M1922 M1 magazine

[barkerwc4362]

Anyone have a picture of what an M1922 M1 magazine? I have looked in Brophy and the Batha without luck. Are there any identifiable markings on the magazine? All Brophy comments about is that the MI magazine fits flush with the floorplate. A friend is in possession of his father's sporterized M1922 M1 and no one knows where the magazine is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, how can you tell an M2 magazine from an M1922 M1? Thanks again.

Bill

Information

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[MK111]

I hace been try to find out myself. I have all three models of the Springfield 1922's. It appears the 1922 orginal was a longer magazine and I just bought one and it's on the way to me now. The 1922M2 is stamped M2 on the side. But one expert says the 1922M1 magazines are not marked. I have two unmarked ones and I need to try in the 1922M1 to see how they fit. I also have a new after-market magazine and if it fits the 1922M1 I will have no need for it and will sell it.

[Herschel]

Bill, The 1922M1 magazine and the M2 Rifle magazine look exactly alike. The difference is that the M2 magazine is slightly longer thus extends slightly higher into the receiver. They both fit flush with the floorplate. The M2 magazine is marked on the upper left side with a small M2. The 1922M1 magazine is unmarked. Either may be found blued or parkerized. The M2 bolt must have an M2 magazine and the 1922M1 must have the 1922M1 magazine. An original 1922 magazine will work with a 1922M1 bolt but you're not likely to find one. The 1922 magazine does extend some half inch or more below the floorplate and it will not have the three little teeth on either side as do the 1922M1 and M2 magazines. If your rifle has the M2 bolt (bolt will be marked M2), then you will need the M2 magazine even if the bolt is in a rifle with receiver marked Model of 1922M1. Expect to pay $100 for an original magazine. They come up regularly on the internet auctions. Make sure you get the correct magazine as they are NOT interchangeable. I may have given more information than you need but some explanation is needed. There is a lot of misinformation posted about the 1922 series Springfields. Some even refer to the M2 Rifle as a 1922M2. I try to avoid using the designation 1922M2 as there was no such rifle and not giving the correct nomenclature sometimes causes confusion as what model is being discussed. Lastly, I have never tried one of the aftermarket magazines now available but have heard that they are not reliable. There is an M2 Rifle magazine listed on gunbroker. Do a search for M2 Springfield and will find it. The picture clearly shows the M2 marking.

[barkerwc4362]

Hershel,
Thanks for your response. I sent to my ex-brother-in-law. He is the one with the rifle. The rifle was sporterized in the 60's by a German gunsmith. Nice re-blue and era period stock. All done very well. This is not a bubba job. It was an "Issue" rifle not a NRA sales gun. It appears to still have it's orginal Lyman real sight. Date on the barrel is 6-27. I don't have the serial number on me. Were these surplussed thru the NRA in the late 50's early 60's?

Bill

[Cosine26]

I have no personal experience with the available commercial "M2" magazines, but as I remember it, there was a posting on the old Jouster board that said they had some problems.
I have two 22 "Springfields" but I differentiate between them One is a "M1922M1I" (and so marked with a "B" S/N) while the other is a true M2. Unfortunately the true M2 had been converted to a target rifle with a heavy barrel and polished.
Incidentally I have an extra M2 magazine but is not for sale - sorry.

[Herschel]

Bill,

With a 1927 date it was almost certainly a 1922M1. Nearly all of these were upgraded to M2 by replacing the bolt, stock and magazine. If that was done to the rifle a B would have been added to the serial number and the model number restamped to read 1922MII. So, you are probably needing an M2 magazine. Most of these rifles that were in govt inventory were sold as surplus in the late 1950's. Don't look down on the rifle if it is well sporterized. Two of the Springfield .22's in my collection have been sporterized and they are two I prize the most. One was done by Griffin & Howe and the other by an unknown gunsmith but his work was superb.

[Cosine26]

Just a little footnote in history. By 1957 there had been a long “dry” spell during which “Springfield” rifles were not available from the DCM. In the January issue of the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN there was a two page spread on the availability of the M1903A3’s at $30 + $2.85 Packing and handling for “serviceable”, and $15 + $2.85 for “unserviceable.
I think that many people jumped on this opportunity and failed to notice a small notice back under the DCM notes, that a small quantity of M1 & M2 22 caliber rifles was available for the $30 and $15 prices plus the $2. 85 P&H. Either M1 or M2 rifles would be shipped with no choice. As soon as I saw this (within hours of receiving my AR) , I airmailed my request and as I understand it, I was one of two people in the state of Kansas who was lucky enough to get a “serviceable” M1922M1I”.
At the time I was just out of the USAF, starting a new job and a new family so funds were short, but I recognized this as an opportunity that I could not afford to miss.
The rifle was in excellent condition, but had been rebuilt was parkerized and carried a 1942 SA barrel. It was an M2 and was marked “M1922M1I “with the “B” serial number. The second “one” was not a "one" but was the capital letter “I”. I do not know whether this was standard or if the builder just happened to have an “I” instead of “1”. Perhaps Herschel will know. It came with one magazine and no sling.
I did later manage to scrape up $15 and get an "unserviceable" M1903A3 and it was truly U/S. It smelled of the orient, the front sight was loose, the FP hole was enlarged and the stock looked as if it had been in many hand to hand fights.

[MK111]

It is very common to see the "1922M11" with a capital letter "I" and the number "1". My 1922M11 looks like ith "1" was stamped on with a chisle point.

[barkerwc4362]

This rifle was not upgraded and is still in it's M1922M1 configuration. It has an "I" instead of a "1" after the M1922M. I am familiar with the fact that most of the M1 variants were converted to M2. This one somehow escaped. It has no letter "B" added to its serial number. The father purchased a 1911 from the NRA and this rifle may have been purchased around the same time.

Bill

[MK111]

You very lucky to have a M1 that escaped the M2 upgrade. The unaltered M1 version is getting harder to find. You will see many more M1's upgraded to M2. I have all three styles plus a M1 upgraded to M2. I was just lucky to find a orginal M1 magazine last week. Can't wait to recieve it.