M14 Forum

Jason0839

I cannot find a definitive answer in the web sites that I’ve researched. Is a 4.8 million SA receiver a Korean War receiver? I have a CMP special and it is built upon this receiver. I want to make it period correct and need to know what the date range is. Thank you gents.

bd111

I don't claim to know for sure, but I wouldn't think so b/c the 4.6 IHC's are dated to '53-'54. Korean conflict ceased in '53.

1KPerDay

Based on this site:
http://myplace.frontier.com/~aleccorapinski/id11.html

it appears they didn't keep a month-by-month record as they did during WWII. All I can find is that springfield numbers were between 4.4M and 4.66M between 1952-1954. IF that is correct, then a 4.8M would be made after 1954. Hard to say, but I'm guessing it's probably a post-korean war example.

It's confusing though because it says NATO ones were made in 5M range in 1952ish.

So I dunno.

Whatsinaname181

when did production of the M1 Garand finally cease for good?

Prince Humperdink

Here is a site that May help.Most Rifles used in the Korean War were of WW2 MFGR,as a large portion of the new production was too late.The M5 bayonet was also being produced in this era,but most of the bayonets in Korea were either the M1,or cut down 1905's.

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/mildateslo...s_m1grndsp.dat

Prince Humperdink

The last"real"M1 Rifles were produced until 1956.

Jason0839

Awesome, thanks!!!

Oxmix

Springfield Armory serial numbers range from, 4,300,000, 1953 to 6,099,905 in 1957.

I do know that serial number 5,898,### was made in August 1955.

Regards

Ox

Old Sarge

Actually, from what I've read, Springfield Armory was told to start production once again when the Korean War broke out. It took quite some time to get production rolling. They began production with serial number 4,200,000. I have a very early Korean War M1, all original, with serial #4,203,149 and barrel date 10-52.

I've also read that no IHC's were delivered in time to get over to Korea before the signing of the armistice, but perhaps a few H&R's got over there before the signing.

Scott Duff's book on "Post WW2 M1's" has a serial number data table with receivers with original barrels. Highest SA receiver #4,399,350 with barrel dated 1-54. I didn't see any receivers by any of the three makers in the 4.8mil range and the next receiver listed and made by SA is #5,280,298. I'll see what I can find as far as assigned serial number blocks.

willriskit

To add to the confusion, my Korean war M-1D has a Springfield receiver #456XXX which wasn't assembled into a rifle until Feb. 1952 at the earliest. When I questioned this on the forum, several others responded that their Korea vintage rifles also had early WWII receivers. Technically speaking, the Korean war never officially ended and all that's in place is a cease fire. Open hostilities ceased in July 1953 but Korean border clashes were frequent during the later 50's and 60's, so even the H&R and International Harvester Garands could have arguable Korean provenance.

AndyB.

You know that all M1Ds were rebuilds, right? Your receiver didn't sit around for 10 years waiting to be assembled. Also, I don't believe any M1Ds made it to Korea in time, 03A4s and M1Cs filled that role.

willriskit

M-1D's were in action during the closing days of WWII and there are numerous accounts and photos of both C's and M-1D's in action early in the Korean conflict. My original M-1 C&D manual published in 1947 was based on earlier works, so the D's were hardly anything new even then. Some D's were indeed rebuilds, others were obviously not because barrel date coincides with serial number and I have owned these in unissued condition. We were shown an M-1D in ITR during early 1961 which, we were told, saw USMC use in Korea but I never got close enough to examine serial and barrel date. Over the years I have heard many gun fables such as no M-1D's were used by the Marine Corps in Vietnam (there were at least two at An Loc) and no adjustable sighted M-1 carbines were used in WWII. Ten years isn't very long for parts to be sitting in government inventory and yes, replacement receivers were manufactured and remained unused for lengthy periods and that practice well predates the M-1 era. I learned long ago that experience is usually the best teacher.

As was the case with virtually any small arm brought to a Marine Corps armory during the early 1960's and later, replacement parts were frequently of WWII manufacture (and in the case of .45's, sometimes earlier). There being an overabundance of both WWII weapons, weapons parts and 782 gear, none of these items were difficult to find in NOS condition. What particularly intrigued me was that pre-WWII 1903 Springfields with Unertl scopes were likely headed for their third war - wish I'd gotten to fire one. The biggest changes occured after we got the M-14's and M-60's. Many other WWII and earlier weapons were still being issued and made it to Vietnam.

Jason0839

When I get home today Ill double check my SN. Maybe its 4.8 which would make more sence.

Jason0839

I was wrong, it is a 4,38x, sn. From 1953.

MFD

Some few years ago it was reported that ex GI from the Korean action era decided he would like to have an M1 Garand and ordered one from CMP. Once he did get it, decided he would see if he could remember how to field strip. Well, while in Korea and stalled for few days from actual combat he had totally stripped his M1 Garand and had cut his initials under the butt plate. The one he got from CMP turned out after he stripped it to be the same rifle he had in Korea!! Amazing that would occur, but was reported to be factual.