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Posted: 1/27/2011 3:51:59 PM EDT
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I am looking at purchasing an M1A. I have noticed that some have stamped/engraved serial numbers and Springfield Armory logo on the back of the receiver and others apear to be stenciled in either white or an odd shade of yellow.
Is there a reason for this? Are they authentic? Dave |
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Well I have looked the rifle over and found a few things that dont seem to add up to the original.
There is an additional piece added to the top rear of the receiver that has a hole in it. I assume this is to add a scope mount, but I do not see this piece added to a new one in the box. I also see an NM .062 stamp on the front sight. Is it possible this is a MA9226 rather than a MA9106? Same rifle except the barrel is chrome lined and it has NM sights and cost a couple hundred more. Dave |
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Many non-match Springfields come with NM front sight posts. My Scout did.
The 'extra hole' in the top of the receiver is probably the second scope mount screw hole that replaces the stripper clip guide. Neither would be identifiers of a completely different model. |
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Well I found the skinny from Springfield.
The rifle is not an MA9106 but instead an MA9226, according to their serial number database. That means it is a loaded version of the synthetic stock M1A. Although customer support checked and the manufacturing folks said they never color in the lettering, another customer support rep said that sometimes the serial number and information is not stamped right the first time around. It is not stamped again if done wrong but instead laser eteched. the second hole at the top is for a 4th Gen scope mount. The piece is usually shipped when you purchase the mount from Springfield. the previous owner did not revoe it. Lucky me. Looks like I made out pretty good on this purchase. Dave |
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The 4th gen is a new mount and may have overcome the aluminum problem, but some of their old Al mounts would shoot loose. I dont like mating steel to aluminum in that manner, and in general believe in "buy once, cry once".
If I were buying a mount, I'd look at SEI, Sadlak, Basset, and ARMs, in that order. |
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