M3 Finish

[Sgt. Saunders]

Hi guys, would this be an original finish for an M3 or was this re-parked? It seems kind of greyish. The ones I see on the net are more on the dark (black) side. Anyone know where I can buy a ratchet spring, this one has a broken one. TIA!!!

 

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg198/rickyep007/GuideLamp.jpg

 

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg198/rickyep007/GreaseGunRH-1.jpg

[Sgt. Saunders]

Reading past posts, I think can answer my own question, M3's w/ black finish were lend lease guns with a bar welded over the magazine release to avoid dropping of the magazine and these were done by British armorers.

 

I am just asking if the finish of this M3 (close-up) looks original because the broken part of the ratchet spring seems to also have parkerizing probably a clue that it has been re-finished but I am not sure if the whole firearm has been re-finished because I have nothing to compare it with.

[jim c 351]

I don't know if its been refinished, but its a nice looking gun. Are you the lucky owner?

I have a M3 and it always attracts more attention than my TSMG and sadly my scores are usually better with the M3.

Jim C

[Sgt. Saunders]

I don't know if its been refinished, but its a nice looking gun. Are you the lucky owner?

I have a M3 and it always attracts more attention than my TSMG and sadly my scores are usually better with the M3.

Jim C

 

Thanks Jim, yes I am...I also like firing the M3 because of the slow cyclic rate I can control it better and I love to shoot plates w/ it. But it's definitely no looker w/ all those Frankenstein looking weld marks I still love the beauty of a TSMG, it just has that WOW factor!!!

 

[emmagee1917]

I have one that went through an arsenal rehab in the mid - sixties. It is marked with the arsenal stampings on the mag well ( RIA in my case IIRC) . No markings= no rebuild. Does not mean someone else didn't do it though. Yours does look a little lighter than mine , but not by much. The story I got from the man who sold it to me was that this was a general's personal gun , refurb'd for his tour from a "destroyed" gun , then registered by him during the '68 deal. The high humidity of SEA theater could have darkened it up some. Who knows? Chris

[RoscoeTurner]

This one was traded recently. From the sharpness of the markings I strongly believe this one was never refinished. Fortunately with this one gone I will not have to deal with M3s or M3A1s again, that one is the first and last one to ever grace the doors here.

 

 

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv121/roscoeturner/M3A1d.jpg

 

http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv121/roscoeturner/M3A1c.jpg

[jim c 351]

I don't know if its been refinished, but its a nice looking gun. Are you the lucky owner?

I have a M3 and it always attracts more attention than my TSMG and sadly my scores are usually better with the M3.

Jim C

 

Thanks Jim, yes I am...I also like firing the M3 because of the slow cyclic rate I can control it better and I love to shoot plates w/ it. But it's definitely no looker w/ all those Frankenstein looking weld marks I still love the beauty of a TSMG, it just has that WOW factor!!!

Sgt. Saunders,

If you would like to see a video of me shooting my M3, go to Uzitalk.com----enter forums---- go to shoots and gun shows---Ohio subgun match--. I'm the guy with the blue shirt shooting the M3. As so often happens , my time was much better than the time with my AO28A1.

There must be someting special about the M3 when people follow you around with cameras.

Good luck with yours.

Jim C

[Sgt. Saunders]

Thanks for the post Roscoe, now I know mine has been re-finished and I found other clues. My trigger housing seems to have some light pits that was covered by the park job....

 

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg198/rickyep007/IMG_4840.jpg

 

 

Wow Jim, I really enjoyed that video!!!! I loved the part when you hit all the steel plates w/ no miss and the 10 bowling pins in a row on FA, that was just amazing!!! You were shooting better then the person using the HK.

 

Thank you for sharing!!!

 

Ric P.

[emmagee1917]

I find your comments a little puzzling , RT. I have 2 greaseguns , 2 WH thompsons ,2 reisings , a M2 carbine, a 1917 , 2 1919A4 , and a Ma Duece. I've had a BAR, a M60 , and a M16. The only ones that I've had run from day 1 without any functioning problems has been the greaseguns and one 1919. The m3 is orig USGI , the M3A1 a mediea. I had to weld in a higher front sight to sight the Mediea in , but niether has ever jammed on me and both are the greastest at hip shooting cans past 25yds , not just for me , but for the dozens of others who have shot them. I would have to say , my life would have been much duller without them , and these would be some of the last , if not the last , I would ever sell if I had to. Chris

[RoscoeTurner]

I find your comments a little puzzling , RT. I have 2 greaseguns , 2 WH thompsons ,2 reisings , a M2 carbine, a 1917 , 2 1919A4 , and a Ma Duece. I've had a BAR, a M60 , and a M16. The only ones that I've had run from day 1 without any functioning problems has been the greaseguns and one 1919. The m3 is orig USGI , the M3A1 a mediea. I had to weld in a higher front sight to sight the Mediea in , but niether has ever jammed on me and both are the greastest at hip shooting cans past 25yds , not just for me , but for the dozens of others who have shot them. I would have to say , my life would have been much duller without them , and these would be some of the last , if not the last , I would ever sell if I had to. Chris

 

I own a number of original full autos myself, German, British and US but the Grease Gun is not one I want to have. I bought that one last year and after the first few days I decided I did not like them. I will take a Thompson or a Sten gun over a Grease Gun any day. It boils down to personal preference.

