Renumbered or Reworked M1 Serial Number?

[jesse_]

Greetings all, I recently offered to date a buddy's M1 as I found your "born on" thread. The pictures he sent indicate that the receiver is a '37 production. Is this legit? Did Springfield ever rework numbers? Federal Ord prehaps?

Center number has been erased.

Thanks in advance,
JesseAttachment 26984

Information

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[browningautorifle]

That receiver is a Geneseo Ill. work and was never a military item.

[jesse_]

Can you fill me in a bit on the Geneseo? This M1 was bought in the late '70s.

Much Abliged,
Jesse

[browningautorifle]

Springfield Armory* became a civilian venture when the name was purchased and the production of rifles began. The date is about 1974. Anyway, they proceeded to make M1s like yours and the numbers were up in the 7 millions. This confused some people that thought there were considerably less M1s manufactured. They were correct. The rifles manufactured were of an excellent standard as far as I know and a friend of mine has one. His is all military parts of all manufactures including a D28290 trigger mech with small hole and no revision numbers. (Early) I know, I found it and installed it for him. They also make M1As and handguns. Yours has the * after the Springfield Armory so it's one of these. I think it's actually an R in a circle but I can't make that on here.

[jesse_]

Thanks you so much Jim. I am here to benefit from those who know. If the serial numbers started in the 7 millions, did they decide to start over again at some point?

I have the fullsized pic and it appears to have a T within the circle.

I guess an early gas trap reciever would be too good to be true!!!

Regards,
Jesse

[browningautorifle]

T in the circle means trademark. They continued the numbering from where they left off after Korea. I don't understand the 3 digit number but there's more than meets the eye from what I can make out.

[jesse_]

Thanks Jim. The next time he has it apart Ill check out the drawing numbers on the various componants. I am interested to see if there is a drawing number on the reciever.

I have a Springfield M1 with a Feb '44 date. On the right side under the rail it is marked "Federal Ordinance." I have done some research and have found good things said as well as some horrible things about their work. As far as I could tell from my research, they were rebuilt in the early 2000s. Were these the ones built from South Korea parts kits? Your opinion would be appreciated.

I can’t seem to find any signs of re-welding. The repark looks real nice. Should I do a Rockwell hardness test over a certain portion of it where it would have been rewelded?

Where would I find drawing numbers and their corresponding dates?

Again, thanks for your answers and interest in a newbie,
Jesse

[browningautorifle]

The numbers you seek are spilled through the M1/M14 section of this forum. The best way to get the info is state the numbers here and we will define them. Or better yet send pics. By the (rail) I am guessing you mean the Operating Handle? The barrel has the manufacture date on it but if it's a replacement barrel it won't mean much. It's hard to say where the parts came from.

What I'm talking about is the marks at the receiver tail. It looks like something was removed and something was altered. Not welding two halves back together. The U in US Rifle is strange. Below the S there's something. Below the number there's something to the extreme left. And a dot under the number. And the number it's self isn't centered by my eye. Maybe some of these guys own them and can fill in the blanks.

Don't worry about rockwelling a gun. If you think that has to be done it's probably time to get rid of it.

[jesse_]

I really appreciate having access to all of this info. Make me think of the German stuff where the records were destroyed (we dont know many RBN numbers, the Russians burned the Prussian Archives, ect).

I think I have been confusing. Sorry.

The first picture was of my buddy's M1 that was apparently made in the 1970's. I wonder if some low serial number rear halves were made to match up with de-milled fronts? Did Geneseo ever reweld? I can try to get him to take a picture of the drawing number under the op-rod. That might shed some additional light on what is going on.

My other comments deals with another M1 that is dated from '44 that was reworked by Fed Ord. This is the one I would also like to know about.
I would like to have some opinions about Fed Ord. I can upload pictures of this rifle's drawing number tomarrow. Prehaps one can date it for me. Im REALLY hoping the front matches the rear. The barrel dates from June '53.

Should I have started another thread on this other M1?

Again, thanks for your help and interest (patience!),
Jesse

[browningautorifle]

Geneseo never did receiver welding as far as I have heard. They made new stuff. The drawing number for the receiver is on the front right leg, the op rod under the wood and the barrel is under the top hand guard.
We definitely need pics of your rifle.
Another thread? I don't know, I'm not to worried. What I'm waiting for is the others to jump in...I wonder where they are?