My NM M1 I got 2 days ago (56k Warning)

[nattcmars]

I think I should buy a lottery ticket after this epic score because I didn't pay much at all for it. It doesn't have paperwork but appears to be legit in my novice eye. The gun grades to about 98% condition and I am still twitching when I think about it. It has a 1952 barrel on a 1953 receiver so I think I started its life out as a type 1 build in 1953. Now I need to start the long process of figuring out how to authenticate it. Here are some pics, what do you experts think?

Information

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[Joe W]

Don't forget that Type 1 NM rifles were selected from new production so the serial number of those 800 NM rifles built in 1953 would be in the 4 mil range. The serial number of your rifle would help in determining it's history. Looks to have been built or rebuilt in 1962 based on that year code. Someone else will have to explain the 1952 barrel. I would have thought maybe a 1960 build based on the barrel but no 1960 year code ??

[nattcmars]

The SN of the receiver dates to 1953 and is 5319909

[Joe W]

The SN of the receiver dates to 1953 and is 5319909

I am thinking more like mid 1954. Only problem I am having is that in the 1953 through 1957 time frame NM rifles were selected from regular production. I would suspect a rifle with a 5319909 serial number would have originally had a barrel dated around 3 of 54. After 1958 SA started to use just about any that they had on hand as M1 rifle production was over and they were just about out of new receivers. Meaning the fact the receiver is from 1953 or 1954 does not really indicate the rifle was originally a Type 1 built in those years. SA also used many WW2 receivers in the post 1958 time period for building NM rifles. My only guess is that the rifle was built as a Type 1 NM rifle in 1958, before the use of the "year code", and then returned to SA, maybe by the original owner, for upgrades in 1962. Don't get me wrong, it is a very nice rifle and you got it for a steal. Just that the barrel had me stumped a bit. I am sure if I am wrong in my thinking,there is an answer and hopefully, either Bob Seijas or Dave McClain will see this thread and provide that answer.

[emmagee1917]

Very nice. Now just flip your sling around ( metal clip in rear swivel ) and your range ready.
Chris

[browningautorifle]

Now just flip your sling around

Help me here Chris when using that sling... Does one not unhook the sling, loop around the upper arm, tighten, and then hook the butt hook on the upper swivel?

[nattcmars]

yeah I know the sling is backwards. It was like that when I got the rifle and it has a major amount of dust on the clip of the sling so it has been that way for a while. I am going to flip it around I think and put it in the safe. Since the rifle is essentially unfired, I am afraid of hurting the value by shooting it.

[ethomsen]

I too have a near perfect NM with an HRA receiver. It has all correct NM parts but the HRA receiver has me stumped. CMP had no record of it but it is a beautiful rifle. I too am stumped as to origin and strange things like a totally unmarked stock with the exception of the last four of the SN in white numbers inside the stock. I didn't know how this forum works so I tacked on to this one. Any comments on an HRA NM? Thanks.

[twh]

Looks like a legit '62 NM rifle. According to Canfield's new book all known '62 NM rifles still used standard barrels which had passed inspection for use on NM guns. The special production barrels were not used until '63. The only slight discrepancy is the non hooded aperature.

[Rick Cummelin]

I too have a near perfect NM with an HRA receiver. It has all correct NM parts but the HRA receiver has me stumped. CMP had no record of it but it is a beautiful rifle. I too am stumped as to origin and strange things like a totally unmarked stock with the exception of the last four of the SN in white numbers inside the stock. I didn't know how this forum works so I tacked on to this one. Any comments on an HRA NM? Thanks.

AFAIK, SA never built a NM rifle on a non-SA receiver. They were proud of their product (SA rifles) and had plenty of receivers available. Chances are that your rifle was built by someone else, like a good civilian gunsmith, or a military gunsmith. Unlikely you will ever be able to find any supporting documentation for it.