M1922 m2

[grey ghost]

I was at a local gun show and saw US Springfield M1922 M2, with correct sights and barrel dated 3-41 but the stock was full military C stock. Can anybody explain this? Thanks Steve

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[Cosine26]

Back in the 1930's a shooter, whose name escapes me, wrote an article in the AMERICAN RIFLEMAN (I do not remember which edition) in which he proposed that big bore shooters in the northern US, build a rifle using the M1922M1 that duplicated the M1903NM for indoor practice during the winter months. He actually built one and had a M1903 rear sight installed on the M1922M1 that he used. He showed a picture of the completed project. His only note was that the weight was a bit different since M1922M1 barrel is heavier than the standard M1903 barrel. Maybe some one copied the idea. I do not believe that the rifle you saw is/was an Armory product.
Hope this helps

[Herschel]

I have seen 1922MII and M2 Rifles in C stocks over the years. Like Cosign26 I don't believe they were produced by one of the arsenals or by Springfield Armory in that configuration. I recall seeing one with the model 1905 rear sight but most had the Lyman 48 rear and an 1903A3 handguard. For years I have researched and questioned people I thought might know and have found no documentation that explained the origin of these rifles. The 1922MII and M2 rifles in the C stocks show up often enough to make me think either some organization was producing them or it was a popular conversion.

[grey ghost]

Hi guys, thanks for your response. I do have another question. Is there a monthly breakdown of the serial numbers of the M1922 M2 production? Thanks Steve

[Herschel]

I know of no source for the monthly breakdown of M2 Rifle production. On page 302 of The Springfield 1903 Rifles by Brophy you will find a list of production by fiscal years from 1933 through 1942. In the the '03 Springfield Rifles' Era by Campbell there is some production date showing great numbers of rifles that were used as subcaliber devices and many more thousands of receivers that were not assembled into complete rifles by Springfield Armory but were sold as parts and assembled by a commercial company. I don't know where Campbell got his information but he quotes some pretty precise numbers. M2 Rifles with serial numbers higher than 20000 have been observed. I have not observed any close correlation between barrel dates and rifle serial numbers in the M2 Rifles. I own M2 number 4254 that has a 7-34 barrel, number 6478 that has a 10-38 barrel and number 10514 that has a 6-37 barrel. I am confident that each of these has the original barrel.

[Roofuss]

I just got this rifle, and have yet to have time to do any research, or take pictures. The rifle looks to 100% complete, and correct in every way and in overall very good condition.

Just yesterday, I bought a Springfield model M2 at a local gun shop with serial # 4885 and S/A barrel 3-33 and # D 28223-2 stamped on the top of the bolt and wondering if anyone here can give me any info on exactly what I might have ? It was far too nice a rifle to pass up, and since I already have a small / modest WW II arms collection, felt it was a must have . Any help would be greatly appreciated & thank you in advance . Roof.....

[Cosine26]

In a previous post on this thread, I mentioned an article by some one who had put a M1922M1 in a type C stock. Here is the summary of the article with a picture.
NM M1922M1
The article appeared in the August 1932 AMERICAN RIFLEMAN MAGAZINE and was entitled “My National Match .22” by Charles O. Bower. He was a high power shooter who wanted to duplicate hs NM M1903 so that he could practice indoors and a lot lower cost, with equipment that duplicated his NM M1903. He affixed a FRSB to the M1922M1 barrel and installed the whole assembly in a NM M1903 stock and hand guard. He indicated that the barrel was a snug fit in the stock, hand guard, and upper band, but worked OK. The only stock alteration was to provide clearance for the magazine cut in the stock. Evidently he was quite well satisfied with the results.
Here is a picture. The M1922M1 is the top illustration:


http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o...ps0314fb1d.jpg

[Herschel]

Roofuss, The barrel date on your indicates it is probably original. My M2 #4254 has a 7-34 barrel. I don't think there is a close correlation between production dates and barrel dates on the M2 Rifles. The M2 rifle should have the serial number on the bottom of the bolt with some digits on either side of the line where the front and rear parts of the bolt meet. About half of the Springfield .22's I see have mismatched bolts.
The original metal finish on your rifle would be the flat black parkerizing that might be confused as a blued finish. Gray or greenish parkerizing will indicate it has been reparkerized.. Congratulations on the find.

---------- Post added at 09:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:19 PM ----------

Cosine26, That is the best explanation of the origin of the Springfield .22's in the 1903 stocks I have seen. I have the August 1932 American Rifleman and will look up the article.

[Roofuss]

Herschel : Thanks ....I have been told there were 2,330 M2 rifles made the first year{ 1933 } but can NOT confirm that figure myself . Mine is serial # 4885 with the S/A barrel dated 3-33 . The etching on my bolt is unreadable { from wear, maybe ? } so I can not confirm it matches the gun. The finish on the rifle is a dull/flat grayish /black type, and does seems to be the original , although faded , but in very good condition.

[Herschel]

The 2,330 production figure is found on page 302 in Brophy. It is for fiscal year 1933. I am not sure what the date of fiscal year ending was in 1933. As Hilliary would say "What difference does it make?" When I went to work for the US in 1960 the FYE was Sept 30.