Renumbered or Reworked M1 Serial Number?

[RCS]

You may have been able to order special serial numbers from them

[jesse_]

Thanks RCS, that low number commercial was bought from Martin B Retting in Southern California circa 1978. Maybe I can send Springfield Armoury (T, gotta remember that T) a letter. Its great to know that his is not a reweld, as he remembers buying it as one. So he scores!

Here is the pic of the WWII dated M1. Drawing number (I think thats what it is) D28291 32. Over that number is a loosely stamped O 6 2 E. The serial number is 25XXXXX. Again, no sign of welding, Im just trying to figure out what Fed Ord did. You can see the Fed Ord stamp in the side of the clip guide. Most of the small parts have quite a bit of pitting, but the parkerizing is pretty.

Thanks for all the imput, JesseAttachment 26988

[Johnny Peppers]

This a a gas trap receiver imported by Federal Ordnance. They were just complying with the law in marking an imported receiver. This one has the square notch receiver cut, and the seventh round modification.

[jesse_]

Thanks Johnny, Im feeling much better about this. When I saw "El Monte" California I was getting sick to my stomach thinking about National Ordnace as I know of all the horrible problems they had making and rebuilding M1 Carbines (got burned on one of those when much more ignorant, notice the "more").

So, they imported back from overseas? Pacific, Europe? Is there any way to tell? By the way, the gastube bayo lug fits an US bayo loosely. Like the tip move 5/8 of an inch loosely. But a k98 Seitengewehr I bought as a "Norwiegian modified for a M1" fits perfectly. Might that give the answer?

Does anyone know the date of the importations?

Attachment 26989

And Johnny, very funny showing me a REAL gas trap rifle!

Thanks,
Jesse

[browningautorifle]

The 2,5xx,xxx number gun seems to be correct. That is, serial number matches the drawing number and revision. The other code is the heat lot. Your gas cylinder lock screw relief valve is usually sloppy with M5 bayonets. Not to worry. The modified 98 bayonet is kind of hard to find. I haven't seen too many.

[jesse_]

Thanks for checking on the drawing number for me Jim.

I think I need to find a drawing for the gas tube. I dont have any M5 bayonets. I have several M1s; some '42 dated cutdowns and a 10" uncut. All are really loose. I can compare slot dimensions from the k98 and the M1. It will have to wait untill I get home though. If the gastube was modified for a k98 slot, would that make it likely a re-import from Norway? Or would Fed Ord have done everything in batches do you think? Sort of like the RC k98s? Or do I have an undersized bayo lug that somehow made its way out of the scrap pile and wound up on my rifle? Now Im thinking back to Nat Ord. Conjecture is fun. Maybe only for me cause its my rifle.

Anyway, Hessian Antique had a bunch of the M1 Modifieds about 2 years ago. Mine is a '39 unsharpened that had a bea-U-tiful reblue job. They came with scabbards (also modified for web gear) for $65. The blueing didnt take much to the brazing bronze though. Should have bought two, right?

Jesse

[Ramboueille]

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.

Jim,

When SA, INC. Geneseo, IL., started production on new cast receivers, they were duplicating military M! receiver serial numbers. BATF told them early-on to start a 7,000,000, well after military M1 serial numbering was over. It's unknown how many 3-digits were made, perhaps 500 or so.

[browningautorifle]

It's unknown how many 3-digits were made, perhaps 500 or so.

That's the first I heard of it. Thanks for the info.

Jesse, I can't tell if your gas cylinder was modified or not but I thought they would have done the bayonets. Maybe not. You can get replacement parts easily through our WTB here. Make sure you state what you have and the guys will come forward with proper parts.

[jesse_]

Jim,

When SA, INC. Geneseo, IL., started production on new cast receivers, they were duplicating military M! receiver serial numbers. BATF told them early-on to start a 7,000,000, well after military M1 serial numbering was over. It's unknown how many 3-digits were made, perhaps 500 or so.

Ramboueille,

So Geneseo started duplicating original M1 reciever numbers by starting over with low numbers and then forced to go to 7M?

Also any idea on what the steel would have been on the earlys? Triple alloy like an 8720, 8740?

[Ramboueille]

Ramboueille,

So Geneseo started duplicating original M1 reciever numbers by starting over with low numbers and then forced to go to 7M?

Also any idea on what the steel would have been on the earlys? Triple alloy like an 8720, 8740?

Jesse,

Yes.

Unknown what steel they used for the new receivers. I know that a year or two after the directive to use the 7 million block, SA, INC. tried to buy back the 3 digit receivers. A small group of us had already bought several of them and on a routine phone call to SA, INC about obtaining some parts for them, they asked what our serial numbers were and made an offer to buy them back. I don't remember what the offer was. None of us returned them.