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Posted: 6/15/2005 3:51:40 AM EDT
| I just received my HRA Greek Service grade yesterday from CMP and was very happy. All HRA parts with correct dates (5-55) except a SA trigger. The hardware looks like it has hardly ever been fired and the lands look great at the muzzle. The only wear on the metal is a very, very small amount of abrasion in the receiver where the right front lug of the bolt hits the receiver (near where the op rod handle is). My only slight disappointment was the stock. The buttplate looks like it was dragged to and from Greece and I cannot identify the wood. It definitely is not walnut. It is much lighter in color and density and has much coarser grain. It has one circled P on the handgrip and the 3/8" boxed eagle/three star cartouche, but no other markings. Any idea what type of wood this is? It almost feels as if it were pine. I will try to get pics, but I want to make sure I don't refinish the wood in a manner that is inappropriate. Any ideas? |
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3m, With the "P" and the DAS stamp it has to be a USGI buttstock. The Greeks didn't put these on their replacement wood. Since it must be USGI wood, there are only two choices.... walnut and birch... and since it has the DAS acceptance stamp, it almost has to be walnut. Chances are it's walnut...... even if it doesn't LOOK like walnut. Walnut can vary greatly from what most folks think of as "normal" walnut look. It CAN be very light in color. Opinions by experts vary on whether or not birch was ever used as a factory original buttstock on the M1, which is the only way it could get a DAS stamp. Most everyone thinks that birch was used ONLY as an arsenal replacement stock (beginning in the 50's), therefore never getting DAS stamps. Please post photos as soon as you can... maybe you have something rare there....  Best regards, Swampy Garands forever |
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