[Sukhoi_fan]

I've recently come into a Devine M1A serial #000248 that I'm trying to sell for a friend. It originally came with an E2 stock (I know the past 17 year history on this rifle and my other friend acquired it in 9/2001 - he spoke with Elmer on the phone shortly after he acquired it with Elmer confirming that he sent it out with an E2 stock). I first saw it with the E2 stock but that was subsequently replaced with an USGI fiberglass stock because the last owner didn't care for the E2 stock. The barrel is stamped "NM" and under the op rod the barrel is stamped "SAK" and the date of '63 (along with some other numbers I don't comprehend). TRW bolt of course, and trigger housing shows both SAK and HRA. Op rod is marked SAK. NM sights front and rear. The action is the slickest I've ever seen on a M1A, and I mean you can tell it's very unique in that way. Someone who recently inspected it advised me that it *may* have been in a batch of receivers sent to Ft. Benning to be built into match rifles hence no address marking on barrel. When my friend spoke with Elmer shortly after he acquired it he does not recall Elmer saying anything other than he remembered the rifle and that it was sent out with an E2 stock and it was one of the smoothest actions he ever sent out. He does not recall Elmer saying anything about it being a Ft. Benning build.

So is there any explanation as to why the barrel is not marked with the SA or Devine address? I do know that it is a super sweet shooter - my friend's wife is a true noob to shooting and she recently managed to shoot a 3 shot MOA group with it using the irons only.

 

[Sukhoi_fan]

I found Elmer's phone number. Gonna call him tomorrow.

 

[buckshotu2]

Perhaps this thread will be of some use in answering your questions. It seems like it has some similar subject material

https://m14forum.com/devine-m1a/4926-devine-tx-m1a-barrel-markings-2.html

 

[Random Guy]

As to the lack of Devine markings on barrel, I might suggest a simple explanation: the barrel could have been replaced at some point in the 1980s-1990s, before your firend acquired the rifle in 2001.

The rifle is well over 40 years old and they were often used in high power competition back in the day. So it’s possible the original barrel was shot-out and subsequently replaced. I wouldn’t worry too much about it, as long as the throat erosion on the current barrel is on the low end (2 or less).

 

[Sukhoi_fan]

I just spoke with Elmer. He said he has no records to indicate whether #000248 was one of the 600 bare receivers he sold or one that was a complete rifle he sold and someone re-barreled it. Taking it to Bud J. to see what his impression of it is.

 

[Different]

There are two documented cases where a barreled receiver left SA, Inc. in Texas without address markings on the barrels, serial numbers 000172 and 000214.

 

[SPEEDGUNNER]

In conversations with Elmer he has indicated to me that some of the early barrels were not marked. By early I think he meant first few hundred.

 

[Sukhoi_fan]

In conversations with Elmer he has indicated to me that some of the early barrels were not marked. By early I think he meant first few hundred.

Thanks, I'll give him another call to see if I can jog his memory.

 

[Cass]

In the past Elmer has said that he has no records regarding specific rifles or serial numbers from that time. If I recall correctly, he said that he had turned in his FFL records. I have seen people report that they talked to Elmer and he remembered their rifle, etc. I'm not saying I disagree, but it seems unlikely that anyone could remember a specific rifle from over 45 years ago unless it was truly one of a kind.

Certainly he marked a lot of the early barrels. As Different says there were some where that was omitted. A lot of the knowledge is based on documentation from original owners that can confirm the original configuration.

I have 000276 that came with some original documentation. Here is a link to that older thread for reference:

https://m14forum.com/devine-m1a/186524-devine-tex-000276-artel-scope-extras.html

He advertised several models from Issue to E2 to Match Grade, see the ad and brochure pictures below.

Cass


http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/... Devine TX/IMG_1841e_zpsfokgmkvf.jpg~original

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/... Devine TX/IMG_1846e_zpsy7tuu6af.jpg~original

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/... Devine TX/IMG_1847e_zpsnsypmwwx.jpg~original

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/... Devine TX/IMG_1848e_zpsjaywr4l1.jpg~original

 

[Sukhoi_fan]

Spoke with Elmer again and he said, "Every completed rifle I sent out had the address on the barrel." I asked to confirm, "Every single one?" Elmer replied, "Yes."

 

[sac troop]

Elmer must be close to if not already into his nineties by now. God bless him. I wonder how many thousands of times he's been answering the same questions over the last 40+ years.

 

[Sukhoi_fan]

Elmer must be close to if not already into his nineties by now. God bless him. I wonder how many thousands of times he's been answering the same questions over the last 40+ years.

I get the impression he enjoys the company.

 

[DX315]

I spoke with Elmer on the phone a few months ago. He said I could mail him photos of my Devine rifle and he would take a look and see what he could tell me about it. Haven’t heard back but, I’m sure he’s in no hurry.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sukhoi_fan]

I had Bud take a good look at this rifle. Bud advised that if it had been sent out as a barreled receiver it would have been stamped with the address on the heel. (Haven't yet asked Elmer about this.) Since there's no address anywhere we concluded that it was sent out as a bare receiver and built with all USGI and NM parts except for two small non-USGI parts which Bud replaced.