New to me Springfield M2...

[Lancebear]

Hey guys,

New M2. It appears to be an all correct rifle. Re-worked of course, near hundred percent park.
Bolt raceway is parked. Bore is mirror perfect.

Lancebear

[Herschel]

An unusually nice M2 Rifle.

[Lancebear]

Hey Herschel,

Thanks for the kudos. The Boyt '44 sling is also fine, supple, just needs a saddle soapin' with a horsehair brush. Photos are of the rifle just as I received it. Stock looks much better now. Figure the rifle was just as it left the last arsenal, internals full of cosmoline. And the stock had a rookie application of linseed oil. Slightly tacky in spots. Cooked the wood wrapped in paper towels in a black garbage bag on the dash of my truck today for an hour or so and wiped it off. It was still dry and a bit gritty. Wouldn't dare sand an original rifle stock...rubbed it down lightly with #0000 steel wool and clear Briwax. Hundred percent improvement.

Has Lyman 48C rear sight with most of its bluing, proper butt plate. There are part numbers on several pieces of the rifle. Top of the floorplate, pieces of the bolt assembly and on the bottom flat of the receiver, large "R2" just behind the front threaded part of the bottom of the receiver. Bolt has a copper plug and Allen screw.

Bolt etch matches the receiver number. Mag is fine. It's a keeper for sure. Will post photos after the detailing.

Regards,

Lancebear

[Vern Humphrey]

I love my M2 -- in my opinion, it's every bit as good as a vintage M52 Winchester.

[Lancebear]

Hey Vern,

It's my new favorite rifle. The workmanship is impressive. The bolt is a jewel. It is filled with cosmoline and the very dark parked firing pin has full park on the tip.

LB

[Dan in NY]

lancebear.....I have #17383....pretty close...bet they were made the same day or so.......its in a grasping-groove issue stock as well....barrel & receiver never drilled & tapped either...wish I had more time to shoot it....


Dan in NY

[Lancebear]

lancebear.....I have #17383....pretty close...bet they were made the same day or so.......its in a grasping-groove issue stock as well....barrel & receiver never drilled & tapped either...wish I had more time to shoot it....


Dan in NY

Hey Dan,

Can you post a photo of the top of your receiver showing the stampings?

Reason I ask, your receiver is close to mine in serial number. I read Brophy's sections on the M2 and the M2A1 sub-caliber device. I suspect that my receiver was an unmounted M2A1 that was built into a rifle at the end of WWII, the Colonel refers to this. Anyway, my receiver's "2" in
"M2" is a bit lighter than the "M" and the "D" in Springfield is very light. I think the M2A1 receivers would have been stamped with that designation. So, it looks like the front quarter inch of my receiver was turned down very slightly to remove the "A1" part of "M2A1", and then polished off and parked. The receiver park matches the barrel perfectly. And the barrel is like new, inside and out. Wonder if you or anybody else knows if that was the practice?

I don't care, as the rifle is in very high condition and is right as rain. But as usual, I like to find out all of the details. Thanks for the information on your M2.

Lancebear

[Dan Shapiro]

Lucky dog!

[MK111]

Hey Dan,

Can you post a photo of the top of your receiver showing the stampings?

Reason I ask, your receiver is close to mine in serial number. I read Brophy's sections on the M2 and the M2A1 sub-caliber device. I suspect that my receiver was an unmounted M2A1 that was built into a rifle at the end of WWII, the Colonel refers to this. Anyway, my receiver's "2" in
"M2" is a bit lighter than the "M" and the "D" in Springfield is very light. I think the M2A1 receivers would have been stamped with that designation. So, it looks like the front quarter inch of my receiver was turned down very slightly to remove the "A1" part of "M2A1", and then polished off and parked. The receiver park matches the barrel perfectly. And the barrel is like new, inside and out. Wonder if you or anybody else knows if that was the practice?

I don't care, as the rifle is in very high condition and is right as rain. But as usual, I like to find out all of the details. Thanks for the information on your M2.

Lancebear

This is a very good question about the completed rifles with the M2A1 recievers. I have been collecting the 1922's for 10 years now.
I have never seen a 1922 M2 with M2A1 markings or seen how they were marked after completion.
I have 4 various models. A 1922 unaltered, 1922M1 unaltered, 1922M2, and a 1922M11. Now I guess I have to look for a M2A1 marked. The search continues.

[Lancebear]

This is a very good question about the completed rifles with the M2A1 recievers. I have been collecting the 1922's for 10 years now.
I have never seen a 1922 M2 with M2A1 markings or seen how they were marked after completion.
I have 4 various models. A 1922 unaltered, 1922M1 unaltered, 1922M2, and a 1922M11. Now I guess I have to look for a M2A1 marked. The search continues.

Hey MK111,

I don't know if I have confused you, or you me:). I meant, that original M2A1 receivers must have been stamped M2A1. And when they were used to assemble an M2 rifle, the A1 portion of the marking must have been buffed or machined off, and then the receiver was reparked and assembled into a rifle. Look at the photo of my receiver at the top of the thread and you will see what I suspect. Maybe Herschel will drop by again and set me straight. If I remember correctly, think Scott Duff sold some M2A1's in stocks cut off behind the wrist and in front of the band, and perhaps the barrels had been shortened also. Then again they could have been the thirty caliber version, Model 1903A2. It's been a while.

Lancebear