HRA barrel markings

[Luger1914]

Is there any way, through markings, to determine if an early HRA barrel from 1951 or 52, which is mated to a 4.66, may be original or a replacement. I realize that they are marked differently than later barrels in respect to drawing number, but are there any markings or lack there of, punch marks etc. that would lead you to think it is a replacement or possibly an original barrel.

[Ernie]

I can look at my early 4.6 and let you know its markings if that helps.

[Luger1914]

I would appreciate it. Especially if it is a 51 or 52 barrel.Any markings under the handguard that you know of?

[Orlando]

A Original HRA barrel (not replacement) will have a punch mark in the loop of the "P"

[jsaviano]

I had a 467XXXX HRA . It had an original HRA barrel (to the gun) with a 6-54 date code on it. I believe the 51 or 52 barrels are from a spare parts contract HRA had.

[TrapperXX]

I have a 4.6 HRA and had the same question as the Barrel is a HRA 7-52
I have since learned through Bruce Canfields wonderful big book that HRA was making replacement barrels before they started making actual rifles. (P. 511)
since my rifle is so early, 466,24** it would make sense that they would have used barrels already in stock on their first M1s.
As far as I can tell every other part except the stock on my rifle is or is most likely original for it's time period including a Hart trigger group, HRA gas plug, SA bolt and Op rod and other smaller HRA parts. The Barrel also has the punch mark inside the P proof.
I'm still learning big time but so far I believe it to be all original.
P 512 has a very interesting write up on Early HRAs having SA parts and how early collectors mistakenly swapped those parts out for HRA parts.
It is also mentioned that the first 5-7000 rifles are thought to have these parts. (p512)
This all seems to be verified by the various lists I see online of HRA production.
For now I am not swapping out the SA bolt and Op rod on this particular rifle.
.02

[2111]

According to an article by Scott Duff "Barrel Usage on New M1 Rifle Production 1952 - 1957, Part 3 -H&R Arms Company" Scott states "The earliest H&R M1 rifles from 4600000 to 46625xx were generally equipped with HRA barrels dated from 3, 4, or 5 of 1953. The overwhelming majority observed have HRA 4-53 barrels. A small quantity having barrels dated during 1952 were also used." He goes on to say "Many rifles in the serial number range from 4662500 through 46635xx have HRA 1951 and 1952 dated barrels with most dated during 1952. A noticeably smaller percentage is equipped with 1953 dated barrels. Than from 46635xx through 4670000 it again switches and 1953 dated HRA barrels are again the most predominant. April 1953 barrels are far the most common." I know this article is now dated and I wonder how these figures have stood up to the test of time. I would like to know what Wayne Bradford has to say about this.

[dryheat]

According to an article by Scott Duff "Barrel Usage on New M1 Rifle Production 1952 - 1957, Part 3 -H&R Arms Company" Scott states "The earliest H&R M1 rifles from 4600000 to 46625xx were generally equipped with HRA barrels dated from 3, 4, or 5 of 1953. The overwhelming majority observed have HRA 4-53 barrels. A small quantity having barrels dated during 1952 were also used." He goes on to say "Many rifles in the serial number range from 4662500 through 46635xx have HRA 1951 and 1952 dated barrels with most dated during 1952. A noticeably smaller percentage is equipped with 1953 dated barrels. Than from 46635xx through 4670000 it again switches and 1953 dated HRA barrels are again the most predominant. April 1953 barrels are far the most common." I know this article is now dated and I wonder how these figures have stood up to the test of time. I would like to know what Wayne Bradford has to say about this.

There seems to be some evidence that bears it out;

4,660,903 CMP 4-53
4,660,905 CMP 4-53
4,661,008 CMP 4-53
4,661,096 SEANinMICH CMP HRA 11-51*
4,661,234 camljr59 CMP HRA
4,661,277 2-53
4,661,300 tmoore45acp Garand Data HRA
4,661,498 SeaninMich 4-53
4,661,694 Armedsks CMP
4,661,868 8-52 RD69 CMP
4,661,901 4-53 PGG99 CMP
4,661,988 dpd3672 CMP
4,661,994 2-53 LMR
4,662,511 Bondo perfect w/seriffed P
4,662,551 12-52
4,662,559 Guest Garand Data HRA
4,662,817 3-52 Hart -3SA o.r.
4,662,966 SeaninMich 9-52
4,662,987 Defender54 Garand Data HRA 4-52
4,663,160 curaheeguns Garand Data HRA
4,663,206 powderkeg Garand Data HRA
4,663,139 1-52 Hart, spring hammer
4,663,249 jerryjeff Battlerifles HRA 8-52
4,663,250 satju Battlerifles HRA 7-52
4,663,324 3-53
4,663,325 3-53} (don't know where these consecutive nos came from)
4,663,326 3-53
4,663,327 3-53* Garandguy (Gman336)

[Mike in NC]

I don't think I saw any of the previous posters in the thread mention this but if I remember correctly, the use of the early HRA 1951 and 1952 barrels were originally avoided / prohibited for use in assembly of new rifles. I think there were minor defects in the finish, like workers touched the bare metal before parkerizing so there was some blotches in the finish from oil transferred from hands? Late in HRA production, you see these early barrels being used in new production HRA rifles as the ordnance department OKed this minor defect for use in production rifles. I believe the early HRA barrels were contracts for replacement pieces and not in anticipation of a contract for whole rifles.

As was mentioned above, look for the punch mark in the loop of the proof "P" as a sign of HRA factory assembly.

[rkohut]

Seem fairly common, my 4,664,4xx, had an 11-52 HRA barrel. It has with the punch mark in the P, thanks for the info Orlando.

[Roadkingtrax]

One of those replacement barrels that came NIW from the CMP. I'll have to check for fingerprints, blems, etc.

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd281/ttraxler/HRANIW001.jpg (http://s223.photobucket.com/user/ttraxler/media/HRANIW001.jpg.html)

http://i223.photobucket.com/albums/dd281/ttraxler/HRANIW002.jpg (http://s223.photobucket.com/user/ttraxler/media/HRANIW002.jpg.html)

[2111]

I don't think I saw any of the previous posters in the thread mention this but if I remember correctly, the use of the early HRA 1951 and 1952 barrels were originally avoided / prohibited for use in assembly of new rifles. I think there were minor defects in the finish, like workers touched the bare metal before parkerizing so there was some blotches in the finish from oil transferred from hands? Late in HRA production, you see these early barrels being used in new production HRA rifles as the ordnance department OKed this minor defect for use in production rifles. I believe the early HRA barrels were contracts for replacement pieces and not in anticipation of a contract for whole rifles.

As was mentioned above, look for the punch mark in the loop of the proof "P" as a sign of HRA factory assembly.

Dave McClain wrote an article found in the Winter 2012 edition of the GCA Journal regarding these mostly early 1952 barrels that had been rejected by Ordnance inspectors for blotched and spotted imperfections in the parkerizing found on the barrels between the rings of the gas cylinder.