-JC- Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 Does anyone know how many M14's Neil Smith converted and registered before 86? I just purchased one, and now I'm curious about how many are out there. This one is a Springfield M1A, and was originally misidentified as a factory M14 before double checking paperwork to see that Neil had done the registration. Is Neil still alive and working in the industry? I couldn't find much information about him online. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherman3 Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 (edited) He is alive and well. Should be at OGCA this weekend. Edited November 15, 2018 by sherman3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MACMAN Posted November 15, 2018 Report Share Posted November 15, 2018 You could meet him if you come to Knob Creek Shoot. He also knows about M-16's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsonlmg41 Posted November 16, 2018 Report Share Posted November 16, 2018 He's not an "online" guy. The only m14's I've seen from him were all cut and welded guns? There are a bunch. The one's I've seen were cut right in half and his guy did a heck of a job welding them back together......excellent work and not noticeable unless you open the action and inspect very carefully. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JC- Posted November 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2018 (edited) Would someone who is going to knob creek be able to ask him if he has any information on how many he manufactured? Or is there a phone number or contact information for him available? I'd love to chat with him. Edited November 16, 2018 by -JC- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt Chopper Posted November 18, 2018 Report Share Posted November 18, 2018 (edited) I spoke with him yesterday, I asked him how many, he just said "It was a lot". He also noted that his armor did such an excellent job on the conversions, that all parts were interchangeable, there were NO "Custom" fitted parts. He is a great man to visit with. I always greatly enjoy our conversations. Edited November 23, 2018 by Colt Chopper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Iannamico Posted November 21, 2018 Report Share Posted November 21, 2018 Nice guy, but hard to get info out of him, and as someone mentioned not a computer guy. He did a number of M1A conversions I had one, however, someone knowledgeable told me that Bruce Stalwell (sp?) actually did the conversions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
inertord Posted November 22, 2018 Report Share Posted November 22, 2018 Bruce Swalwell (Now deceased) did many of Neils MG Conversations and all of The M14 Welded Receivers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JC- Posted November 26, 2018 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2018 Thank you all for the information. I'm curious to know if the smaller manufacturers who registered and welded M1a receivers could have possibly made more than Smith Ent, or Springfield Armory. It seems not many M14/M1a registered guns are out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnsonlmg41 Posted November 27, 2018 Report Share Posted November 27, 2018 There are a good number of guns out there and of the welded together guns the Swalwell would be the one to get if you're inclined to purchase a welded gun. Several others tried it and failed. Springfield likely made the most, several hundred and a few of the Devine TX springfields were converted as well but as I understand not by them. There are numbers somewhere on Smith enterprises (might be 100 or so or less from memory?) Lots of one offs made by various people back in the day, but springfield was by far the most dominant converter followed by Smith ent., then probably Neil Smith. There are plenty of guns, but mostly collectors buy and hold them since they are not a big hit with "shooters" so they don't sell that frequently vs. the quantity out there. Two of mine are set up specially for reduced recoil, free float match barrels, and shoot sub 1/2 MOA with a QD suppressor and federal 168g match. There's just no other MG package out there that has that capability? I have pvs-22 I can clip on the front and do it at night too. I'm a big fan of the platform, but I think a full auto AR-10 could be close if properly set up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JC- Posted December 9, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2018 Conversion looks good. The weld shows up clearly in flash photography, but looks good under normal light. Lots of dried grease on this particular gun. (As seen in the blob over the engraving.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speeddemon02 Posted February 17, 2019 Report Share Posted February 17, 2019 What kind of quality are these receivers that were brought back to life? Would they be worth a look at getting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank Iannamico Posted February 21, 2019 Report Share Posted February 21, 2019 There is a lot of info in the new Steel Warrior M14 2nd edition book on conversions, rewelds etc.Covers most/all civilian M14 clones as well. link:smallarmsreview.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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