My WWII US small arms collection.

As an aside, my newest M1911A1 is SN 1186639 -- which I believe puts it at around January 1944 production. May I ask what stamps you have the barrel of your 1943 Colt? Everything on mine matches, with the exception of the barrel. It has an odd "T" stamp in front of the lug which I've never seen before in any books.

 

http://coolgunsite.com/


So maybe it's a 7 on your Barrel and it is ok!
My Barrel is marked as described in the article from coolgunsite.com, with a 7 on the bottom of the Barrel.

 

Eddystone P17.

 

All tough it was never used by the US Army, it was kind of "Government Issued", so I could not pass up on it to add to my WWII US Army small arms collection: "US Property" marked No4 MKI* made by Savage Arms in the US of A.

 

Very nice No4 Mk1*. Looks like that one passed through Century Arms International in the USA at some point.

 

Yep it has been re-imported to the US by CAI and then it must have gone to Europe

 

The latest addition: a BAR M-1918A1, built by IBM.

 

Great BAR ! That's one I don't have....and wish I did.

 

Excellent example! Looks like it was well cared for. How did you find this one?

 

Surely that is an M1918A2 BAR, not an M1918A1? Many of the latter were of course rebuilt later to M1918A2 configuration.

I absolutely love the old Enfield, whether in P14 or M1917 configuration. It is often forgotten, but it was very tough and superbly accurate and gave great service in two world wars. I have seen a video of the Enfield and that odd bolt handle could be worked surprisingly fast, faster I think than any other Mauser type. I believe that Sergeant York won his CMH with an M1917, not an M1903.

 

My bad, you're completely right Terry D, I don't know what went through my head ;-)

 

M-1928A1 with adjustable Lymann sight.

 

My latest addition! A 1911 in quite a good condition. It's only flaw is the missing lanyard loop. The barrel has the correct "P" and "H" markings for the WWI production. According to the serial number it was made in 1918. The Inspectors marking are those of Major John M. Gilbert.

 

Another M1 Garand I found on the attic of an old house. This is how I found it, I just removed a layer of dust, it's a little bit rusty but not too bad!

It's another Springfield, it is like someone put a spell on me, I just can't find a Winchester!! The serial number puts the production date somewhere in the beginning of June 1943.

 

Great find Tom. That's a real nice, honest and unscrewed with example.

 

Tom and George, you two have double handedly ( I do not think those are actually words used together !) made this into one of the best post ever. Great guns, well photographed.
the attic found MI is fantastic, what a story it could tell. I am glad you kept it as is . I would make sure further oxidation has been stopped and check it more often than the rest but keep it original, a jewel. We all differ but I would rather have a Springfield as they were, I believe, the developers and original makers. As famous as winchester was then they still were brough in to increase production. As question for all of you, when Remington Rand, International Harvester, etc ., were brought in, well Winchester too, who produced the machine tools they used? It seems logical they would use a single or common source to ensure standardization. The other possibility was they al;l received blueprints and specifications only.
However could Remington Rand produce machine tools or acquire them. which reinforces the question was there a prime supplier of machine tools.

But you two have really made a nice contribution here, many thanks,

Gaines

 

Thanks very much Gaines. But I have to say that Tom's collection puts mine to shame!

 

Well, maybe by a BAR !