Oiler Question

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

I have these originally marked oilers in my collection. Some say the SW on the cap instead of the bottom is an early Stanley Works for Winchester. Some have been found in what appeared to be original Winchesters.
But that has never been verified. It could have been for the M3 SMG "Grease Gun". And instead of Stanley Works, which in the consensus guess, it could be Star Watch Case company or Sparks Withington.

[deldriver]

I bought a carbine about 5 or 6 weeks ago that came with an U.S. marked oiler. I had never seen one either and asked around, but received no concrete answer in return. My personal opinion on them is that they are current production and well made. I know I looked at mine several times and thought, and still do, that it has the look of something made decades ago. Frank, for everyone's benefit, can you tell us the source of the ones you picked up? Perhaps that source knows more about them.

[browningautorifle]

bought a carbine about 5 or 6 weeks ago that came with an U.S. marked oiler.

So...let's have a look at YOUR oiler...? For comparison.

[imntxs554]

I have these originally marked oilers in my collection. Some say the SW on the cap instead of the bottom is an early Stanley Works for Winchester. Some have been found in what appeared to be original Winchesters.
But that has never been verified. It could have been for the M3 SMG "Grease Gun". And instead of Stanley Works, which in the consensus guess, it could be Star Watch Case company or Sparks Withington.

Jim, That is a Nice Collection. In the ones I got there was a 2- IN, IW & IR and the last 7 were all IS. I was just reading about that Post War... POLY BROS & VERSON,INC one you have. Can anyone else see the Cap Gripping Patterns. To me there are several different types and weren't these all made by International Silver or this came later when IS took then all over. I just remember seeing it somewhere that IS started to at one time make them all. Maybe I'm wrong.

[browningautorifle]

Can anyone else see the Cap Gripping Patterns.

It's just a knurling tool doing that work and they are just a tool added to the lathe. Depends on the wheels in them and there would be a dozen all working at once. As long as they knurl, that's all they'd worry about.

[USGI]

Frank's double stamped US oiler looks like it has a leather washer. Most repros now have o-rings. My first thought was a Vietnam era GI oiler that someone had tried stamping, but don't think they had the leather. - Bob

[browningautorifle]

a Vietnam era GI oiler

Like the ones that are available from various sources. My original thought was a post war GI...perhaps post Korea even. Maybe as late as when things were being rebuilt for RVN.

[imntxs554]

Frank's double stamped US oiler looks like it has a leather washer. Most repros now have o-rings. My first thought was a Vietnam era GI oiler that someone had tried stamping, but don't think they had the leather. - Bob

Bob, Someone sent me a picture of a Oiler marked just like mine except his marking wasn't double stamped. His Washer was also Leather, but it looked Brand New.

[browningautorifle]

Brand New.

That's not a stretch either. We're still seeing mags and oilers and other parts that have been made 70 years on and still coming out of the wrapper. Gives you an idea of how much they made...even after scrapping tons of stuff.

[Flying10uk]

A lot of repro militaria stuff on eBay seems to come out of India and I did wonder if if the oiler in post 1 came from there. If all the original U.S. made M1 oilers only ever had the manufactures initials stamped on the base, stamping U.S. by mistake in place of a manufacturer's initials seems like a mistake that could easily have been made by an Indian reproducer.