots of neat stuff still in Europe.

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I believe the FN contract was covered in an American Rifleman article several years ago. I don't recall the specifics but i believe it included all battlefield salvage small arms. Does anybody have acces to back issues or even better an index of articles?


Regards,
Jim

i have a real a4 the numbers are moved to clear the scope mount. the stock has no marks on it at all. it is a c type. i know it is not a repro. because i bought the rifle in 72.

Bob308, Chances are it's a Keystone, they did make replacement C's with the correct A4 bolt relief. The thing about Keystone, most of the time upside down "K" in the cutoff notch are almost impossible to make out. They were a little more bulky than the Springfield C's, it's hard to explain how to tell without getting them side by side. When you grip them it's a world of difference. Yours would have been replaced with a replacement stock by some individual. If it had been done at an arsenal there would be markings.

i would go with the keyatone. it does have more baulk then the springfield or remington stocks i have handeled. i am leaning toward a feldreplacement stock. they did not stamp stocks in the field.

I'd have to ask about field replacement,,, as far as I know they had to get work ordered to general support for that, specially an A4. I don't know if unit armorers were given inletting tools (don't remember what all came in the armorers kit). They did have stock repair tools though and I've seen (have) stocks with field repairs (pins etc.). As long as that rifles been around, even though you got many years ago, odds are most likely done by a previous owner, there really is no way to tell.