Question for Mark in Rochester

[RCS]

Here is a better photo of the carving, I do not have a photo but Novak also carved (not deep) his name on the right side of the stock too.

Here is my opinion: This stock was on a gas trap rifle that was a direct conversion to gas port early in the war, possible around the 1942 time period. RA-P used the early large letters at the start but later reduced the size of the letters. When the rifle and stock were re-issued and sent overseas, the stock was carved by Novak. I really did not notice any other stocks that had evidence of being near a fire like Novak's stock - but anything could have taken place in a combat area. Novak would have had to been at least 18 years old by 1943 which would be a birth date of 1925, nothing later ? All guess work, but none of the Wisconsin Barn Wood stocks were cartouched beyond SA GAW (1944)Attachment 121387Attachment 121388

[jond41403]

Could Marry Anne possibly be a daughter of his? Maybe one of those on the list has children of this name. I'm sure it was way more common to put a girlfriend or wife, but
some GI's already had young children at home before entering the war. Just a thought. Is the forend of the stock burnt as well? It almost looks like it was a fire poker at one time, used to move around things in a burning fire. Would make sense they would hold on to the smaller forend and poke with the large end. Was the butt plate on the stock when you found it in the barn wood? I'm asking cuz I'm wondering if it's burnt underneath the butt plate. Marry anne could have also been the name he gave to his rifle haha. I hope more can be found out concretely because this is extremely interesting

[Mark in Rochester]

Could Marry Anne possibly be a daughter of his? - Good point - A friend's father named his half-track Piano Legs after his sister.

I hope more can be found out concretely because this is extremely interesting - if we all chip away at this we might get a little closer to the rifle history. Currently, we have 17 candidates if we can find an obituary for the 17 we may find Mary Ann.

I am not a member of news paper archive perhaps if someone does we can get further. I will check another source.

[RCS]

The stock is only burned on the outside, nothing burned under the butt plate. The stock has the large over small hole
butt still with the small bottom screw hole. there is no drawing number which means the stock was issued between
Jan through April/May 1940, this stock is still very solid. The trap is a square cut conversion for the trap door butt
plate and wonder if it was a field modification. I state this because I have found early stocks with very simple modi-
factions just to fit the new trap door butt plate with little concern for fit and internal wood removal. I am certain that
RA-P did the new buttplate as the stock has to be cut for the trap door butt plate, this is not a field mod

[browningautorifle]

A friend's father named his half-track Piano Legs after his sister.

Better than umbrella stand legs I guess...

[rcathey]

I do have a membership to a newspaper archive website.
I searched for Mary Ann Novak and found no results with a relation to any G J Novak.

Maybe they didn't end up together.

[Mark in Rochester]

I do have a membership to a newspaper archive website.
I searched for Mary Ann Novak and found no results with a relation to any G J Novak.

Maybe they didn't end up together.

how about G J Novak obit ?

[rcathey]

I was able to find obituaries for G J Novak. A few even matching up to some you listed.

None that featured a "Mary" though.

[Mark in Rochester]

Short List to check, some names will scrub off due to dates - this list should be definitive unless he is still alive

Date Range birth date for G. Novak 1905 - 1927
Date Range birth date for Maryann 1917 - 1934

36 Target Names G Novak in Social Security Death Index in the date Range
George, Glenn, Gerard, Gerald

6 Maryann Novak names in Social Security Death Index in the date range

Target names not found in Social Security Death Index in the date range

Gary Novak
Guy Novak
Grayson Novak
Giovanni Novak
Gavin Novak
Grant Novak
Gideon Novak
Grady Novak
Gage Novak
Gerardo Novak
Grey Novak
Gene Novak
Gabe Novak
Gordie Novak
Greg Novak

[jond41403]

While searching the name I ran upon this old thread that you were asking information on this stock and someone replied with a match but I cannot seem to find that same match that he says he found. I took a screenshot of it. Did anything ever check out from that?