DZelenka Posted April 9, 2016 Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 At what serial number did the factory begin installing the sheet metal guards around the magazine release button? I saw one on a 216,xxx gun and the owner insists it is original. I am not sure since the high 180,000 guns don't seem to have them as factory parts (although all of the ones in that serial number range that I have seen are ex Brit guns). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim c 351 Posted April 9, 2016 Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 DZ,I have no idea when M3's would have left the Guide Lamp factory with the sheet metal guards.The highest number M3, on my records, with the British horse shoe guard is number 187,804, so one might assume the sheet metal guards left GL on guns with higher numbers.Since installing a sheet metal guard requires little skill, as soon as supply rooms world wide received these parts all M3's would be upgraded, including serial number 1.Jim C Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZelenka Posted April 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2016 It's Bruce Canfield's gun. Looks really nice. It has a guard that he says is original. 216k is pretty close to the known non-guard lend lease guns. I was just curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Uzi Posted April 12, 2016 Report Share Posted April 12, 2016 Well all the stamped guards are original and can be put on within 2-3 minutes in the field. Unless the gun was still packaged in the cosmoline when he got it, I would be curious as to how he can say that it is original. Now if he means original equipment or its an original guard then ok-but to say its original to the gun since it was made would be a bit of a stretch unless he can prove it with documentation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZelenka Posted April 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2016 That is why I am asking. I figured it for a retro-fitted guard because his serial number is so close to the known Brit guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUNGUY45 Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 I always thought that the stamped guard was an "M3A1" improvement.Guess I didn't think that it would have been added on M3's during production. That's what I get for thinking...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Got Uzi Posted April 13, 2016 Report Share Posted April 13, 2016 I have a friend with a Brit marked M3 in the 67,XXX range with no "hoop" on it. That being said his gun could have a sheet metal one added at any time. Any M3 in the field that had not been modified with a "hoop" could and most likely did have he sheet metal guard added. Again-all you have to do is take the magazine release off, install the guard as it slips on, then reassemble. Sometimes I think we try and read too much into little things like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted April 15, 2016 Report Share Posted April 15, 2016 (edited) If I remember right the guard was added to the production on 31. August 1944. But I can't find the source for this information at the moment. It is also mentioned in the War Department Modification Work Order A58-W2 from 23. January 1945. Edited April 15, 2016 by Hamster Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlexanderA Posted April 16, 2016 Report Share Posted April 16, 2016 I have a British Lend-Lease M3, serial number 398,0xx. It has no evidence of ever having had the "hoop" magazine release guard welded on. When I got it, it didn't have the sheet metal guard either. I added one later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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