Saw an interesting M1A and Garand

[pmclaine]

Perusing the local store noted that the dealer came across some rifles that appeared interesting

1. SAI M1A - serial number in the 25K range with SAI barrel and receiver (of course), TRW bolt, all other parts appear GI, lock bar sights, stock has cutout for selector switch, appears to have had range card taped to stock. Price range $1300 +/-.

2. M1 Garand 7M serial number. Hodge podge of parts - WWII single slot gas lock nut, NM sights, NM op rod, stock bedded. Interesting due to the high serial number. Not priced at the time I saw it still being entered in inventory.

The Garand was notable for its ultra high SN and the M1A caught my eye for its nice shape, quantity of GI parts. How were the early SAI receivers?

[Finestkind]

The 7m Garand is a commercial model from Springfield Armory. Military M1's ended in the 6m range. Sounds like someone swapped out some parts on it.


Finestkind

[dryheat]

That's Springfield Armory Incorporated.

[pmclaine]

Hey even odder than I expected, thanks for the replies. I'll have to look at that one again as I have never seen an SAI M1. I'm not interested in the gun for other than the curiosity of the high SN - I should have paid more attention to the writing above the numbers on the heel stamping.

The dealer should do a package deal with the SAI M1A!

[carolinashooter]

All SAI M1's are in the 7m serial range. This was a requirement of ATF. They are not C/R eligible and this was an easy check to do on an M1 to determine this fact if it was in question.

[Griff Murphey]

Someone was saying SA Inc. put those lockbars on new M-1As when they started running out of the correct later GI sghts in the late 80's early 90's time frame.

[pmclaine]

Someone was saying SA Inc. put those lockbars on new M-1As when they started running out of the correct later GI sghts in the late 80's early 90's time frame.

Were they GI lockbars or repros?

[TonyBen]

My 1994 M1A came with GI lockbar sights. I happened to have an extra set of GI sights so I never used them. They are sitting in a box ready to be installed on another build...... someday.

[pmclaine]

Thank you all for your time.

[bd1]

Early M1A receivers were pretty good, both Elmer Ballance's and the Illinois company that bought him out. There were minor glitches with soft elevation serrations on some in the 020xxx-030xxx range and an odd step in the op rod side rail on some of the 030xxx's. So you'd wanna make your own careful inspection.

[pmclaine]

I keep thinking how nice the M1A would look in my safe but "tis the Season" and the cash is going elsewhere. I assume SAI still warrantys these (25K SN)?

[Johnny in Texas]

M1A 00721 had soft elevation serrations. I had to JB-weld a repair disk on. It works fine now.

How much for the SAI M1, they did not make all that many of the M1's were there problems with them?

[bd1]

The lifetime warranty applies to what SAI sent out the gate, but sometimes they'll give a downstream owner the benefit of the doubt even if the rifle was completed or modified by somebody else. It's a safety-practicality judgment call.

Early 80's SAI M1 receivers were pretty good. No, they didn't make many of those. Later ones (early 2000's) were made by Lithgow in Australia. In between, SAI built a few hundred M1's on Italian receivers.

[M1Riflenut]

My first M1A had lockbar sights and all USGI parts. I don't have that one anymore, traded it for a mint NM garand.