 

The M3A1 in my photos was traded for a Savage 1928A1 Thompson.

[jim c 351]

Thanks for the post Roscoe, now I know mine has been re-finished and I found other clues. My trigger housing seems to have some light pits that was covered by the park job....

 

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg198/rickyep007/IMG_4840.jpg

 

 

Wow Jim, I really enjoyed that video!!!! I loved the part when you hit all the steel plates w/ no miss and the 10 bowling pins in a row on FA, that was just amazing!!! You were shooting better then the person using the HK.

 

Thank you for sharing!!!

 

Ric P.

Ric,

Your right about your ejector/cocking handle assbl, it has been parked over pitting. If the rest of the gun is free from such pitting, I'd start watching the M3 site on gunbrocker.com. Over the last 2 years , I have picked up 2 such assemblies, 1 for $40.00 and 1 for $15.00. Be patient and only buy the right one at the right price.

 

emmagee 1917,

The reason that you and Roscoe will never see eye to eye is because he is more of a collector and you are a shooter.

He sees a stamped and welded piece of coal and you see a diamond of performance. But even at that , Ive found that many are fastenated by the M3 looks.

Did you watch the video that I mentioned above? Thats what you and I call performance.

Jim C

[RoscoeTurner]

emmagee 1917,

The reason that you and Roscoe will never see eye to eye is because he is more of a collector and you are a shooter.

He sees a stamped and welded piece of coal and you see a diamond of performance. But even at that , Ive found that many are fastenated by the M3 looks.

Did you watch the video that I mentioned above? Thats what you and I call performance.

Jim C

 

 

Jim,

 

You are correct. It is that and the fact that I trained with them in the Army which left me with no strong interest in them. When I look at a firearm I am much more interested in its history than I am any thing else and after a bit of research the history of the M3A1 did not appeal to me.

 

For me, if I were looking for performance I would pick up a MP5, I used those in the Army also and was impressed with them.

 

[emmagee1917]

HaHa , well , I'm a shooter and collector , both. I can see Rosco's point. I only bought these to fill slots in my WW2 USGI collection. I did not expect much when buying them. I was plesently surprised , to say the least. The first was the Madiea , and at 25yds , to hit one of those police man targets ( the big one , B27? ) in the chest I had to aim below it's right hip! I had a spare front sight off a Ruger single action , so I mig/tig welded it on to adjust. Worked fine , shoots to point of aim now. I got the Guidelamp a little later , and it shot dead on from git-go. The have a rep of being tempermental and unreliable , but I've had no trouble with mine at all. I thought Rosco had a bad experiance with one and was just wondering.

 

Saw the vidio , realy neat and very good shooting. Oh , that reminds me , even though my two shoot so far apart from each other as far as origional sights , they are the exact same when shooting from the hip. I can switch between them and it makes no difference. Everyone I've had shoot these , no matter if old pro or newbie nor body build or shape , after a few mags they have had no problem bouncing tin cans from the waist out past 25 yds. Never had any such luck with any other gun.

 

Oh , have you tried Sarco? GGo36 is the bbl ratchet , $35. Might give MG Dave a call. Let me know , too , if you would , it's a part I did not think to put a spare away. Chris

[jim c 351]

emmagee 1917,

The reason that you and Roscoe will never see eye to eye is because he is more of a collector and you are a shooter.

He sees a stamped and welded piece of coal and you see a diamond of performance. But even at that , Ive found that many are fastenated by the M3 looks.

Did you watch the video that I mentioned above? Thats what you and I call performance.

Jim C

 

 

Jim,

 

You are correct. It is that and the fact that I trained with them in the Army which left me with no strong interest in them. When I look at a firearm I am much more interested in its history than I am any thing else and after a bit of research the history of the M3A1 did not appeal to me.

 

For me, if I were looking for performance I would pick up a MP5, I used those in the Army also and was impressed with them.

Roscoe,

Well now we are even. I wouldn't want a MP5 if someone gave it to me. As the range officer at last saturdays SMG shoot said " I've seen more break downs and malfunctions with the H&K MP5's than any other SMG even the H&R Reising".

And as Ric said above "You were shooting better than the person shooting the HK".

I rest my case.

Jim

[RoscoeTurner]

Well now we are even. I wouldn't want a MP5 if someone gave it to me. As the range officer at last saturdays SMG shoot said " I've seen more break downs and malfunctions with the H&K MP5's than any other SMG even the H&R Reising".

And as Ric said above "You were shooting better than the person shooting the HK".

I rest my case.

Jim

 

 

The MP5 I had was issued to me in El Salvador in 1989, I did not experience one malfunction with that weapon. When you have to depend on one for much more than a play day at the range you tend to take much better care of it than the average range shooter. In those circumstances when they go from being a toy to being something your life depends on you look at matters a whole lot differently. Maybe your range officer hadn't had that type of experience with MP5s.

