USMC on (S) barrel means United Shoe Manufacture Co.?!

[paratrpr]

Someone's telling me the USMC on my Sedgley barrel doesn't stand for US Marine... could that be right?

Information

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[Calif-Steve]

It is a little confusing. M1917 bolts will be found marked USMC. NOT the United States Marine Corps. Sedgley did make many '03 barrels for the Marine Corps. They will be found on many WWII dated '03 barrels. A little confusing.

[Jim Tarleton]

Sedgley contracted with Winchester (and maybe others) to make barrels for the Marines. The USMC on the Sedgley barrel stands for "United States Marine Corps" and there should be a "S" in a circle also. Most of the ones mounted by the Marines will have a 1941 date.

The shoe company didn't really need the barrels:-).

Jim.

[John Beard]

Sedgley contracted with Winchester (and maybe others) to make barrels for the Marines.

:-).

Jim.

You are misinformed.

J.B.

[Jim Tarleton]

You are misinformed.

J.B.

A series of letters were sold on eBay about a year ago, maybe more, that appeared to be correspondance between Sedgley and Winchester over WRA making the USMC barrels. Did I miss something, or just mis-interpret the letters?

Jim

[Bill Ricca]

I have two barrel contracts for Sedgley:

Marine Corps (Navy Funded) April thru Aug 1942

Army Feb thru Dec 1944

These dates are payment dates and may vary from production by a month or two.

I have no records of the barrels being sub-contracted. If they were sub-contracted, my records would show the location of manufacture different from the location of government payment.

It is possible the letters were a request for quote, which never occurred.

[John Beard]

A series of letters were sold on eBay about a year ago, maybe more, that appeared to be correspondance between Sedgley and Winchester over WRA making the USMC barrels. Did I miss something, or just mis-interpret the letters?

Jim

You misinterpreted the letters.

That's the great thing about documentation. It's highly subject to misinterpretation! M1903 reference books are full of it!!!!

Sedgley did indeed buy barrels from Winchester. You assumed that they bought them for the USMC. Bad assumption!

J.B.

[45B20]

The one letter (dated Feb 13, 1941) I have from Sedgley to WRA, states ‘made to the Springfield contour’ nothing more exact.


Bill
I at one time (in 69 & 70) I opened or was present when about 30 crates of USMC marked Sedgley 03 barrels were opened.. Inside each crate was an inspection form with a Contract No. of NOm-38963 and a date, and the USMC inspector's name.. The one slip I kept, has a date of 9/25/43 on it, not sure if that is date of packing or contract.
Each one of the crates had 16 barrels, not in tubs but between heavy sheets of Kraft Paper.

45B20

[Chuckindenver]

usmc on a M1917 bolt is United Shoe Machine Company
usmc on a 1903 barrel, is a Sedgley made barrel, and was made for the US Marines,
however, having said barrel on your rifle doesnt make it a Marine issue rifle.
more confused???lol.

[Lancebear]

Hey paratrpr,

I was confused about that a while back and J.B. asked what I was smokin' and he set the record straight. Those barrels are Marine.

Can we see photos of your rifle, maybe it IS a USMC? That starts other interestin' issues.

Regards,

Lancebear