You would see this stuff all the time. They would sporterize Johnsons, any Mauser, Arisakas, Garands, anything. As David points out, there were many publications, some from the NRA on how to do it.
Commercial hunting rifles were expensive. I recall when we got our first 22 magnums, I was maybe 19, I bought a new Mossberg bolt action $37, almost a weeks pay. My buddy bought a Winchester 61 for about $125 (in 22 mag, today worth about a grand). People sporterized military arms so they wouldn't get laughed out of camp. I didn't care and used a byf44 box stock, the older guys made fun of me, but I outshot their 264s and 270 all the time.
In those days a military rifle was just that. I shot my first carbine in Boy Scouts I had no idea who made it and didn't care. I can't tell you if my M14in basic was a Win, TRW, SA or H&R. In Vietnam, I remember it was an H&R because it was new in the box. Carbines like these are part of the history, not a travesty.
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