I’m a complete newb when it comes to the platform. Today I saw what appeared to be a camo painted M1A. Upon closer inspection, I saw this.



I didn’t see any selector so it’s obviously not a giggle gun…



, but is this something special or were converted M-14 receivers a normal thing? Other than the scope, mount, and plastic stock, all else seems factory to my eye. Thanks in advance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: gearhounds,

Isn’t it common for manufacturers of the rifles these days to call them M14s (even though they’re not)? As far as I know Springfield Armory was the only manufacturer to honestly give their civilian versions of the weapon a different model designation.

It’s like Colt marking some of their AR-15 type rifles “M4.”

FWIW, though, not seeing a firing selector that permits full auto fire doesn’t mean it’s not a real M14. The selector is a separate part that was seldom actually installed and used with the weapon. I saw real M14 rifles in basic training, in Vietnam, and much later at my agency, and none had the selector that permitted full auto firing. The stock you pictured does not have the cutout to permit the selector to be installed, but GI stocks did even though selectors were not normally used.

Good question, though, and now I’m curious because although I noticed the marking practice, I never looked into it.

The thought that a manufacturer actually stamped it M14 never occurred to me. Where the selector enters the receiver is flat metal so it appears to be manufactured as a semi-auto. I’ll have another look at it soon and can see if I missed any other possible marks.

Ok, an image search on the first pic shows it was made by Springfield Armory, so given all the supporting evidence, it looks like a converted M14 receiver?

Now I’m confused.
Based on a brief Internet search, Springfield Armory, Inc. does not use the “M14” marking. But maybe that’s changed.

If I understand the law and/or ATF rules correctly, converting a real M14 receiver to turn it into a non-NFA gun would not be legal: Once a machine gun, always a machine gun. But I could be wrong.

Where are our experts?

Added: This is what I found about the law.
"A firearm originally manufactured as a machine gun remains a machine gun forever, regardless of later modifications."

The Springfield Armory government facility (not the commercial Inc.) did manufacture real M14 rifles, but if what you are seeing was made by it as a real M14, then it is a machine gun that should be registered under the NFA.

I believe that is potentially an Armscorp made receiver or at least is marked with a logo meant to imitate the Armscorp logo.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Ok, an image search on the first pic shows it was made by Springfield Armory, so given all the supporting evidence, it looks like a converted M14 receiver?

Now you know why AI/image searches are worthess.

quote:

Originally posted by M1Garandy:
I believe that is potentially an Armscorp made receiver or at least is marked with a logo meant to imitate the Armscorp logo.

Yep.

Armscorp made investment cast receivers, similar to Springfield Armory, Inc's M1A. Armscorp also made a bunch of Fulton Armory's early receivers. Some good, some bad. Some of the old-timers won't work on Armscorp receivered rifles due to too many issues. Some report zero issues and like them.
https://www.m14forum.com/threa...scorp-rifles.467200/

Help us Benny wan Kenobi, you’re our only hope.

Thanks for the replies all- I’m considering getting this as a package with a nice Vari-XIII up top as the price is very enticing.

It’s not a Devine TX model.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
Thanks for the replies all- I’m considering getting this as a package with a nice Vari-XIII up top as the price is very enticing.

Other than the receiver, who made the balance of the major parts? Are they USGI, Chinese or commercial?

No idea; the only things I can see numbered are the TRW bolt



and this on the barrel

.

It also wears a Sadlak scope mount (appears pricy) and a Leupold Vari-X 8.5-25.

I thought Armscorp rifles were marked M14NM, at least mine is.

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:
No idea; the only things I can see numbered are the TRW bolt



and this on the barrel

.

It also wears a Sadlak scope mount (appears pricy) and a Leupold Vari-X 8.5-25.

Bolt is USGI made by TRW. Barrel is likewise and made by H&R. The trigger housing and several of the trigger group components and the operating rod would also be marked if USGI or commercial (depending on the manufacturer).

James River Armory, Bula say M14
LRB M14BR
Poly Tech M-14/S
Federal Ordnance said M14, M14A, M14SA

It's an Armscorp receiver. That rifle was never a full auto M14.

The ATF was more picky back in the day when the commercial entity we know as Springfield Armory, Inc was formed. They wanted to use the M14 model designation, but the ATF wouldn't allow it, so they settled with a capital A, which resembled a 4.

M1A is a model trademarked by Springfield Armory, Inc (not to be confused with the government Springfield National Armory that shut down in 1968-ish). But since SAI was the only company making M14 clones for a long time, and now they're at half a million, most people refer to our rifles as M1A's.

I personally use the generic term M14, since I don't own a M1A. My LRB rifles are marked M14SA, M14NM, and M25. My Bula rifles are marked M14, M21 DMR, and XM21.

I have a customer receiver from James River Armory marked M14 NM.

Over the years, the ATF has relaxed their model designations and allowed the model M14 to be used for semi-auto commercial M14 clones.

That rifle seems to be built with good GI parts and has a TRW bolt and a H&R barrel.

At some point, James River Armory was using Bula receivers with cut heels and welding GI M14 heels onto the Bula receivers. It was still considered a James River Armory rifle, but they had heels from TRW, Winchester, H&R and Springfield Armory de-milled rifles.

Armscorp receivers had notoriously wide operating rod shelves which hindered the ability to install a fake selector switch.

As a side note, SAI, Armscorp, and Fulton Armory receivers are investment cast.

LRB remains the only company to offer a true-to-print (as much as the ATF allows) M14 receiver which is hammer forged.

Bula receivers were press forged and there's another company in Tempe, AZ (who's name I never mention) who produced receivers machined from billet steel. I'm not sure how JRA/H&R/Palmetto State Armory makes their receivers.

To my knowledge, JRA is making the M14 receivers in house for PSA under the H&R trademark, which they bought.

Tony.

Thanks for all that; very informative.

I have long wondered how my Springfield Armory, Inc., with <6000 serial number that I purchased in 1978 ranked on the desirability scale. Is it reasonable to assume that it has mostly GI parts?

You can call Springfield and they will tell you the configuration that it was when they shipped it. Recently bought a SA M1A from an estate sale. Springfield said it left them in 1982 as all GI parts to include the stock. The only non-GI part was the receiver.

Thanks all for the information; I’ll be getting this deal as I’ll be getting it for an amazing price, scope and mount included as essentially extras Pics to follow…