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I recently glommed an 03A4 that has a B series serial number Lyman Alaskan mounted on it.
Word on the internet seems to be that the B serial numbered Alaskans were GI. They seem to have been used on some of the Garand sniper versions. Anyone know if they found their way onto the 03A4's that were refurbished after WWII?
[QUOTE=Calfed;372377]I recently glommed an 03A4 that has a B series serial number Lyman Alaskan mounted on it.
this "glomming" that you did,, exactly what is it? how does someone go about doing it?
glomQuote:
Originally Posted by karl schmidt
verb \ˈgläm\
Simple Definition of glom : to take or get (something)
Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary
Examples: glom in a sentence
The manager glommed the shoplifter just as she was about to bolt out of the store
Yes the B series were used on the 03A4's by the military
Thanks, Mark1.
Is there an established serial number range for the GI B-series Alaskans or is it all b-series Alaskans?
It is all B series. These were classified as M73 scopes. Than they went to the M81 and M82 Lyman scopes. The M73 is not to be confused with the M73B1 Weaver's
I appreciate the information, Mark1Quote:
Originally Posted by mark1
Just curious, sorry for all the questions guys, but trying to learn more about post war fielding of the Sniper Springfield.
With regard to the A4's refurbished post WW2 and fitted with Alaskan scopes, would they have primarily been fitted with Keystone stocks too?
Was the main impetus for the rebuild programme the Korean war expansion and did any of of these rifles continue in service into the initial stages of the Vietnam war?
One final question, when were they officially withdrawn?
I really wonder how much the A4 was used after WWII. My main study is the Marine Corps, but for instance with the Marine Corps in 1945, they had already planned if the need for sniper rifles would arrise they would go with the M1C.
Korea started and caught them off guard and they again wanted to dump the 1903 Unertl rifles and go with the M1C, but it looks like they couldn't get enough fast enough, so you see the 1903 Unertls in Korea.
But the documents make it clear they coudln't get parts for 1903 rifles, and they were having a hard time keeping the 1903 sniper rifles serviceable, and I'm sure a lot of canbalizing of rifles was happening to keep the others running.
I've seen some of the notes from Springfield from this time and even by Feb 1953, SA was done with the M1C and looked to the future with the M1D.
So the Army had basically moved past the 03A4 successor by the end of Korea. So you have to wonder what was the role of the A4 at this time, when even it's succesor was done.
As I said I don't study Army, but I've seen enough documents from SA that I think the A4 was moslty done after WWII. There might have been a few straglers out there, but I am betting they were few and far between. I'm really betting the overwhelming majority were rebuilt after WWII, put into storage for war reserves, and there they sat.
One note to add, I do know of one pic of a Marine with a A4 in sniper school in Korea. And I do have one report where they say the A4 was all but useless in korea, because the scope was basically junk. So some were used past WWII, I just think it was very small numbers, at least by the US. I'm sure some were used by other countries, as we gave that stuff out like candy.
On the B series Alaskans, I believe the experts say they date to about 1951. At one time I had a brand new in the package M81. But anyways if I remember right it was packaged by RIA in like 1955. Even though the nomenclature on the package said M81, and the serial on the package matched the scope. When you opened it up, it was a B series Alaskan.
The Scope had fine crosshairs, and because of this when RIA packaged it up after Korea, they labeled it as a M81.
Hi Steven,
Many thanks indeed for such a comprehensive reply! I am still quite the novice regarding the Springfield, I bought an A4 build (modified A3) fitted with a NOS Keystone "C" stock (Remington 1942, s/n 3203596), also fitted with a post war Lyman Alaskan s/n 43963 on a good quality repro base and rings.
So broadly Korean war spec in her build it would seem. I have had to adjust the bedding to get her to feed correctly and will be testing accuracy at the range next week. Shes been a project rifle that I am finally getting to finish and shoot after other shooting diversions have kept me occupied!
Many thanks again for all the info.
Cheers John.
Thanks, Steve