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Subtle differences in wooden GI stock by make

58K views 100 replies 26 participants last post by  IRON WORKER 
#1 ·
I don't have a camera to speak of just yet, but if you have photos to share that would make for a nice thread. I have a H&R USGI stock (It walnut). I know because of the "H" under the aluminium buttplate, at least I think any way.

My stock has a strait forend one it that does not have the same look like others I have seen. (Different manufacturers?) I was looking for the other look, and it seems they have subtle differences.

What is your favorite wooden GI stock maker, and why do you like/ disslike about the differences.?

If I could have chosen, I would have picked one with a thinner fore grip. If you could, please post picks of them, and do. Tell what the differences are and why you like them.
 
#2 · (Edited)
Well this is right up my alley. It will take me a while to take individual pictures of the stocks I have but I can get this done in a few hours.

First, I like them all, though I am partial to my S.A. M14E2/A1 stocks as they are extremely rare and in "P" grade condition. The other stocks are all "P" grade except the Overton Tiger stripped birch and it is in excellent condition. All have been cleaned and very lightly sanded using 600 grit or higher, no staining was done, just Teak Oil added for that hand rubbed finish.

If you will look closely you will notice that they all tapper towards the front ferrule with the Winchester having a little less tapper and just a little thicker in that area. The Overton stocks(made for TRW) are a thicker stock through the forearm and the wrist area.

The Winchester is the only stock in this collection that has the gorilla thumb nail at the front ferrule, the rest are pin punched.

This is going to be picture heavy, I will try to point out differences in the stocks that I have.

In the first picture are from left to right Winchester,Springfield A.,Springfield A.,Overton,Overton, both E2s are S.A.s

If you look closely at the Overtons stocks you will notice that they are slightly thicker in the wrist, the thinner stocks are the Winchester and the S.A. stocks. In the following pictures if you will look at the Overtons you will notice that behind the wrist(the comb) you will see a thicker round hump it is in this area that the Overton are much thicker than the Winchester and the two SAs. The comb on the other stocks come to a sharp point where the Overton is more rounded and is thicker.

Please notice too in the following pictures that the area in front of the mag well are different. The two Overton stocks have a noticeable diamond shape, the two SA. stocks are very slightly round and the Winchester in front of the mag well is flat running almost out to the sling swivel.









 
#87 ·
Well this is right up my alley. It will take me a while to take individual pictures of the stocks I have but I can get this done in a few hours.

First, I like them all, though I am partial to my S.A. M14E2/A1 stocks as they are extremely rare and in "P" grade condition. The other stocks are all "P" grade except the Overton Tiger stripped birch and it is in excellent condition. All have been cleaned and very lightly sanded using 600 grit or higher, no staining was done, just Teak Oil added for that hand rubbed finish.

If you will look closely you will notice that they all tapper towards the front ferrule with the Winchester having a little less tapper and just a little thicker in that area. The Overton stocks(made for TRW) are a thicker stock through the forearm and the wrist area.

The Winchester is the only stock in this collection that has the gorilla thumb nail at the front ferrule, the rest are pin punched.

This is going to be picture heavy, I will try to point out differences in the stocks that I have.

In the first picture are from left to right Winchester,Springfield A.,Springfield A.,Overton,Overton, both E2s are S.A.s

If you look closely at the Overtons stocks you will notice that they are slightly thicker in the wrist, the thinner stocks are the Winchester and the S.A. stocks. In the following pictures if you will look at the Overtons you will notice that behind the wrist(the comb) you will see a thicker round hump it is in this area that the Overton are much thicker than the Winchester and the two SAs. The comb on the other stocks come to a sharp point where the Overton is more rounded and is thicker.

Please notice too in the following pictures that the area in front of the mag well are different. The two Overton stocks have a noticeable diamond shape, the two SA. stocks are very slightly round and the Winchester in front of the mag well is flat running almost out to the sling swivel.









How many coats of teak oil to get that finish? What's your process? They look like they are on fire.(y)
 
#4 · (Edited)
In the photo below I would like for you to focus your attention on the sling swivel area, you will notice that the Ovetons on the left have a cutout for the sling as does the Winchester on the far right, but the Springfields are round and their cutout area is almost unnoticeable.







In the next set of photos you can see how much thicker the Overtons are(the two on the right). Look at the rise in the stock above the wrist area and you can see how the Winchester and the two SA.s come to a sharp point, where the Overtons are thicker and more round in shape(like a camels hump).







In the last picture you will notice the receiver number written in the barrel channel( the two in the center), this is a specific Springfield Armory trait as they were the only ones to do so.

 
#5 ·
PM Ironworker. He seems to have a good handle on the subtle differences.

My preference is HRA because of the thickness. Better for shooting with a sling. If you want a slimmer profile then SA or TRW would be your best choices.
 
#8 ·
I only have 2 stocks that I can tell who made them. One is a nice Sacks walnut the other is a WW big red birch.

The Sacks has the half moon crimp, rafter S and a skinny arial P proof (not the normally seen Dolly Parton arial P)

I got three other wood stocks here that anyones guess is as good as mine. But one does have a serif P proof, the others the Dolly arial P proof

ETA: There really does need to be stickied thread with good pictures showing the details along with Different's information.
 
#9 ·
This is exactly the type of info I was looking for, thank you Renisin. I like the looks of the springfield stocks best, perhaps when I get to shooting more with a sling my H&R might be the new favorite. I was also looking at the "back porch" area of the stocks. Seems that winchester's is the shortest, and really like the appearence the a rifle would have if the reciever did not have the extra flat space at the heel region.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I hope this helps some to be better able to identify their stocks. I didn't mention the different variations of the "P" and the DOD stamps as they are well known. I thought to talk about the subtle differences in stock shape and appperance.

The stocks I listed here are known examples because of either being stamped by manufacturer like the "O" in the butt stock for Overton, the serial# written in the barrel channel SA. and the Winchester stock with eagle stamp in the trigger guard slott. Since they are all documented I thought to look for other distinguishing marks and features. Because as we all know too well many times these stocks were not marked, so features is all we have to identify.
 
#13 · (Edited)
Thats exactly what I've done, studied yours and many others. Its the only way to really get to know these stocks since my collection is such a small sample. Unfortunately your pictures are not always the best and leave key areas out. I try to take pictures that will allow others to examine as if it were in their hands.

Though I have seen a stock or two of yours that we differed on as to who the manufaucturer was. Great resource though.

On another note: these stocks came to me in Presentation grade, no dings, gouges or anyother flaw. This means I needed to do very little to the stocks, a little acetone to clean the grime and gunk off, a very and I do mean very light sanding and teak oil. No staining was ever [/COLOR]necessary, other wise they are as they came from Fred's.
This is the only one that I did not work with and it came from Doug Carlton (Wade) and he did a great job of preserving the cartouches.





 
#12 ·
Renisin, I have two stocks that display the same elongated pad on each side of the mag well, like the WW marked big red, but the comb on the big red is different as can be expected since the wrist is a deal thicker. I also got a very well used old walnut warrior here that shows what could be the vestiges of the Overton 'diamond' shape in front of the mag well. The comb is also rounded not pointed. All of them have the normal shelf.
 
#14 ·
Trw overton walnut

I'll add some pictures that show decent identifying characteristics . Here is an original as removed from USGI M14 made by S. E. Overton Co. ,Its a walnut variety .

Chiseled comb


Large radius back porch and radiused top handgaurd deck corners


Lightly struck pin punch ferul


High arch DAS cartouche


Large wide flat san serif (P)


Distinct flat sides
 
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