Yet another 1922 M2 for your consideration…

[makinster]

Through Internet forums I’ve discovered what is obviously a long standing interest in the 1922 rifle, which moves me to present mine for your inspection and comments.




Acquired in the early 1970’s, while helping a widow disperse her career veteran husband’s small collection. I’ve done occasional limited research reading, which yielded some basic data. I’ve taken it into the woods and it did a great job bagging squirrels, woodchucks, and crows, but it’s been stored in the safe most of the time.




The receiver is stamped U.S. SPRINGFIELD ARMORY M1922 MI1 B, 10926. Does this serial number indicate the receiver being manufactured in 1903?




Barrel length: 24-1/2 inches. Top of barrel stamped “S A” over flaming bomb over “12 – 35” near muzzle.
“P” in circle stamped into front of stock’s pistol grip. “M2” stamped into bottom of stock’s pistol grip.
Both front and rear sights stamped” LYMAN”.
Sling appears military or military-like, but neither metal nor leather stamped with identification.




Now that there’s so much more information available from knowledgeable persons, I thought I’d post some pics and ask for comments. Such as: original? or rebuild?



Thanks for any information you can offer. It is smooth operating, has a wonderful trigger, is quite accurate and is much better than I can shoot. And it came with four M2 clips (sorry: not for sale).

MAKINSTER

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Emri]

I'm not an expert, but here goes. I study M1903's and the .22 series is periferal to that.

The rifles were serial numbered in their own range. They did not exist in 1903, you must have been looking up the number in a M1903 chart and a 10,XXX number would have been a first year production for them. The sights are aftermarket target sights and were not put on at SA. The D- number on the bolt is a drawing number. The 1922's and M1 22's had the reciever serial number on the bolt. Don't know if that is true for the MII's or not. Don't know about the "B" stamped on your reciever. Your rifle was originally manufactured as an M1. It was re-built by SA ( the stock mark indicates that ) and made into an MII (the extra 1 stamped after the M1). The parkerized finish was done at the time of re-build as the rifles were originally blued when manufactured. The 1935 barrel date is probably original to manufacture, but as stated, I'm not an expert and will defer to others who study these rifles. The re-build program and the stock stamping date to the 1940's and if the barrel was bad it would have been replaced and would date to the 40's.

HTH,

Emri

[A6BN]

The B after the serial number was added when the rifle was upgraded from M1 to M2 (MII) status. Perhaps the other B was added at the same time.

[Herschel]

makinster, I just found your post and as I collect the 1922 series gallery practice rifles I can provide some information that may be useful.
The serial number indicates the rifle was made in 1926 as a 1922M1.
The late type M2 bolt is of a type that went into production in about 1935. It should have the rifle sn engraved on the bottom.
The rear sight is a Lyman 48C. It is the type that was installed on the rifle when it was built.
The screw in aperture in the rear sight is a Merit Disc. The opening in it can be varied by turning the small indicator on it. This was not original but is a superior item that is still in production and is popular with shooters.
The front sight is an aftermarket item. The original front sight would be the same as the 1903 front sight.
The stock is an M2 Rifle stock. They were used on the M2 rifles that went into production in 1932.
The cartouche on the stock indicates rebuild.
When the 1922M1 rifles were upgraded with an M2 bolt, magazine and stock. An additional "1" was stamped after the model number and a "B" was added to the serial number. I have no explanation for additional B on the receiver. I have not seen that before.
The model 1907 sling appears to be original military. The steel frogs and link indicate WWII production. The earlier slings had these parts made of brass.

Here is how I would describe your rifle. It was built in 1926 as a 1922M1 "Issue type" rifle. Sometime in 1935 or later it went through rebuild at which time it had an M2 bolt and magazine installed and was put into the M2 stock. At that time or sometime later it was rebarreled with the 1935 dated barrel. As someone mentioned above, the rifle receiver and some other parts were originally blued. Some target shooter must have owned the rifle at sometime and added the Merit disc and the Lyman 17A XNB front sight.

The factory magazines for these rifles sell in the $100 to $125 price range. The magazines that work with the M2 bolt will have a small M2 stamped on the top left side. If the M2 is not there the magazine is for a 1922M1. The 1922M1 magazine is slightly shorter and will not come up as high into the receiver. 1922M1 magazines may work in your rifle or the bolt may over-ride the top round and not feed reliably.
FWIW

Herschel