Springfield Armory USGI Parts
Commercial parts won’t be found on Devine
or San Antonio, Texas M1A rifles. Very early Illinois rifles will be
built with GI parts, but it was fairly early when SA started using some
commercial parts. I just inspected a M1A in the 145XX range that had
several commercial parts in it. It was purchased new by it’s present
owner in the late 70’s (more than likely mid 1980).
This rifle included a six groove, non-chrome lined barrel, cast operating rod with the SA marked below the part number, and a cast trigger housing marked with a -0 suffix. The internal trigger group parts were GI as was the flash suppressor. I found an interesting variant of the rear sight which had a late style pinion and a WWII SA lock bar windage knob. That was a new one on me. The rear sight spring cover was also a reproduction with no ribs on it’s sides.
Many later M1A rifles were produced with all GI parts when they were available. It’s always been a case of supply and demand. Thousands of sets of M14 parts were imported back from Israel in the mid 80’s. These parts allowed Armscorp to get it’s start and supplied SA with original GI parts for their so called Collectors Edition line of rifles. These were built with GI parts and GI wood stocks.
I remember a long spell where SA was using lock bar sights on their M1A. Late style sights were in short supply as were butt plate assemblies. SA produced their own butt plates, but many examples had plastic trap doors for the tool compartment. Less expensive M1As used to come equipped with GI fiberglass stocks. These had the selector holes filled in and a black textured paint job. They also had rubber butt pads. Their new plastic stocks seem to be pretty good and nice looking, but I don’t know how they compare strength wise.
At any rate, SA M1A rifles may appear with any combination of GI and/or commercial parts if produced within the last 35 years. I think it was often a matter of what was on the shelf at the time with the exception of a few special run models.
By Ted Brown
Shooters Den
This rifle included a six groove, non-chrome lined barrel, cast operating rod with the SA marked below the part number, and a cast trigger housing marked with a -0 suffix. The internal trigger group parts were GI as was the flash suppressor. I found an interesting variant of the rear sight which had a late style pinion and a WWII SA lock bar windage knob. That was a new one on me. The rear sight spring cover was also a reproduction with no ribs on it’s sides.
Many later M1A rifles were produced with all GI parts when they were available. It’s always been a case of supply and demand. Thousands of sets of M14 parts were imported back from Israel in the mid 80’s. These parts allowed Armscorp to get it’s start and supplied SA with original GI parts for their so called Collectors Edition line of rifles. These were built with GI parts and GI wood stocks.
I remember a long spell where SA was using lock bar sights on their M1A. Late style sights were in short supply as were butt plate assemblies. SA produced their own butt plates, but many examples had plastic trap doors for the tool compartment. Less expensive M1As used to come equipped with GI fiberglass stocks. These had the selector holes filled in and a black textured paint job. They also had rubber butt pads. Their new plastic stocks seem to be pretty good and nice looking, but I don’t know how they compare strength wise.
At any rate, SA M1A rifles may appear with any combination of GI and/or commercial parts if produced within the last 35 years. I think it was often a matter of what was on the shelf at the time with the exception of a few special run models.
By Ted Brown
Shooters Den
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