National match rifles

[Mike D]

Curious as to what mods were done to these rifles? I know the barrels were star gauged, bolts polished, what else? What exactly was polished inside the receiver for smoother bolt travel? What about the trigger and sear? Any stock bedding done? TIA, Mike

Information

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[John Beard]

The modifications done to National Match rifles varied from year to year. Is there any particular year you had in mind?

J.B.

[Mike D]

Well, I guess my main interest is the trigger and sear. Ever since JGaynor ID'd the drawing # on my serrated trigger as NM, it got me wondering. I have no doubt that my trigger has modified by someone. But were original NM triggers and sears MANUFACTURED differently or were they original spec and just polished? Were they polished at all? Were the sears marked different? Any triggers blued? Sorry for the ramblin', just thinkin' out loud. Thanks, Mike

[Rick the Librarian]

One feature not often commented on, is the polished "raceway, the left side of the open receiver, that was polished, as well as the follower rib. Here is a picture of my 1915 NM (not the best in the world, but I believe it shows the feature.

[John Beard]

Well, I guess my main interest is the trigger and sear. Ever since JGaynor ID'd the drawing # on my serrated trigger as NM, it got me wondering. I have no doubt that my trigger has modified by someone. But were original NM triggers and sears MANUFACTURED differently or were they original spec and just polished? Were they polished at all? Were the sears marked different? Any triggers blued? Sorry for the ramblin', just thinkin' out loud. Thanks, Mike

(1) According to official ordnance documentation, NM parts (and presumably triggers and sears) were selected from service rifle parts by gauging to tighter tolerances. In most cases, they were not manufactured differently.

(2) NM triggers and sears were polished. But, so were service rifle triggers and sears. NM triggers and sears, however, had to pass tighter trigger pull limitations.

(3) Sear markings vary, depending on year of manufacture.

(4) Triggers were given a blue/black finish.

Hope this helps.

J.B.

[maxcreigs]

I don't know very much about NM rifles. But being you are talking military history it would be hard to pass up a garand. I have had a very nice shooting 1903, it was a one hole 50 yard rifle, with the original peep site. I hunted with it until, by coincidence, I found the grandson of the man who's initials were ingraved in the trigger guard. It's a story I'll not type today, but he ended up with the rifle.

I killed a doe at 325 yards with the 1903 using the peep site, it was a shooter. But I have always wanted a garand.