Semi-auto M14?

[Calif-Steve]

Absolutely correct. TRW NM M14's are well known. HOWEVER, in 1963/64 SA made a very few (2-4??) semi-auto M14's. They were test fired and furnished to Army procurement for a final production OK. No OK given and the very few rifles produced faded away. I think (?) one is on display at SA Museum and it is the only one still around. Again, too bad.
Also: I suspect the decision to not produce this semi-auto version had something to do with the M15 program. The Army had a heavy-barrel version of the M14 known as the M15 already for production. It was not produced and neither was the semi-auto version. You must recall in 1963/64 no one thought having a welded up M14 was a big deal. After all, it was no longer fully auto. Again, the semi-auto version was a good idea, too bad.