Help from M1A1 Stock experts !!

[Jim Nasium]

Learned compatriots ---
I got this M1A1 a couple of weeks ago. I'm just now having time to break it down and have a look at the details. It's got rebuild marks, so I kinda know what to expect. But a look at the left interior of the stock has left me with some questions.
Below are some photos of the M1A1 stock, and for comparison, an M2 potbelly. I'm wondering what is possibly going on here. The interior damage looks like a burn mark, and is not an attempt to cover up an M2 cut, it's in the wrong place for that.
Also I cannot find any evidence of a cartouche either on the bottom of the grip, or on the side. Only the Proof "P"s in the photos.
What's going on with this one?? Any suggestions?? Did I get scrod??

TIA for your input

Ronnie aka Jim Nasium

Information

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[frankderrico]

Ronni, can you post a fuller pic of the grip? I think it has been through more than one rebuild. Looks like a box under the AAU, and multiple proof P's. I think it was someware were it got scorched. Seems like we saw one like that in another thread awhile back. That one wasn't a M1A1. Is it a highwood or lowwood? Mine is high and has a circle P on the back of the stock above the grip. The ordnance wheel on the bottom of my grip is very faint right behind the hinge. More pics so we can see if it's a T1 or T2 would help. I think you're O.K. .....Frank

[Jim Nasium]

Yessir, I do agree to more than one rebuild. And, all the metal and leather look to be just right... I bought it on the looks of the hardware as much as anything. Plus, the IO in the slidewell was there. Faint, but there. Too, it just has that "unmessed with" look. And honest wear where it should have.
Still, I couldn't find anything on the bottom of the grip. Or the side either. But that grip has been on that rifle for a long time. -- I dunno!! And just maybe the three proof "P"'s on the front of the grip indicate the original proof, and then the two other rebuilds it's had.
Here are some more photos. Mayhap they will help you... Again, thank you for your input and patience.
Oh, and by the way, as you can see, it's a low wood.

Ronnie, aka Jim

[frankderrico]

Ronnie, it looks good to me. I.O. should be in the barrel channel and possibly on the handgaurd. How is the rifle? What kind of rivits on the cheek piece? Thanks for sharing.....Frank

[Jim Nasium]

Frank,
IO is on the handguard and in the bbl channel... Here are photos of the cheekpiece as well... Rifle S/N is 5237980. The bbl and receiver have been thru rebuild. Possibly original to the stock.. Who knows ?? The s/n range is correct, I'm thinking...

Ronnie, aka Jim

[frankderrico]

Ronnie, mine is #5116848/4-44 barrel also a rebuild. My stock has no rebuild stamps on it. Same rivits, I wonder if yours started out as a highwood and was cut down at one of it's rebuilds. Of coarse the rifles my not be original to the stocks.....Frank

[Jim Nasium]

Thanks again for your time Frank... Interesting info on these items. Just from the wear on the stock and cheekpiece, I'm now convinced that mine is original... tho without the cartouches we would expect. The hardware has been on that wood for a long long time. No evidence of ever being removed. One thing is for sure, It's in a whole lot better shape than some of the wood on the CMP guns.

Ronnie aka Jim

P.S. Bbl on mine is 6/44

[frankderrico]

I also believe yours is the "real deal" from your pictures. I got mine at a local estate sale. It was listed on the auction flyer as a paratrooper carbine. I told my wife it was probably a repro, but I thought I needed to go and make sure. I got it for less than the CMP ones. The ones their auctioning now are all birch replacement stocks with G.I. metal. They are going to aution off the walnut stocked ones when the birch are gone. Hope you got a good deal.....Frank

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[Jim Nasium]

Frank, Much nicer than mine, did it come with the flash hider??

[Harlan (Deceased)]

In this case, I really like the old worn rebuild marks and the fact there are no crisp new marks or any marks still visible on the grip. It looks 100% honest.
(And yes! - MUCH better than what I've seen from the CMP for sure.



I only wish I could afford an authentic one. I found this old repro in a pawn shop several years ago. It represented a M1A1, but sure didn't give you that 'warm and fuzzy' knowing you have a real one.