Looking at a Springfield M2

[Sweeney]

I'm looking at a Springfield M2 #479. From the photos it appears to be parkerized green/grey. It has an open box S.A. cartouche. The bolt is 'in the white'. It looks to be in excellent condition with a very good bore.
Asking price is just under $1000.00 This seems quite reasonable to me. What say the experts?

Cheers,

Information

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[Herschel]

I'm looking at a Springfield M2 #479. From the photos it appears to be parkerized green/grey. It has an open box S.A. cartouche. The bolt is 'in the white'. It looks to be in excellent condition with a very good bore.
Asking price is just under $1000.00 This seems quite reasonable to me. What say the experts?

Cheers,

Sweeney,

I just found your post and may be able to provide some useful info if it is not too late to be of value to you.

By M2 I am assuming you mean the receiver ring marking is CAL..22 M2.

M2 Rifle number 479 would have been manufactured in 1933 and would have a 1932 or 1933 barrel.

The finish would be black parkerized that would look almost like blued.

The original bolt would be the early type M2 bolt that lacked the headspace adjustment. The locking lug would be concave and look exactly like the safety lug on a 1903 Springfield.
The bolt, even if it has been replaced by the later type M2 bolt, would have the rifle sn etched on the bottom of the bolt.

The cartouche you described would be a rebuild cartouche.

The green/grey parkerized finish would not be original.

The stock should be the M2 type and may or may not have M2 stamped in the bottom of the pistol grip. The M2 stock has grasping grooves. The 1922M1 stock also has grasping grooves and has a lot of drop at the butt and the pistol grip will have flat sides and be cut an a strange angle. The NRA stock has not grasping grooves and will have a thick, shotgun type buttplate. I see M2's with either the NRA or 1922M1 Issue stock. Lots of parts swapping has occurred over the years.

The original rear sight would be a Lyman 48C with the elevation slide numbered to 125. It have a screw in aperture. If it is missing it is only a $15 item so no big deal.

The original front sight would be the post like on a 1903 Rifle.

The bolt originally have been in the white, so that is correct on the rifle in question.

The buttplate should be coarse checkered without a trapdoor.

The gun should be worth the price you mentioned. If the barrel is original and the bolt is numbered to the rifle I would think it should bring more than $1,000.00.

The original magazine will have three little teeth on each side of the floorplate. If it is an aftermarket magazine, discount the values quoted by $100.00.

I hope this info has been helpful. If you have other questions, email me at hsgarner@tds.net.

Hits Count!

Herschel

[Sweeney]

Hi Herschel,

Thanks for the reply! I bought it and received it yesterday. It's definitely an arsenal rebuild from Springfield Armory (not far down the road). The stock is marked M2 and has a circle 'P' proof mark. The bolt is the later type with adjustable head space. Overall it's in very good shape and all M2. The only issue I've found is the magazine spring is missing but I temporarily swapped in a spring from my one of my Remington Matchmaster magazines... it sort of works. I just ordered a few springs and a spare magazine from Numrich.

I'll do a complete tear down, clean and lube this weekend... if I can wait that long

[Sweeney]

I disassembled the rife completely (except the barrel/receiver) and gave it a good cleaning then a slathering of Ballistol. She look pretty good... with a few 'character' marks....
Now that it's clean it appears as though the receiver finish is original.

[Herschel]

When the 1922 Series Springfields left SA as new items the bolt well (round channel the bolt moves in) was in the white. When they were refinished the bolt well would be left parkerized like the exterior of the receiver. That is a nice looking rifle. The elevation/windage slide on the rear sight has "hunter" type knobs. The 48C that came on the rifle had knurled knobs for adjustment without a coin or tool.

[Sweeney]

Thank you. The bolt well is in the white. The sight is a 48S. I may shop around for the correct sight. Overall I'm very happy with the rifle. Once I rebuild my cnc mill I may make a front sight hood for it as I did for my 1903 with Bill Benz USMC sights.