Need an "elementary education" on NM M1 stocks

[Rick the Librarian]

I was looking over a couple of National Match M1 stocks the other day and realized that I wouldn't have been able to really give an opinion on them because I didn't know what the heck to look for!! I know my way (after a fashion) around M1 "service" stocks, but not NM.

1) Some characteristics of a "real" M1 National Match stock?

2) Some price ranges for them? I realize a lot depends on condition - that why I asked for some "ranges".

Be gentle with me, guys!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[cruiserdan]

I know just enough to be dangerous.

The type 1 stocks are no different in apperance than "normal" stocks and are not bedded.

SA Type 2 NM stocks will be glass-bedded in very precisely cut grooves that are inletted in the stock around the receiver heel, the upper receiver bearing surfaces and the floorplate flanges. There will be no bedding inside the stock where the receiver legs reside and the bedding will be white or yellow in color. Any other color or bedding on the inside of the stock will not be orginal SA and can be attributed to just about anybody.

I have no idea what a genuine Type 2 NM stock is worth but I do know that I need one for my 1961 NM rifle.

[Ramboueille]

I was looking over a couple of National Match M1 stocks the other day and realized that I wouldn't have been able to really give an opinion on them because I didn't know what the heck to look for!! I know my way (after a fashion) around M1 "service" stocks, but not NM.

1) Some characteristics of a "real" M1 National Match stock?

2) Some price ranges for them? I realize a lot depends on condition - that why I asked for some "ranges".

Be gentle with me, guys!

Rick,

If you mean SA M1 NM stocks, there have been several articles recently in the GCA Journal that that show precisely how they were done and cut.

As a purist, an SA NM stock is made for the rifle it is mated to. If the rifle isn't with it and it's "loose," it's just another M1 stock with glass bedding. A shooter may be interested in it.

[Emri]

Rick,

Both these guys are spot on. TY.1 stocks do not differ from service stocks. TY.1 rifles were nothing more than service rifles selected for superior accuracy and stamped NM after selection.
TY.2 stocks ARE glass bedded and could be ANY stock done so. There was a special way to do it, but it has been copied by many. As stated above, without a rifle, it is just a glass-bedded stock.

FWIW, HTH,

Emri

[Rick the Librarian]

Using your (very useful) definitions, both were Type II. One had the "yellow" bedding applied; the other had the "grooves" but no bedding material.

[musketjon]

Grab the one that's already carved out without the glass. Carving them out is 3/4 of the battle, the glassing is the easy part..

[dukeofdata]

Rick, Check out the "Broken" Defense Acceptance Stamps article on page 10 of the Fall, 2007, GCA Journal. This may provide a clue.
[IMGW]http://i43.tinypic.com/11ls8w9.jpg[/IMGW]

[Joe W]

You may want to read the articles by Bob Seijas in the GCA Journals. ( Spring 2009) " I have a Chance to Buy This National Match", and " The Type 2 National Match, Part's 1 and 2", in the Fall 2003 and Winter 2003 editions.
One thing Bob states is " Since the individual stock, receiver and trigger housing were essentially custom mated to each other they were not intended to be interchangeable with other rifles. To keep the mated components together the last four digits of the sreial number were marked with white welder's chalk in the barrel channel of the stock and on the trigger housing."
The one without the glass would be fine if it's intended use is as a shooter. As a collectable, it will never be considered "original", as the glass work was not done by SA. Joe

[cruiserdan]

I have never heard of an original stock that would have been grooved but not had the bedding applied.

I would be keenly interested in the stock with the bedding material applied.