NM Barrel Markings

[XLF30]

Hi,

Right now, there is a barreled receiver on Gunbroker, Item # 467595378, which is a "National Match" barreled receiver. The photo actually shows a stamp "WN" near the chamber, purported to be "NM", but upside-down, by the seller. Nothing near the gas cylinder or muzzle. Barrel is SA 2/45, receiver is SA 3.47 million.

In my correspondence with seller, seller maintains this is a gov't-applied NM stamp and challenged me to disprove it. My only evidence is that the NM program started around 1953 (not 1945), barrels were stamped "NM" near the gas cylinder, none were stamped upside-down near the chamber, and the receivers were mostly in the 5.8 to low 6 million range. IMHO all evidence points to the contrary. CMP certificate does not describe assembly as NM.

Anybody who knows a lot about NM stuff please chime in. I think the seller may be honestly mistaken and may have mistaken this "WN" for an upside-down "NM". If anyone knows what the "WN" stands for, that would be even better.

Thanks

[Jay Johnson]

Two points:

1) I have never observed an authentic 1940's era M1 Garand national match marked barrel. With that said, the barrels for early Type 1 national match rifles were chosen from Springfield Armory stock, these early NM barrels were not made to be national match barrels, these barrels were standard Springfield M1 Garand barrels that met match grade specifications and were hand marked "NM" on the left side of the barrel between the gas cylinders mounting rings, some were also marked with a star adjacent the "NM" markings.

2) Later national match production barrels were specifically drawn and manufactured to be national match barrels and I have observed some of them with hand stamped "NM" marks on the right side below the wood line near the breech, these later national match production barrels were also marked "NM" on the left side of the barrel between the gas cylinder mounting rings. Because these later national match barrels were specifically drawn and manufactured to be national match barrels none of them will have a 1940's era barrel date.

Bottom line, I do not believe the barrel in the auction item is an authentic national match barrel.

[gulliver62]

The old "I have only my word as to what it is and you need to prove I am wrong." I have never seen one marked like that, including the ones on the shelves at Aniston. I have seen no reference to it in Duff, Harrison or Riesch/Poyer. I did not think (I have not checked this) that the NM rifles used older barrels either. Being only the B/R and with a >3 MW, whether it is an NM or not I would not see it as worth significant $$. The seller descriptions seem to be up and up on several other items he has so it is sad to see that they are pushing what as a minimum is an opinion rather than a documented fact with that marking. I believe you can find out the s/n of rifles that were built as NM. Someone here will know that.

[Ted Brown]

The National Match rifle program started in the early 50s. Barrels were selected by air gauging standard issue barrels of new manufacture at Springfield Armory. WWII barrels would not be used. While most NM barrels were engraved NM on the left side between the gas cylinder rings, some early barrels have been found with NM hand stamped on the right side in the chamber area. It's thought that this practice may not have been used by Springfield, but may have been used by armorers at Ft. Benning in the MTU. It's possible that a letter could have been stamped upside down, but in this case, a WWII barrel raises serious doubts.

[BigMo]

I saw that too.............
I decided the same thing, the seller is mistaken, and instead of arguing- just don't bid on it.

[Johnny P]

A 1945 dated barrel ending up as a NM barrel is highly questionable at best, and the markings even more so. Best to just politely walk away.

[fogerty]

I wouldn't deal with someone who wants me to disprove a negative, instead of offering his proof. If your thinking of buying it, don't.

[JohnF]

The referenced NM marking and depth appears to be very even like a pantograph machine made it, but what do I know. The markings on NM rifles were stamped and engraved and not very even and joined together like the one shown in the auction. Most of us can produce empirical evidence to back up our statements and view points, but I don't think he can. While I will not say "never", the marking in the auction looks to be wishful thinking at best.

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[Johnny P]

According to the original post the M was an upside down W. All the NM barrel markings I have seen have been an M with vertical outside legs and not an upside down W.

[garandeguy10]

I have a couple on Garands, one that appears to be a Team built H&R NM rifle with a LMR barrel that have small serif font "NM" hand stamped at the left side of the chamber near the barrel ID markings. I always assumed that meant National Match. Both rifles shoot extremely well. I have also seen several other Garand barrels with small serif font "NM" stamped on the chamber.

The barreled receiver in the Gunbroker ad appears to have a san-serif upside down "NM" that does not look like the markings I have seen.