how to ID USGI/commercial parts, and USGI parts makers

1233 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by warbird, Sep 18, 2004

woodpuppy

Discussion Starter · Sep 17, 2004

Lotsa FNG questions.

I have a Springfield M1A, 2000 purchase. I've been slowly buying up USGI parts for it, if I'd known what I was doing when I bought it I'd have found a company who offered an M14/M1A with all USGI parts from the get-go.

As purchased the rifle had a '61 Winchester barrel and loads of commercial parts. I've managed to secure USGI stock/HG, sights, an HRA op rod, HR-N trigger group, and HRT bolt. Are the HR-N & HRT items H&R also? I also bought a flash hider w/ bayo lug, sold to me as USGI NM. how does one tell if it really is? regardless, it's better than the denuded one that came on the rifle.....

How does one ID the gas cyl, plug, piston, clip guide, & op rod guide?

How many manufacturers and subcontractors are there for M14 rifles and/or parts? It seems TRW is the most mentioned, is it preferred? What is TRW?!?

One last thing(for now!), my clip guide moves a bit in its dovetail. As it is roll-pinned into place, is there an easy way to secure it, or is this just the way it is?

thanks!
Dave

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Jefferson F. Davis

· #2 · Sep 17, 2004

think if you'll do a search this has been covered before

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M14 LOVER

· #3 · Sep 17, 2004

woodpuppy,

Welcome to the distinguished order of M14 owners. You have so many questions that it appears to me, and my advice to you is as follows;

Buy Scott Duff's book "The M14 Owner's Guide"
Buy Jerry Kuhnhausen's M14/M1 Garand shop manual.
http://www.imageseek.com/m1a

I only reccommend this because your interest seems to be more than a casual hobby, so you need these books.
Go to the above website for an excellent chronological history of the M14 rifle. It's free and also has great information on how to ID USGI parts.
If the FH you have has squared (at the end) barrel mounting splines then it is most likely USGI. If the splines are rounded then it is most likely not USGI.

HR-N & HR-T are USGI Harrington & Richardson sub- contracted out parts.

Gas cylinders never had any contractor ID markings on them. Only some have been found to have marks like this: G, a "T" inside a circle and an "L".

HTH & happy shooting,

Mike

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woodpuppy

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 17, 2004

Thanks for the advice, Mike- I'd since found the website you speak of, looks very promising. I have Duff's works on the M1, but not the M14- and I've been wanting the Kuhnhausen manual. Guess I need to do my own research, eh?

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Different

· #5 · Sep 18, 2004

woodpuppy said:
Thanks for the advice, Mike- I'd since found the website you speak of, looks very promising. I have Duff's works on the M1, but not the M14- and I've been wanting the Kuhnhausen manual. Guess I need to do my own research, eh?

Thanks, woodpuppy. I'm trying. :lol: