“X” Marking on lower band of 5/42 rifle

Hello all,

Just going to try to keep this one short and sweet.

I just recently picked up a very nice 5/42 correct rifle originally from the collection of Bruce Canfield and have since been inspecting it.

One thing that stands out to me is an “X” marking on the left side of the lower band. A photograph of the marking can be found here: https://imgur.com/a/nq16tZt

Does anyone know what this means? Is it the letter X or is it a cross?

Thank you!
- Michael

Here's the picture so others can see it readily...

There is a collector, Ed Byrns, who is often on the CMP website who keeps track of these lower band letter stamps. he has maybe a half dozen or so to date. Found on both arched and flat bands starting in 1942 and a few in early '43. All Springfield and reason for the letter stamp is not known.

I have one on a mid 1942 SA rifle and have seen others too.Attachment 128834Attachment 128835

I really have to start using those thumbnails for photographs...

But that was a quick end to at least a part of the mystery.

Does Ed Byrnes keep it public which letters have been identified so far?

I believe he might have posted the letters a few months ago on the CMP website, still the reason is unknown at this time.

Observed codes seen on rifles : A B C F G H J L R S T U
Serial No.------Code-----Date
613217--------- U-------- 5-42
730585--------- R-------- 7-42
731134--------- F---------7-42
772909--------- G-------- 8-42
803325--------- H-------- 8-42
810183--------- B-------- 9-42
848006--------- L -------- 9-42
855892--------- S---------9-42
924847--------- J------- 10-42
925682--------- C------- 10-42
929673--------- A------- 10-42
938579--------- T------- 10-42

Observed codes on loose lower bands not seen on a rifle : D E I W Y Z

All the codes I've seen are stamped on the left side of the lower band. The letters may be turned any which way (right side up, upside down, sideways facing forward or rear, tilted).
So far, I have seen only single letters - no numbers or double letters.

Assume that these letters are inspector codes. This is another mystery of the M1 Garand along with the codes seen on rear sight covers and heat lot codes seen on the receiver under the rear sight cover.

Thanks Ed for posting the list of lettered lower bands. While on the subject of X marked parts, years ago had a friend in Calif that found a revision 2 bolt heat lot X 1 in a SA 63K rifle with a S-A 8-40 barrel. The rifle was damaged and the parts were being sold, I was able to buy the bolt. So far I only know about two other bolts also marked X 1 but not in rifles. The data charts posted never show the X 1 bolt so has to be uncommon to find.

Photos show the X 1 boltAttachment 128836Attachment 128837

Hi Ed,

Thank you sincerely for commenting!

For what it is worth, you are free to add my rifle to your list if you wish.
It is 629,952 dated 5-42 with the obvious “X” stamp.

Ms15710, thanks for the info and for allowing me to add it to my data file.
It's always satisfying to be able to add more observations.

RCS, I have not yet come across a -2SA X1 bolt but am keeping my eye out for one. You are the first collector to alert me to it.
In Feb. 2020 in the CMP For Sale section a fellow asked for info about one that he had. I assume he sold it but I'm not sure.
I added this bolt to my " Bolt Heatlot by Revision" file in March 2013 when you posted the info and the pic of the bolt.

It's odd that nobody has yet found a list of the heat lot codes assigned to steel producers, and it ain't for not trying. We have plenty of good guesses, but I'd like to see an official document.

My 3-41 SA barrel has a X stamp as well.