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Photos show a early Winchester rifle that was machined too close resulting in a hole in the top under the rear sight cover area. Billy Pyle once told me that he found a 1941 Springfield receiver with the same type of hole.
This type of machining error would not really weaken the receiver and you have to wonder ifAttachment 126787Attachment 126788Attachment 126789Attachment 126790 during war time such receivers might have been allowed to pass inspection ?
As that receiver has the logo and serial number applied, it had passed most of the inspections for acceptance. Manufactures want to junk or scrap items prior to a serial number being assigned for budget / accounting reasons. The only work to be done after marking is de-burr, heat treat and finish. M1 receivers that are removed for a defect and sent back for repair or salvage account for the rifles where the serial number is too late for the revision number or heat lot code. A rejected item pending repair could be a "door stop" until enough of them are gathered to make the set-up and repair to salvage economical. Winchester being a commercial firm went out of their way to savage and reduce the cost of scrap. The vast majority of WRA receiver are of the -2 drawing with the other being the late -WIN 13. I had a WRA M1 -2 rifle with a chrome plated receiver face and a copper washer to save the receiver and allow barrel installation.
Tom,
Do you think WRA chromed the face or do you think that was done later at an ordnance depot to salvage the receiver? While it was a practice to do that on some parts you don’t see many receivers around any more that have that modification.
Regards,
CC
[QUOTE by=Tom in N.J.;517364]As that receiver has the logo and serial number applied, it had passed most of the inspections for acceptance. Manufactures want to junk or scrap items prior to a serial number being assigned for budget / accounting reasons. The only work to be done after marking is de-burr, heat treat and finish. M1 receivers that are removed for a defect and sent back for repair or salvage account for the rifles where the serial number is too late for the revision number or heat lot code. A rejected item pending repair could be a "door stop" until enough of them are gathered to make the set-up and repair to salvage economical. Winchester being a commercial firm went out of their way to savage and reduce the cost of scrap. The vast majority of WRA receiver are of the -2 drawing with the other being the late -WIN 13. I had a WRA M1 -2 rifle with a chrome plated receiver face and a copper washer to save the receiver and allow barrel installation.[/QUOTE]
All makers set aside parts that did not meet all the specs but would still function... they had to apply to Ordnance for special permission to use them. It was usually granted.