How many of these were made?

[Jeremy]

Based on the difficulty SA/G&H had in D&T them after they were heat treated the process was changed to sending them to G&H to get D&T BEFORE they were heat treated. Then returned to SA for final heat treat and assembly.

I know the USMC Ordnance Depots are good but there was no reason for them to "convert" anything when there were ample M1Cs available from the supply system.

Just my currently devalued two cents...

[mack]

Were not most of the "SA-52" receivers marked on the heel with a stamp as opposed to an electro-pencil as we see on this rifle?

I have gone through boxes of these receivers at the North Store some years ago as bare receivers and they were all stamped, not electro-penciled. I accept that some were done one way and others another way if someone can say that's the case.

[2111]

I question the SA-52 marked Garands never being built into sniper rifles statement as I have seen SA-52 marked receivers where the holes showed obvious signs of staking where a mount was installed at one time.

I think the reason you see "SA-52 marked receivers where the holes showed obvious signs of staking where a mount was installed at one time" is because a "mount" WAS installed at one time. During the 1951-52 rebuild program M1C sniper rifles were altered to service rifle configuration. The holes were plugged as part of the overhaul process. You may have just seen former M1C receivers that went through the rebuild and subsequently had the plugs removed.

[Johnny in Texas]

I have never seen a receiver stamped SA-52 they were all electro-penciled or etched but not stamped.

[noslack 327]

I have a SA-52 stamped on the receiver of a ww 2 rifle. And it is stamped.

[pmclaine]

I have never seen a receiver stamped SA-52 they were all electro-penciled or etched but not stamped.

I have an SA-52 that is neatly stamped not hand electro pencil. Mine is not a converted M1-C. I have seen pics of one other plugged M1-C and it was electro penciled. Perhaps the M1-C's went through a different rebuild line and received the pencil, while the rebuilt standard Garands were stamped, rebarreled, rebuilt and put in service in a different process. All SA-52 just they needed different work to get them serviceable.

[Johnny in Texas]

I have not seen that and am surprised SA would stamp those hard receivers maybe they tried that first and then went to the electro pencil please post a pic of your receiver that is stamped I would really like to see it. Thanks

[mack]

I suspect from the difficulty of "stamping" as opposed to "electro-penciling" may have caused these to be cut in with a panograph device, much like the Brits used to engrave their later Enfield rifles. Stamping wasn't practical and perhaps I misspoke when I used the term "stamped."

I was in the North Store one day several years ago and, not seeing any bare receivers, I asked at the counter. They brought out several boxes with the newly parked receivers from HRA and SA. There were likely sixty to eighty receivers all told and I sorted through them on the counter (it was a slow afternoon). A Marine officer came in and got to looking with me at the variety and range of serials. When the counterman said the SA-52's were thought to be Marine items, he got really interested and I helped him get the rest of the SA-52's together and he took them all, saying his armourers would built some rifles on these for (I presume) a shooting team. Receivers were cheap and plentiful and plentiful at the time, so I never thought anymore about it. When I relayed this info about my find at North Store on the old Jouster board some years ago, there followed a discussion much like this one about the SA-52 receivers.

Interestingly, some speculated that marking and drilling may not have been such a trial, because it was thought these were part of a receiver "war reserve" held by Springfield and perhaps left without heat treating until finishing and assembly. No records existed of such at that time and I haven't heard of any finds of material to support those conjectures.

I have seen the penciled items and, like pmclaine, I would have imagined that a different line was used with different identifying marking techniques employed.

[2111]

I am surprised the "counter man" at the North Store would have thought SA-52 marking indicated "Marine items". The SA alone would indicate Springfield Armory not Albany or Barstow. He may have been thinking of those rifles with the O-65, O-66, O-67 inscribed on the receiver heal, which were overhauled by the Marine Corps

[pmclaine]

I have not seen that and am surprised SA would stamp those hard receivers maybe they tried that first and then went to the electro pencil please post a pic of your receiver that is stamped I would really like to see it. Thanks

This link to the CMP post will have pics of my stamped SA 52 as well as I think one or two others.

http://www.thecmp.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2161

I hope it is helpful.