Diverdown13 Posted November 21, 2015 Report Share Posted November 21, 2015 (edited) I have a few questions about my M1A1. It's a Bridgeport Connecticut gun Serial number 8272xx. It has GFG inspectors mark in two places at the front of the receiver and 1A. The gun also has A L 265 stamped on the left side by the serial number. The bottom of the receiver is stamped with a "S" in front of the mag well. Also the back of the bolt is stamped with a "S" on the rear in the center and a "D" off center from the S. Then there is a "P" on the left side of the bolt below the hole where the charging handle goes. The top of the barrel by the receiver is marked with a "P" and . There is another . On the receiver. The two .. Line up. On the stocks, the sling swivel on the butt stock was moved to the top of the stock and the one on the forearm move to the left side. Both of the original swivel slots were professionally filled in many years ago (I know this was done prior to 1979). I have seen other M1A1's with this same sling swivel modification. I was told this gun was made by Savage with Bridgeport parts during the war to keep up with demand. Any help is appreciated. There is also a "S" stamped on the back of the recoil spring guide and the #7 on the lower (underside at the rear where the butt stock slides on). Thanks Edited November 22, 2015 by Diverdown13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brazos609 Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 It was made by Savage just using the AOC name and Bridgeport address. All of the markings other than the AL 265 are standard Savage production markings. I also have a 1928 marked AL 453 and I have seen two other M1A1s with similar AL markings. I even started a thread here asking about the AL markings but got no clear answer. I assume that it is an arsenal rack or rebuild number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diverdown13 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 Thanks. The AL marking really had me digging. I'm pretty sure this gun wasn't an arsenal rebuild. It is an import gun. I think it was a Brittish Lend-Lease gun I was told they are the ones that moved the sling swivels. This gun was imported back into the states in 79 and has sat in a Sheriffs armory. I can not find any Brittish markings though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Mills Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 The GFG marking you refer to is likely GEG, or the venerable George E. Goll. Part of the early Thompson team and a very smart guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brazos609 Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 Thanks. The AL marking really had me digging. I'm pretty sure this gun wasn't an arsenal rebuild. It is an import gun. I think it was a Brittish Lend-Lease gun I was told they are the ones that moved the sling swivels. This gun was imported back into the states in 79 and has sat in a Sheriffs armory. I can not find any Brittish markings though. Just because it is an imported pre-86 dealer sample doesn't mean that it wasn't rebuilt, they did rebuild guns overseas too. My 1928 with those markings and the two other M1A1s with those markings that I said I have seen are all pre-samples too. That right there is a pattern, four pre-sampels all with the same markings. I also said it could have been an arsenal rack number. They are also old markings, way older than the importers stamp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diverdown13 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 The marking is a GEG not GFG. That was a typo on my part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diverdown13 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 I know very little about what was/was not done during an arsenal rebuild. The ones that I have seen had new barrels and bolts installed. I'm pretty confident that this barrel and bolt are original to the gun. The line up mark on the receiver and barrel with the " P" are present and correct. internal parts may have been replace or the gun wasn't shot a ton. They look nice. There is an old repair on the butt stock where it cracked in front of the reinforcing screw. This repair is professional and most likely done in the armory. The "AL" marking appears to have been stamped before the gun was finished. I'm with you on finding any solid info on the AL marks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 I have a 1928 with a similar marking. It is not a US military rebuild marking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brazos609 Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 I have a 1928 with a similar marking. It is not a US military rebuild marking. Is yours also a pre-sample? I think the AL markings are from some foreign arsenal. In my other thread people said they thought the were from a PD or possibly Alabama but I don't think so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 I have a 1928 with a similar marking. It is not a US military rebuild marking. Is yours also a pre-sample? I think the AL markings are from some foreign arsenal. In my other thread people said they thought the were from a PD or possibly Alabama but I don't think so. Pre May dealer sample with a history of being with the Bay Minette Police Department and the Baldwin County, AL Sheiff’s Department Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diverdown13 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 This gun was never with an Alabama PD or Sheriff's dept. It was only with a Misouri PD in 1979 the to the county sheriff in 1989. The PD got it from the importer. I know this for a fact because this is what caused ATF to denie me on the transfer. The only 2 form 5's in the NFA registry were both stamped with a odd stamp. Just said Law Enforcement Only. I'm 99.9% positive the "AL" mark was not put on the gun after it was imported back into the US in 1979. The marking and finish matches the other original markings and the importers marking is not finished so it's impossible for the gun to have been redone here after import. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diverdown13 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 I have a 1928 with a similar marking. It is not a US military rebuild marking. Is yours also a pre-sample? I think the AL markings are from some foreign arsenal. In my other thread people said they thought the were from a PD or possibly Alabama but I don't think so.Yes it is a pre sample. The AL mark was put on before it was imported back into the US. So the theory about this particular mark being from a PD is not correct. Plus, I know all the history since import. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted November 22, 2015 Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 I never bought into the marking having anything to do with rebuilds or possession in the US, nor did I believe it had anything to do with the state of Alabama. Just a coincidence that the one I have happened to have come out of a law enforcement agency in that state which I know for a fact it did and not basing it on something a previous owner told me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diverdown13 Posted November 22, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2015 I added more pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anjong-ni Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Is the "AL---" marking not, "Armee de Luxembourg"?.......Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoscoeTurner Posted November 23, 2015 Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 Is the "AL---" marking not, "Armee de Luxembourg"?.......Phil The markings on mine are in the same style but begin with AA and no, it is not an Augusta Arsenal mark. http://i676.photobucket.com/albums/vv121/roscoeturner/Thompson/AA%20marking_zpsr4tkyjmu.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diverdown13 Posted November 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2015 I don't know. The font is very different. The L is very distinct. It doesn't look like any L I've seen. The top of the L looks like a Y then the bottom of the L has a distinct leg on the back side resembling an upside down T. And the legs of the A kick out. Any idea on the stock/sling swivel modifications? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now