Proof Firing

[Bob Seijas]

Just to dot the i, every M1 barrel was proof fired separately after completion, and the letter P was stamped on it to denote that. When it was assembled to a rifle and the rifle was proof fired, a punch mark was to be put in the loop of the P as evidence. In early production this was done carefully as shown, but as production ramped up, the original P became smaller and the punch was hurriedly stamped only in the general vicinity of it.

Information

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[bulldog_mack13]

Heres a barrel picture I have put up before. I have heard time and time again this was a replacement barrel for the rifle during the war from a unit armorer , not a sent home and re done rifle. It has 2 P's on it.

[RCS]

Stock in photo has the early second firing proof with a non serif P in circle. The cartouche has been obliterated and the stock is for the solid buttplateAttachment 20272Attachment 20273

[Ramboueille]

Heres a barrel picture I have put up before. I have heard time and time again this was a replacement barrel for the rifle during the war from a unit armorer , not a sent home and re done rifle. It has 2 P's on it.

It has no maker's name on it (SA) and the date is hand-stamped indicating it's a probable forgery. What's marked under the hand guard on the top of the barrel?

[rayg]

Great info Bill. Clears up a lot of questions for me, Ray

[Bill Ricca]

Thanks to Mr. Seijas for the added information. His knowledge is incredible.

[Bodyman]

Heres a barrel picture I have put up before. I have heard time and time again this was a replacement barrel for the rifle during the war from a unit armorer , not a sent home and re done rifle. It has 2 P's on it.

That is unlike any barrel markings that I have ever seen, ... not sure what ot make of it, other than to say that I don't think it looks real and might be a modern barrel that has had some WWII markings applied. Are there any other markings on it under the handguard?

Oop, just saw Ramboueille's post - I appear to be restating what he is thinking.

[Joe W]

Just to dot the i, every M1 barrel was proof fired separately after completion, and the letter P was stamped on it to denote that. When it was assembled to a rifle and the rifle was proof fired, a punch mark was to be put in the loop of the P as evidence. In early production this was done carefully as shown, but as production ramped up, the original P became smaller and the punch was hurriedly stamped only in the general vicinity of it.

I Know that NM rifles have a 2nd proof P placed on the barrel when the rifle is proof fired as a NM rifle but way do some late Post war SA rifles also contain 2 "P" proof marks plus a punch mark ?? My 5.8, that I bought at the GCA convention in Anniston, has 2 "P" proofs and the punch and I have seen pictures of others. My rifle appeared almost unused.

[Bill Ricca]

I have seen a few GI barrels with 2 P's and several bolts with 2 punches. I even saw one bolt that looked it had like 3, but since it was refinished several times, it was hard to determine for sure.

[musketshooter]

Here is a picture of Remington proof 30-06 loads. Bullets have a red tip and cases are nickel.