Stock marking on a M1

[gunner]

Hi to all,

today i bid on a M1 made by Springfield between late May to early June of 1944( thats what the serial number 2980xxx, said regarding to Mr. Canfields book) The stock has seen better days and the metalwork has some traces of use. But the barrel looks good and to my surprise the most of the numbers ( 90%) are matching. Only bad thing is that it was demilled after German laws and for that it lost the bayo lug. The price would be great if i get it. There is only one question: what means the "R" in a circle around 2" behind the trigger guard on the stock? I´ve found nothing to that. Thanks for any information!

Information

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[browningautorifle]

It's a "P" Ulrich. It's from proof testing the rifle. It passed. In the circle means original stock and no circle means replacement or rebuild. Hope the buy goes well, you've wanted one for a while. The gas cylinder will be no problem to get. There's a guy in Vancouver has new ones from all eras.

[RCS]

I think you are looking at the P proof stamp ? There were different kinds/types used on M1 stocks. The original proof P stamp would be in a circle, the plain P stamp would be from rebuild and the P in a square would be post WW2 rebuild. Some stocks have the original P in a circle and another P proof - which would indicate another barrel being installed. The stocks in these photos are from WW2

[gunner]

Hi Jim and RCS,

yes it is this stamp at the place! It looked like a "R" to me. So it seems that this one is in original condition with no faked parts. Thank you both for your answers! The wood is like i said in bad condition. The upper handguard as 2 light cracks and it is really a dirty wood. Only good thing is that the old man who ownes it is a good oiler. The barrel is really good and if i have the luck, the price is similar to steeling it. Not that i want to steel it but the gouvernment took him the guns away and stored it for a short time to give him the chance to sell them. The ones that he can not sell are the victims of scrap press. He made the mistake to store his guns not in a safe as he should and for his age (84) they let him the time to sell them. Hope i´ll get it. What kind of wood is that dark wood, walnut?

[Bob Womack]

Yup, dark stocks are typically walnut.

Bob

[RCS]

The stocks in my photos showing the P proof stamps are Winchesters. I have a photo of SA 2,770,090 that I bought from a veterans estate sale back in 1993. I believe this rifle is in original condition and never has been rebuilt. The rifle would not sell at the estate sale because it shows alot of wear and the finish on the feft side is well worn, the wood had dents and marks, nobody was interested. I bought it and found the bore was in nice condition and shot some nice targets.

If you need any information on the different parts (bolt numbers etc) I can post them here.

[gunner]

Thank you RCS,

i´ll come back to your offer as soon as i get the rifle! Normally i wouldn´t do a refurbing job if the wood would be in better condition. But maybe it is better looking after a cleaning job. A part that i have to refinish is the gastrap it is more or less looking like stainless steel. Are there different types of finish on the metalparts?I thought that the most of the M1 were Parkerized?

[browningautorifle]

It should be parkerized but the wear will make it look different. The gas cylinder can be redone two ways. there are solutions available or it gets the refinish as if it's stainless steel. I've done them this was and they turn out like new. Watch and shoot. Let's see if you get it...then we'll sort it out.

[gunner]

Yes Jim, i´ll do it! Thanks.

[gulliver62]

The gas cylinder is stainless steel (not like stainless steel) therefore it will not parkerize. That is why you have to refinish it differently if you want to restore.
The cylinder and the piston on the end of the op-rod are both stainless steel so they will wear more or less evenly.