Need Help Fast!! 41 or 42 ??

[Joe W]

According to Duff. " Checkered Elevation caps were used by SA until fall of 1942" Windage Knobs - " Checkered windage knobs were used by SA until early 1941". But, keep in mind that there was an overlap period that both can be found. A "Featured Rifle" in the GCA Journal, which was owned by Scott Duff, is a Mar. 1942 rifle and has both a knurled windage Knob and Elevation cap. You will also find early 42's with the knurled windage and checkered elevation.
If you look at the table on page 191 of Duff's WW2 book you will see that the EMcF starts to appear in June of 1942. While a Feb. 42 rifle may have been held back for any number of reasons and not accepted until June of 1942, you will always have to make excuses for the use of the EMcF stock. I would go for the extra bucks for the GHS stock. Scott Duff passed on some very good advice given to him by a "collecting mentor" of his. That was to "sell what could be replaced to get money to buy what you may not have another opportunity to purchase." I have found this to be very good advice.

[DaveN]

Thank you Joe.
I now own a 42 and it has the type (?) lock bar sight although I still have to study the difference as I've only ever seen this sight and don't exactly know the difference. Length of pinon,shape of lock bar? I'll get the books out and start learning.
One thing I didn't notice when I looked at this rifle the first time and only noticed after I got it home is a stamp on the butt stock under and between the rear stock swivel and the butt plate. Near where the swivel goes into the stock is a 1/2 inch 4 over a 2 and that is over a 10 that is close to the butt plate. This is only the 2nd WWII I have ever seen so I don't know if this is factory or most likely something added by someone later. I'll get pictures of everything asap.

[Joe W]

Dave, look at the pictures of the short pinion and flush nut and the short pinion Type 1 lock bar. Page 157 of Duffs book and the explaination above the photos. That may be a rack number on the stock added by a military unit.

[DaveN]

[RCS]

Here is a June 1942 with the Type 1 lockbar and short channel SA GHS stock, barrel is dated S-A 6-42

[DaveN]

Thank you RCS as I now see mine is most likely not a lock bar 1. On mine you can see the screw but on yours All I see is a hole. I can see why they lost the lock bars.

Is it suffice to say this one might have been updated as per orders. We can be sure that this was not original equipment NO?