M1A Parts ID

E

Emwonae

Inactive
I hear all this talk of GI parts and SA parts. This may seem like a dumb question, but how do I know what parts are on my M1A. I bought this gun brand new directly from SA about 15 years ago. The reciever says
U.S.Rifle
7.62mm M1A
Springfield Armory
Is this what is refered to as GI issue?
Please set me straight.
Thanks
 
Parts ID

Emwonae,

To help identify some components, I have found that these acronyms would pretty much help you out:

HR - Harrington Richardson
TRW - TRW (forgot what it stood for)
SA - Springfield Armory
OM - Olin Mathison (Winchester)
WRA - Winchester
66118 - Winchester

All of the above are USGI components. However, not all SA components are USGI. SA of the past, yes. SA of now, no. If you purchased the rifle 15 years ago, then it is highly probable that you have a rifle that is full of USGI components. Keep in mind that the receiver is not USGI.

Hope this helps.

Jim
 
Some parts will have markings such as the operating rod, bolt, barrel, trigger housing, hammer. The operating rod spring guide, trigger guard, safety, stock and rear sight knobs may have markings. If the gas cylinder lock will fit a gas cylinder lock wrench it is USGI. If the gas cylinder lock is slightly too big for the wrench it is a cast part.

To add to the above, KMT is Killeen Machine Tool. They made trigger guards, operating rod spring guides and magazines I believe. Also, if a part is marked SAK it is Saco-Lowell.
 
The receiver is a commerical product. M1A

M-14 G.I. Springfields are Class 3, once a machine gun always a machine gun.

The story is:

Springfield (commerical) receivers were assembled with G.I. parts, as the G.I. parts ran out, Springfield hunted down whatever G.I. parts they could get, then began producing their own as the parts dried up.

BTW, there was a whole lot of G.I. parts kits that came in a few years back (from Israel).

I purchased them, and assembled my own guns using Springfield Armory Inc. receivers. They worked like a charm.

Back then, some gunsmiths refused to work on other companies receivers because of quality control problems (I won't name those/you heard the horror stories).
 
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