Original stock color of early M1s?

[jesse_]

I've messed with some horrible M1917 stocks that were produced during WW2 (the ones marked with a number where the WW1 E, R, or W would have been). In-letting way off, ect. Those were on actual rifles.

There is a comment in the Army authorized history about accepting something like 10k M1917 barrels that didn't quite meet specs. As the war was essentially over and the rifles would probably never be used in service they were accepted.

I wonder if that happened with stocks at the end? 3.8 million M1s produced, and an insane amount of 1903/03A3s as well, *plus* the war coming to a conclusion. The need for additional replacement 1903 stocks?

I need to read up on contracts at the wars end, although I have read that we didn't want a repeat of what happened to Winchester at the end of WW1. In some areas of California ordinances were passed that required hardwood flooring of 3/4" thickness to keep wood usage up.

Would not surprise me if some of these contractors shipped out of spec products with the belief that they would be surplussed out in the near future and none would be the wiser.