If you go on the internet, almost always members are referring to early M14's as T44.
The T44 and the T44E4 were two different rifles. The early M14 production was T44E4.
Some are even claiming that the Experimental Aluminum Butt Plates were on the T44E4's.
Here is an example of the Aluminum Butt Plate:
The aluminum butt plates are still unknown as to application. The thinking is it was one of the T series rifles. It was most likely for the T44E6, a light weight version of the M14.
There was another very scarce butt plate during the early days of production. I call it the inward dimples butt plate. I interviewed an SA employee back in the 1980's who worked on the M14. He was pictured in a report while testing receivers for hardness.
SA had adopted the new folder butt plate and was able to produce stocks a lot faster than the butt plates. SA had a financial problem using Garand butt plates from storage for support of M1's, so it ran a small contract (unknown maker) for temporary use with the spacers provided by Rock Island.
Inward Dimples circa 1960, very limited production:
Those butt plates are not to be confused with the very similar pattern, but with raised dimples. These were produced in large quantity in 1968 as spare parts, by a Connecticut contractor.
Raised Dimples, 1968:
Both butt plates have very different patterns than the standard ones from years earlier. That makes me think the Garand Butt Plate drawing was revised.
The T44 and the T44E4 were two different rifles. The early M14 production was T44E4.
Some are even claiming that the Experimental Aluminum Butt Plates were on the T44E4's.
Here is an example of the Aluminum Butt Plate:
The aluminum butt plates are still unknown as to application. The thinking is it was one of the T series rifles. It was most likely for the T44E6, a light weight version of the M14.
There was another very scarce butt plate during the early days of production. I call it the inward dimples butt plate. I interviewed an SA employee back in the 1980's who worked on the M14. He was pictured in a report while testing receivers for hardness.
SA had adopted the new folder butt plate and was able to produce stocks a lot faster than the butt plates. SA had a financial problem using Garand butt plates from storage for support of M1's, so it ran a small contract (unknown maker) for temporary use with the spacers provided by Rock Island.
Inward Dimples circa 1960, very limited production:
Those butt plates are not to be confused with the very similar pattern, but with raised dimples. These were produced in large quantity in 1968 as spare parts, by a Connecticut contractor.
Raised Dimples, 1968:
Both butt plates have very different patterns than the standard ones from years earlier. That makes me think the Garand Butt Plate drawing was revised.