[The Gila Bender]

Receiver #002001 has been located in AZ. The rifle is configured as a Vietnam era M21 with Redfield ART optic and mount, leather sling and cheek rest. I had a cursory look (I'm no expert on this topic, btw) and will try to get photos soon. The barrel is marked "NM" but no address or other barrel markings were found including under the op rod. TRW bolt and trigger group. NM front and rear sights. Stock is genuine excellent condition M14, bedded, with selector switch cutout, stamped with DOD eagle and circle P, no markings in barrel channel. The rifle was not disassembled for further examination. Taken together the rifle appears to have been put together a very long time ago and has remained undisturbed for decades. The owner insists that it is a genuine Devine rifle, but without proper markings or documents how could one determine authenticity or origin other than by the serial number? Could this have been a bare receiver built to mimic a period M21?

 

[Ted Brown]

Great find! It is a Devine, TX made receiver. If it was assembled by Elmer it would have the Devine, TX address stamped on the bottom of the barrel in front of the gas plug. If not, it was originally purchased as a stripped receiver. It's cool because the very first M14 rifle produced at Springfield Armory in Mass. was serial number 2000.