Post by 2nd Bat on Feb 15, 2008 16:20:19 GMT -5
Over the years since I started selling replica conversions and assembly kits for do it yourselfers I have constantly found myself and others confused with the correct descriptions of various parts on a US military rifle.
Most of the mistakes customers make are ones I made in sourcing parts from my assorted vendors and it can be a bit confusing. Here are some simple tips:
When describing locations on a gun imagine it is standing upright in a gun rack. For example on an M1 Garand there are two different handguards. The larger one toward the front of the rifle up close to the muzzle is officially the upper handguard. (Not the front as I always like to call it) The skinny, heatshield handguard toward the receiver group and above the barrel is officially the lower handguard. On a Springfield the stock band up by the muzzle that includes the bayonet lug and stacking swivel is the upper handguard while the thin band that includes the sling hardware is the lower stock band.
Parkerization is the gun metal treatment along with cosmoline grease that generally coated and protects the metal on a US Military issue rifle. The shade can vary greatly from a Dark almost Flat Black finish to a very dull, flat, medium, grey. Over time and after being exposed to cleaning solvents and exposure to the elements these metal parts can change in appearance a great deal so most field weapons should present a widely varied look often on the same gun. On constant wear areas, the parkerization would eventually be worn through exposing bare metal.
Often the same part on a given rifle can vary tremedously in costs and this is usually due to rarity and desireability. Generally the earliest issued parts on a World War Two rifle are considered the most desireable. Often the only apparent difference is that often early war parts were machined and late war parts were stamped steel. Sometimes there are visually recognizeable characteristics. The early war upper muzzle lock screw was a single slot while late war and post war muzzle nuts were "x" shaped like a giant Philips head screw. The early, single slotted screws are considerably more expensive. The lower handguard band was a machined part early war and featured a shaped slot down the center where the late war stamped part was universally flat. You can buy the late war band for 5 to $7.00 while the slotted band sometimes bring $60.00 or more for a thin metal band! Gas reservoir assemblies range from as low as $50.00 to several hundred depending on production source, manufacturer and date.
Butt plates, stock bands and sights fall into the same category and widely greatly in value. Condition is an obvious factor in determining a parts value. Grade one means the part is New Old Stock. (Never used) while grade two are worn and show it and grade three are unserviceable on a weapon but might be acceptable for a replica. I usually find grade three parts un usuable even for our purposes as they usually have been damged deliberately to scrap. Figuring it all out and understanding why some parts were so expenive or so hard to source and realizing that often times the gun experts get very confused with my description of needed parts has been an education. I hope this little tutorial helps.
Most of the mistakes customers make are ones I made in sourcing parts from my assorted vendors and it can be a bit confusing. Here are some simple tips:
When describing locations on a gun imagine it is standing upright in a gun rack. For example on an M1 Garand there are two different handguards. The larger one toward the front of the rifle up close to the muzzle is officially the upper handguard. (Not the front as I always like to call it) The skinny, heatshield handguard toward the receiver group and above the barrel is officially the lower handguard. On a Springfield the stock band up by the muzzle that includes the bayonet lug and stacking swivel is the upper handguard while the thin band that includes the sling hardware is the lower stock band.
Parkerization is the gun metal treatment along with cosmoline grease that generally coated and protects the metal on a US Military issue rifle. The shade can vary greatly from a Dark almost Flat Black finish to a very dull, flat, medium, grey. Over time and after being exposed to cleaning solvents and exposure to the elements these metal parts can change in appearance a great deal so most field weapons should present a widely varied look often on the same gun. On constant wear areas, the parkerization would eventually be worn through exposing bare metal.
Often the same part on a given rifle can vary tremedously in costs and this is usually due to rarity and desireability. Generally the earliest issued parts on a World War Two rifle are considered the most desireable. Often the only apparent difference is that often early war parts were machined and late war parts were stamped steel. Sometimes there are visually recognizeable characteristics. The early war upper muzzle lock screw was a single slot while late war and post war muzzle nuts were "x" shaped like a giant Philips head screw. The early, single slotted screws are considerably more expensive. The lower handguard band was a machined part early war and featured a shaped slot down the center where the late war stamped part was universally flat. You can buy the late war band for 5 to $7.00 while the slotted band sometimes bring $60.00 or more for a thin metal band! Gas reservoir assemblies range from as low as $50.00 to several hundred depending on production source, manufacturer and date.
Butt plates, stock bands and sights fall into the same category and widely greatly in value. Condition is an obvious factor in determining a parts value. Grade one means the part is New Old Stock. (Never used) while grade two are worn and show it and grade three are unserviceable on a weapon but might be acceptable for a replica. I usually find grade three parts un usuable even for our purposes as they usually have been damged deliberately to scrap. Figuring it all out and understanding why some parts were so expenive or so hard to source and realizing that often times the gun experts get very confused with my description of needed parts has been an education. I hope this little tutorial helps.