NM 1919, whats left of one

Hello,

Well i picked up my rifle today, and after a preliminary tear-down, I can provide some info:

Reciever: some rust however its all recent and only one spot has any old pitting, the magazine switch isnt original and had to be pried to get function. The trigger is smooth and feels good. The mag\trigger protect doesnt match (has an r on it).

Barrel: from back to front, the rear sight is actually original (lacks volley v) but is rough, the slide. Is loose and the windage is stuck closed. I cant date the barrel due to wear and finish but i did find an SA so it may be original however theres not much consolation since the good bore advertised doesnt exist. Its been counter borred and the lands are there in spirit, barely in form (havent shot it yet so if groups it will be a miracle.

Stock: May be original, but due to numerous sanding, refinishing, and time all marks are gone.

Ill add pics later but for now I could use any input, suggestions, etc.

I guess it depends how you interpret "Good bore, kind of rough"! :D

I think for $406 you did all right. The parts are worth that much. The "pedigree" is worth something, too.

Rick, dont let my post sound like its a boat anchor. Its beat but not dead, i definitely want to restore it to some degree. First things first, I gotta combat some of the rust before it becomes worse (most of the external rust seems to be from the Florida climate.) Im gonna try cleaning the barrel with bore foam to see if it helps the bore. In the mean time, ill keep my ear to the ground for a new used barrel (with at least the sight base for transfer). As for the stock, I may replace it eventually since its roughest of all and has no proof marks left (wouldnt mind a c-stock set, for a reasonable price). Heres some pics like i promised earlier.

Bernard

For removing rust, I use Break-Free and a COPPER (not stainless steel) brush. It appears a number of the parts have been removed and replaced. Although your pictures are kind of dark, I notice a pre-WWI bolt.

ATF works very well, you can thin it down with Hoppes #9...

If it would be helpful I can post some pictures of my 1919 NM - in slightly better condition. :D

What makes you believe this is a NM rifle?

Virtually all of that serial range were either NM rifles or Mark Is.

Looks like a civilain re-blue. Barrel rough. Stock sanded. Not much there, too bad.

Well,

I got some of the rust off last night with RemOil and a coarse towel (still got to work on some spots). The magazine cut off was sticking in the on position but with oil, I got it working right. I also got the sight wind-age working again (de gummed it). The slide on the leaf wont lock anymore and the whole slide in general is loose. The action is really smooth despite the bluing and Chinese roughhousing, the trigger is also surprisingly crisp. The bolt is definitely pre-war or early WWI based on the steel lot code (don't know what the E mark on the handle is about). I am now looking for a vintage 1919 barrel in good shape (Ideal'y id like a NM or a criterion or a krieger barrel but those can be expensive). The Wannamacher show in Tulsa is next month, might look for one there. I am curious if its worth sending it off to someone for a total restoration.

Any thoughts or suggestions are appreciated.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Rick the Librarian

If it would be helpful I can post some pictures of my 1919 NM - in slightly better condition. :D

---

YES! Please do that Rick.

According to Joihn Beard's bolt steel lot code charts, the bolt dates to about 1917. Undoubtedly a replacement.

Rick, perhaps the original poster could look at pictures of your rifle and compare them to his rifle to determine how much he would have to do to get his rifle into representative condition for a 1919 National Match.

Well, I did see 1919 rifles which were no NM rifles. And as you said, not all 1919 rifles in this range were NM rifles. It doesn't have the original bolt any more, aswell it has been crudely finished. So most probably impossible to tell if it's a NM rifle. Where is John when we need him :)

Are the rails of the receiver still polished?

It has been re-blued some years back. It fell into the wrong hands many years ago.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fred G.

Are the rails of the receiver still polished?

---

It has been reblued, however I can tell it was polished at one time and the action is surprisingly still smooth.

Also, I've been in contact privately with Rick and he has been in contact with John Beard, and He confirms its a NM