Colt TSMG stamp serial number on buttstock latch ?

[normandy123]

I have acquired a buttstock latch nice blued or black not parkeized with a serial number of 8278 which is an over stamp of 8288. It is way too nice to be WWII surplus but I am not knowledgeable enough on this subject to know for sure. Any input out there on this ? 

[gijive]

Hi,

You have an early Savage butt stock slide.  It may haven reblued, maybe not.  The stamped slides were only sold with the earliest Savage guns.  No information is available about when the stopped stamping the slides.  The number is a production number that would have matched the wood stock and the butt plate.  It is not a Colt made piece.

[TD.]

Note the letter "P" marking toward the front of the stock slide. This is from Petroleum Heat and Power of Stamford, Connecticut - a World War II subcontractor for the Auto-Ordnance Corporation. There may also be a letter P mark on the slide catch. As stated by gijive above, numbered butt stock slides are found on only the earliest Savage guns. I have seen different numbering fonts and locations during my research. Those with my Thompson Compendium book can turn to the Savage Commercial chapter, page 56, and see different number markings on S-21286, a very nice Savage Commercial Thompson. There is still a lot to learn about the numbering of butt stocks, butt plates and stock slides. Owners are often very reluctant to remove a butt plate or stock side for fear of damaging the screws.  

[normandy123]

Thanks much to the more knowledgeable among us. I am attempting to put together a WWII display piece but the remainder is all parkerized. I can see no P on the slide catch on this unit.

[gijive]

The original guns were all blued when made.  They weren't Parkerized until they started rebuilding them in late WWII.  I don't think that a blued stock slide will make that big of a difference.  You will hardly see it.  Why don't you keep it until you can find one that is Parkerized?

[TSMGguy]

Right, all pre-war and WWII TSMGs were blued when made. M1s and M1A1s were generally arsenal refurbished after being taken out of service, leaving them with parked finishes. They then went into storage for future need or to be provided to US allies. AFAIK, there was no such rebuild program for M1928s and M1928A1s. If these guns are parked today, it's because owners along the line wanted them that way.  

[Dpedersen]

here is some pics of the butt stock slide from my colt butt stock for reference and comparison.