My M1C

[ssgross]

I've been behind on pictures for what I have going on. I'm finally ready now to start my M1C (not the one in this post. this is the one I'll be replacing). It will be slow, as I have several other rifles going on right now as well.

I bought the below M1C complete with all its accessories maybe 2ish years ago. I knew I had no real use for it in my collection then or long term, but the price was very right and gave me something to study until I can build my own. I'll just say that my particular flavor of milsurps does not generally include "collectables", where my definition of this term is anything that I should feel shy to shoot frequently and extensively while I possess it. I would much rather build and restore, and enjoy the feeling I get knowing the same hands that pull the trigger are the very same that brought it (back) to life. I was also squeamish about investing in a rifle made only for righties when I prefer to shoot lefty. But, I found the M1C and D to be very comfortable lefty - in fact even more comfortable lefty than they are righty with the cheek pad attached.

This rifle came with all of its CMP paperwork, including invoice with the original owner's name. The upper scope mount's serial is mismatched, as is normal for the M1C's that came through CMP. I know there is a forum somewhere where people match them up when possible. I haven't done any digging yet though. The period scope was added - fine cross hair with black dot. The screw holes for the cheek pad appear to be old - that is not newly drilled, and the cheek pad appears original too. I removed it as it got in the way of my grip shooting lefty, and because the laces seemed to be getting brittle with age and needed some neatsfoot oil TLC to last the coming decades.

I happened to be in the neighborhood of Anniston for work last week, and popped in to the CMP. While chatting with the staff, our conversation took a turn to this rifle. I was told, given the time period it was sold to its original owner and it's obvious arsenal refurbished condition that it likely was reconditioned during the time leading up to the Vietnam war, and may have even saw service there during the initial year. Some circumstantial evidence points in that direction...the rear sight had internal filth expected if this were the case, and the elevation pinion was actually an M14 variant.



So, I have 2 parts rifles from CMP now - a shot out field grade and an equally shot out rack grade which wears the scars of its neglect under the new finish that was applied when it went through arsenal refurb long ago. Neither barrel is original and, as I said, they are each collections of mismatched parts. I have a new production barrel and good quality repop scope base and mount to work with. When I finish, I will sell the above original M1C, or hold onto it as the queen of the safe until it's ready contribute to college for the little ones. Next up will be examination of these parts rifles. They are interesting.

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