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M1918 Winchester Coming


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I’ve started taking this gun down. Like normal1959’s example, this one is marked “W MA” on the majority of the parts I’ve found. Recall that there are no military marks.The back of the trigger assembly has W, M, and R.DED175E4-5EF9-4638-8AEF-59C3DFE7D513.jpegE6FCDF17-41A4-4E65-BBA8-BBD6D1660446.jpeg79C25976-1479-4315-8F52-07ACCF6DB15F.jpegCB137C52-B43E-49C4-B3D5-783613C315B7.jpeg432CDC4D-F3EB-46BB-B11C-9CD3A1B91451.jpeg768BF547-248D-43A9-8962-D45E98E77310.jpeg454296FC-C54A-4FC2-825B-01EDAA04C7A3.jpegACA5B7E6-4238-430A-B395-37295D6E403B.jpegA2855F86-46F3-4A4B-BD71-D8AF45CE2491.jpeg47842C97-987B-42AE-A183-937E473F1089.jpeg84518055-2136-4D7A-8343-00B231DC009E.jpegI assume this is a commercial model and my guess is that M.A. stands for Marlin Arms. But why?
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Gary.

Are you ready to become even more confused??

I noticed that your receiver is not stamped with a ordnance acceptance wheel or a war eagle. This would be to the left of the serial no.

Does that mean your rifle was never accepted by the US?? I sure don't know. Take a look at my "Home Guard BAR" on page 2 and you will see what I mean.

So,----since Winchester was the leader in the BAR program, did they make extra receivers and pass them out to Marlin and Colt?? I don't know.

Did Marlin stamp "MA" on parts supplied by Winchester?? I don't know.

Does anyone here own a Marlin and can shed light on how Marlin parts are marked?? I don't know.

We certainly need a few experts here.

In any case it would appear that your rifle may have some non Winchester parts. Obviously a difficult thing to cope with.

Try to keep things in perspective. Think of how few people in the world own a Winchester BAR. Or better yet, how many people in the world don't own a Winchester BAR.

I must close now. I just discovered that my Colt BAR has a Winchester rear sight and I am having a really difficult time coping with it.

Jim C

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Yes, I think that early on it’s possible Marlin was making parts that end up in Winchester BARs.

 

So far, it’s all “W” with plenty “MA” all over.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Gary,

This morning I picked up my Winchester BAR.

I have the barrel/receiver group stripped for cleaning and identifying part.

The barrel is stamped "W" 11-18 and has "CRC" stamped on the underside of the barrel 2.5 inches in front of receiver ,just like yours.

Have not found "MA" anywhere.

Front site blade and rear site stamped with "w".

If I push my imagination I might make out a small "w" on the bolt lock, but no other bolt parts stamped.

Hammer stamped "NS" and "w".

Op spring guide stamped "w".

Piston and slide stamped "w".

Sear and ejector stamped "w".

I do not plan on stripping the trigger group at this time.

Was this any help??

I should add that this was a lend/lease gun and I don't believe it was ever fired.

Jim C

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Eric,

I will try to take some pics soon.

But just to leave you in suspense I will say this, my Winchester is even nicer than my Colt, condition wise.

But when it comes to fit and finish, the post war Colt beats the wartime Winchester.

Thanks for asking,

Jim C

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