Unusual Springfield Armory M2 Training Rifle

Dokey

I just acquired a Springfield M2 WW2 Training rifle that is a bit odd. The serial number is 11802 and the date on the end of the barrel is 8-42. The stock is way above average with nice grain and figure and some very tiny handling marks. The odd thing about it that the following items are either chrome or nickel plated, trigger, trigger guard and floor plate, Bolt release lever, front barrel band and swivel, and rear swivel. The rest of the gun looks period parkerized . It almost looks like a parade rifle. Has anyone seen anything like this?

JOELBLACK

I'm afraid that serial number is not found on the DCM sales list.

rufe-snow

VFW, American Legion etc. Commonly did this to their color guard rifles. Although I have never seen or heard of a M2, being fixed up that way. This would have a negative affect on value, unless you can prove it was done at a government arsenal.

Might consider stripping off the nickel plating. And having the parts parkerized to match the rest of the gun.




EDIT #1,

Considering what the likely price of replacement M2 parts are gonea be. I wouldn't even look for them. Buy some nickel stripper from Brownells. Srip the parts. Then sand or bead blast them, to give the appearance of being Parkerized. Coat them with car wax so they won't rust.

Herschel

I once owned a SRS listed 1903 NRA Sporter that had floorplate, barrel band, rear sling swivel and bolt chrome plated. I was able to have the chrome removed from the parts by a plating shop. It is unfortunate that bubba had the parts plated. As a collector of the 1922 Springfields I have never seen any indication that such plating was done by a govt arsenal. Correct parts can be found to return the rifle to it's original appearance. The bolt should have the rifle serial number hand etched on it. Sounds like you have a nice, restorable piece.

Dokey

The bolt is serial numbered to the gun and electro etched. What would be a value estimate?

Dokey

What if it didn't come from the DCM. What would be your concern about it NOT being on the list?

Herschel

I would say that your rifle with chrome parts replaced by parkerized ones would be worth $1,000.00 to $1,200.00 or so. Deduct what it would cost to buy the replacement parts and that would give you present value. The bolt being numbered to the receiver and not chromed is a real plus. Yeah, I know there are M2 rifles listed at auction with starting bids from $1,600.00 and up. I also know that they never get a bid and are listed over and over again.

Herschel

A very small percentage of the M2 rifles are on the SRS sales list. The thousands of them that were sold as surplus by the DCM in 1957 are not on the list.

Dokey

Would you happen to have a source where to get the parts I need to return it to original condition? I've tried Numrich and Sarco. As a last resort I could have the plating removed and parkerized

Herschel

Try a search for "1922 Springfield" on GunBroker and the big internet auction. You might be lucky by posting a want to buy ad on some of the gun forums.

nmyers

The kind of restoration you want is done by "Chuck in Denver" at molineorski@msn.com .

Neal