31 July 2024 M14 Picture of the Day

[Sapper740]

My last M14 was a TRW serial 434343. My first was an early SA 98159. My last effort was a Norinco 305 that I put lots of work into bringing it up to look alike but alas, all are gone now due to our foolishness. I miss them all.

TRW always had the reputation of being the best of all the M14's and companies selling them always asked for a premium for the TRWs. Jim, I don't know if you remember Tom Bongalis (RIP) who initially sold firearms from a business located in his home in North Vancouver and later, after the movie industry took off from Castle Armoury located near Mountain Highway and Marine Drive in North Van. Back in the day, when Canada was still a free country he sold a ton of M14s. After he passed away his daughter Gail took over the business and they thrived for quite some time renting full auto blank firing weapons to the movie industry. He was one of the few dealers with permission from the Federal Government to build and supply such weapons. I googled Castle Armoury just to see how they were doing since Gail was an old friend from my school days but found nothing.

[browningautorifle]

Tom Bongalis

I do, I was standing the the new castle armory talking with him and another when he showed us Dr Ballard's .22 rifle that had put down at least 1200 horses. He told us about his collection of Samurai armor and arms upstairs and we looked at all his many really neat firearms. Gail was standing over to one side disregarding us and he told us at his demise, she would inherit everything. Tom was the business that supplied the movie prop guns that were used on the set of "First Blood" and were loaded in an old deuce and a half for the night...and were promptly stolen. Never recovered as I understand. The same day I chatted with him I met his armorer that converted the FAs to blank.

I was aware of the accuracy reputation of the TRW, can't say I had the opportunity to prove it.

[RCS]

I had a TRW M14 in the US Army for awhile, serial number 1313921 excellent rifle. TRW was the only manufacturer to produce the operating rod in one piece.

After the contracts were over, TRW developed a 223 caliber M14 rifle (they did not use 5,56 but 223 cal) Same size as TRW 7,62 rifle but in 223 cal

used the M16 magazine. Some of these 223 cal TRW rifles were sold to private collectors but very few photos ever surfaced

[RCS]

After the TRW contract expired, an attempt was made to try and salvage their
M14 production by chambering the 223 or 5.56mm cartridge. It was too late.

Some of these were sold to civilian collectors

Finally found some rare photos of the conversions

[Sapper740]

After the TRW contract expired, an attempt was made to try and salvage their
M14 production by chambering the 223 or 5.56mm cartridge. It was too late.

Some of these were sold to civilian collectors

Finally found some rare photos of the conversionsAttachment 136942Attachment 136943

Were these also in selective fire? It would've been interesting to compare it to an AC556.

[RCS]

Yes full auto and they very easy to control - legal sales too

[RCS]

You can not compare the M14 by TRW in 223 cal to the Ruger AC556. I would think that the TRW in 223 is heavier because of
the smaller 22 cal bore. Better comparison might be the Colt 606 to the TRW in 223 cal

[Sapper740]

He told us about his collection of Samurai armor and arms upstairs and we looked at all his many really neat firearms.

Yes, Tom had an impressive personal collection, of which very few customers were invited to view. Tom must have liked you. Tom had many live machine guns, not the least of which were the one and only live BESA 7.9mm I've ever seen and an MG08/15, the "lightened" version of the MG08 although at 43 lb still a very heavy load for a single Gefreiter.