Questions, Questions Saginaw S'G'
Hello, New here and am eagerly awaiting help on some questions about a Saginaw Grand Rapids I aquired about 15-18 years ago. I picked it up from an individual who was selling a small collection of his father's. I always wanted one and not knowing much about manufacturers at that time, I picked the nicest looking one. I've always been meaning to research it and finally decided to get off the dime. A couple of weeks ago, at a small show, I bought Harrison's book and have read and reread it and posts here and the CMP site as well. Hopefully, I have got some of my homework done. I have dissasembled it and here is what I have. The rifle would easily go at 98-99% condition.
3,227,5XX serial with a May 43' Underwood barrel
Sear IP-SW Type A
Trigger S'G'
Trigger Housing S'G' Type B
Bolt marked S' 17 I didn't strip it any further. Very little wear on bolt face and extractor and all bluing matches.
Hammer MC
Op Slide circled S with 111 Type A variation 3
This has obviously gone through an upgrade as it has the later rear sight, handguard and safety replaced. So here's my questions.
With the condition of this rifle being so good, and it being a mix of IP and S'G'
parts, could it have left the factory with a Marco hammer and a Standard slide through lateral exchange?
Is the bolt marked S' 17 a Grand Rapids bolt?
Now here's the last strange thing. It has low cut IO wood that is nearly perfect except no acceptance mark so the first thing you would expect is that it was sanded by somebody. I cannot find any signs of P's, cartouches etc. except right in front of the sling cutout. It is marked with either an MR or MB. How would they have gotten there if the stock was sanded??? Some of the references would have MB being Murray Black and MR being Charles Mati. Did they work in arsenals or does anybody now what they might have contributed to the manufacture of the carbine?? Thank you very much! Bob
