Odd Cartouche on Post-WWII Korean Rifle - Please Help.

[Bob Seijas]

I have often heard stories about the vet that carried it,

Sometimes it's the listener who makes the error. We are editing story about a WWII combat vet who carried an M1. Twenty years later, he bought one in a department store and prized it for the memories it brought back. When he died, it would be easy for somebody to put two and two together to get five: "my uncle's M1" and "he fought in The Bulge" can become "this is the rifle."

[Bill Hollinger]

How true that is Bob. I need to rejoin so I can start reading all the great articles again. No time like the present Thanks

[Joe W]

How true that is Bob. I need to rejoin so I can start reading all the great articles again. No time like the present Thanks

Glad to have you back Bill, you can download a membership application here :

The Garand Collectors Association Membership

Joe

[Bill Hollinger]

Thank you Joe. The big "D" was bad and there were a few luxuries that had to go for a time. GCA was one. The carbine club too!

[kar66]

Man things must have been really BAD if you had to let GCA and the Carbine Club go.

[Bill Hollinger]

Okay, GCA goes out in tomorrow's mail. Next, The Carbine Club!

Yeah, it was bad. Not as bad as it could have been though. I've seen much, much worse.

[Bill Ricca]

Were the facility codes such as the Anniston BA4 ect. used after the 1960's receiver etchings ?

I am not a studier of receivers, but my guess is NO. Those codes are on packaging of parts/accessories for storage/issue. I have seen them around the mid 1960's, according to my memory.

[Bill Ricca]

BA4

Does anybody have a picture of this marking? I have research showing BA4 is Anniston, BK4 is Letterkenny, and BR4 is Red River.

The problem is these are markings on packing. I have never seen or known of these markings on rifles/stocks/receivers.

I suspect the B_4 series of marks are based upon the change from 5 Maintenance Levels to 4 Maintenance Levels. If you look at the late M16A1 TM's they all end in 34, as 35 (levels 3 thru 5) was no longer in existence. The change occurred between 1966 and 69.

If anybody can show me these markings on a firearm, it will help my research.

[RCS]

I have a photo from Billy Pyle showing an M14 receiver with BA 4 1-68 electric pencil on right side next to the 779089 Z

[Bill Ricca]

Thanks. Bob Seijas and Dave McClain both sent me a picture of a rebuild M14 with the same 1968 markings.

It helps my suspicion that the B_4 indicates the change. The late date also helps.

Thanks for the information.