Bought a complete National Match set up "Everything" Rare

[Rick B]

I had said the original correct bedding is there with the red laid over top. Is that what you meant?

[browningautorifle]

Yes, I thought you were inferring that the red bedding was all there was...sorry.

[Bob Seijas]

That's obviously not typical SA work. The clues suggest it was a 1960 Type 2 that was upgraded in or after 1962 by somebody else. That hooded aperture and 2A base was not approved until 1962 but it was common to add it to existing guns. The lack of serial on the trigger housing could indicate that trigger work was done and the original housing replaced, or the numbers were cleaned off in the process (Hoppe's takes it off easily). Pretty odd that it apparently was sold by DCM in 1964 like that. It also has the heart barrel stamp that I have not figured out yet, maybe that's a clue .

[Bob Seijas]

If the 1962 sight had been added by SA, the barrel should have the 1962 star code on it in addition to the 1960 mark.

[Rick B]

I know the owner well and he is also my Accountant. He has always been nothing but honest with me and sold this rifle to me for $2,000 so he wasn't out to take me. I spoke with him last night and he added nothing to this rifle ever and all that was done was the overcoat of bedding and True oil to the stock because he planned on shooting in all kinds of weather at the matches. He said there never were any marks on the housing and I trust him 100%. If I ever learned one thing from collecting it would be that nothing is written in stone. Guide lines are all we can go by. Rick B

[Bob Seijas]

Amen, Rick. I'm thinking it came out of DCM like this, the papers look right. My question is who did the mods? Could it have been a service team and then turned back in to DCM? Dunno, it's not typical. Maybe the heart means something like "modified by user" or "returned to US inventory" ? All the rifles I have seen with the heart looked original, but there was no common thread that might provide a clue, all they did was eliminate my prior guesses

[SA M1Dom]

Absolutely beautiful rifle Rick! Congrats and enjoy.

[Joe W]

[/COLOR]It has a 1960 code mark on the barrel, so that's when it was first built. The last four serial numbers should be written on the front face of the trigger housing. The hooded sight indicates a 1962 upgrade.

What is your take on the front sight being marked on the left side as opposed to the right ?? Also, any chance the rifle was rebuilt by SA in 1963 or at least had the NM/2A base installed in 1963, but kept it's original barrel from the 1960 build ??? I know the 77 barrel was the one normally used on 1963 builds, but the lack of the 1962 STAR code makes me wonder. Guess it really doesn't make much difference.

[Rick B]

The trigger group and I noticed a polished Pin and less seen hammer. Rick B

[Joe W]

My guess would be that the hammer was installed by the armorer that did the trigger work.