Paying for parts

[karl schmidt]

When Springfield supplied parts (receivers) to IHC for the M1 rifles they were building What was the price? I'm under the impression IHC's problems were their own fault, why the bail out? When parts were swapped around with HR, IHC and Springfield was it a cash deal or trades for other parts?

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[Bob Seijas]

It was all Ordnance's attempt to get a new producer debugged and producing. You are right, however, about prices... I don't know what IHC was charged for small parts, but according to Art Tuttle, SA was furious that they had to supply IHC wth receivers at $1 and IHC marked them up to $3 when they billed the government!

SA hated everybody but had a special hard*n for Harvester. IMO they were largely responsible for the bad reputaton of IHC rifles. I also think that bad rep influenced Ornance to send IHCs to rear echelon allies like South America and send HRAs to front-line countries lke Europe. They saved SA rifles for US forces. That's just a personal opinion, but distribution seems to bear it out.

[RCS]

I agree with Bob Seijas, the IHC was the favorite gift to the third world. I have a collector friend in NJ who has all the IHC variations except the HRA/IHC receiver

[Bob Seijas]

When I interviewed the project manager back in the early 1980s, he said that Ordnance was very eager to have IHC bid on the M14. When they declined, Ordnance was really unhappy, tried everything to talk them into it. The Ordnance guy told him IHC made the best M1s -- most accurate (the LMR barrel no doubt) and fewest malfunctions (once they got them delivered).