 

 

[jim c 351]

Well now we are even. I wouldn't want a MP5 if someone gave it to me. As the range officer at last saturdays SMG shoot said " I've seen more break downs and malfunctions with the H&K MP5's than any other SMG even the H&R Reising".

And as Ric said above "You were shooting better than the person shooting the HK".

I rest my case.

Jim

 

 

The MP5 I had was issued to me in El Salvador in 1989, I did not experience one malfunction with that weapon. When you have to depend on one for much more than a play day at the range you tend to take much better care of it than the average range shooter. In those circumstances when they go from being a toy to being something your life depends on you look at matters a whole lot differently. Maybe your range officer hadn't had that type of experience with MP5s.

Roscoe, I'm glad you had a good one. This site wouldn't be the same without you. I've kept a little secret for as long as can. I must confess that I also was in the US Army, Not for as long as you but long enough. I was in Korea from Mar 63 to Feb 64 and VN from Sep 64 to Jun 65.

When in Korea , I was with 2/9 cav 1st Cav Div. We manned 3 outposts looking at North Korea, a potentially hazardous place to be.

In VN I was in Can Tho and Bac Lieu with some Vietnamese div.

So as you can see I am not totally lacking in military experience.

My personal experience is, unless an inspection is eminent, the troops don't spend a lot a time fusing over their firearm. They also don't fire them a great deal.

The people I shoot against at matches spent around $15,000 for their MP5 and give more love and care than to their first born son. They also fire more rounds in one weekend than the average soldier would shoot in 3 years. As you can imagine , this can stress out a firearm. And it sometimes shows.

A gun like the Thompson, and to a lesser extent the M3 didn't spend their time flying around in a helicopter or in a FBI arms room. The 28,M1, & M3 made their reputation in the desert, the jungles, the snow ext.

If you want a 9 m/m SMG that proved itself , at least in the desert, I'd recommend the Uzi.

But if a Uzi doesn't suit you I hope you can get the US Army to sell you the MP5 you had in the service. Sounds like you had a good one.

Jim C

[Sgt. Saunders]

Well now we are even. I wouldn't want a MP5 if someone gave it to me. As the range officer at last saturdays SMG shoot said " I've seen more break downs and malfunctions with the H&K MP5's than any other SMG even the H&R Reising".

And as Ric said above "You were shooting better than the person shooting the HK".

I rest my case.

Jim

 

 

The MP5 I had was issued to me in El Salvador in 1989, I did not experience one malfunction with that weapon. When you have to depend on one for much more than a play day at the range you tend to take much better care of it than the average range shooter. In those circumstances when they go from being a toy to being something your life depends on you look at matters a whole lot differently. Maybe your range officer hadn't had that type of experience with MP5s.

 

 

I've also shot an MP5 that my buddy owns lots of times, we never had a malfunction either. What I like about it, is that its light and there's hardly any muzzle rise, dunno about knockdown power though, unless its a 5.56! I guess if your life depended on it, you really have to keep your duty gun clean and well lubed. But my good ole M3 can eat about anything I feed it with no malfunction despite hardly cleaning it and I don't end up wondering why my mag was finished so fast. Different strokes for different folks, as long as the bullets go where you want it to w/ every squeeze and no malfunctions, gets my vote for that firearm. If I had to choose between Jim and his 65 year old M3 and the guy w/ the HK on his video, I definitely wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of Jims barrel!!!

 

MP5

 

 

[jim c 351]

Sgt S ,

I loved the MP5 clip. I wish you would have posted a disclaimer that I didn't pay you to do it.

Jim C

[RoscoeTurner]

Roscoe, I'm glad you had a good one. This site wouldn't be the same without you. I've kept a little secret for as long as can. I must confess that I also was in the US Army, Not for as long as you but long enough. I was in Korea from Mar 63 to Feb 64 and VN from Sep 64 to Jun 65.

When in Korea , I was with 2/9 cav 1st Cav Div. We manned 3 outposts looking at North Korea, a potentially hazardous place to be.

In VN I was in Can Tho and Bac Lieu with some Vietnamese div.

So as you can see I am not totally lacking in military experience.

My personal experience is, unless an inspection is eminent, the troops don't spend a lot a time fusing over their firearm. They also don't fire them a great deal.

The people I shoot against at matches spent around $15,000 for their MP5 and give more love and care than to their first born son. They also fire more rounds in one weekend than the average soldier would shoot in 3 years. As you can imagine , this can stress out a firearm. And it sometimes shows.

A gun like the Thompson, and to a lesser extent the M3 didn't spend their time flying around in a helicopter or in a FBI arms room. The 28,M1, & M3 made their reputation in the desert, the jungles, the snow ext.

If you want a 9 m/m SMG that proved itself , at least in the desert, I'd recommend the Uzi.

But if a Uzi doesn't suit you I hope you can get the US Army to sell you the MP5 you had in the service. Sounds like you had a good one.

Jim C

 

About the only sand we ran across in El Salvador was on the beach and we didn't get down there often enough as far as I was concerned.

 

A guy asked me a long time ago what was my favorite firearm in the military, my answer was "The one that shot when I needed it to".