Stacking Swivel Screw Head on Left Side

[Deacon]

Has anyone seen a stacking swivel attached with the head of the screw on the left side? The '43 Springfield I own has the screw inserted from the left; it's staked and (appears) unmolested.

Thanks for your input in advance.

[Dean-DGR]

Yes on a few CMP rifles where the swivel was new. The screw is blued and the stacking swivel is a light gray.

Dean-DGR
www.dgrguns.com

[Deacon]

The stacking swivel on my M1 isn't grey and has the same wear and age toning as the rest of the weapon. This early "43 rifle doesn't appear to have been rebuilt, as the cap on the front sight screw is still intact.

I guess I'm wondering if the stacking swivel screw could have been inserted from the left side at the factory.

[ihcfan55]

Yes, I have seen many early IHC gas cylinders with stacking swivel screw heads on the left side. I imagine it was a case of hiring a lot of new workers, and not training them fully, like IHC did in late 1952 and early 1953. And I can also see how this would happen in 1943, with production being ramped up dramatically, and new hires coming in by the dozens.