Different
05-25-2007, 03:45 AM
From the 05/24/07 version of the Third Edition of M14 Rifle History and Development by Lee Emerson copright 2007:
"Parts Interchangeability with the M1 Garand Rifle
The following parts are interchangeable between the M1 Garand and the M14 type rifle: butt swivel, lower butt plate screw, rear sight aperture, elevation knob and pinion (note that the M14 elevation knob is calibrated in meters, while the M1 Garand elevation knob is calibrated in yards), rear sight base, sight cover, trigger (although the sear requires slight modification of the M14 sear for use in the M1 Garand rifle), hammer, hammer spring, hammer spring plunger, hammer spring housing, safety, hammer pin, trigger pin, extractor, extractor spring, extractor spring plunger, hand guard band (as long as it has not been deformed during removal from the M14 rifle hand guard or the M1 Garand rifle rear hand guard), and butt plates on certain M14 stocks. Hammers marked with part numbers C46008, C5546008 and D5546008 are often found in the firing mechanisms of commercial M14 type rifles. These markings indicate World War II, early 1950s and mid-to-late 1950s production M1 Rifle hammers, respectively. The letter prefix of the part number indicated the actual physical size of the part drawing.
The M1 Garand rifle hammer spring plunger may cause a problem with the M1A rifle. The original date for the USGI M1 rifle hammer spring plunger drawing 6008880 is August 02, 1937. In 1978, Springfield Armory, Inc. assembled M1A firing mechanisms with modified M1 Garand rifle hammer spring plungers. The head portion of the M1 Garand rifle hammer spring plunger was originally designed with “wings” or “ears” akin to the M1 receiver rear sight pocket. The hammer spring plungers were modified by grinding down the left side “wings” before assembling into the M1A firing mechanisms. By not grinding the “wings” of the hammer spring plunger, the hammer spring plunger may move out of the hammer notch which could cause the hammer to move. The USGI drawing 6008880 was revised, likely in 1958, to remove the “wings” from the head portion of the hammer spring plunger. Nonetheless, both types of hammer spring plungers are acceptable for USGI M14 rifle overhauls per U. S. Army DMWR 9-1005-223. The M1 hammer spring plunger is often used in match grade M14 type rifles.
The following operator level items are interchangeable: web sling, cleaning rod section carry case, cleaning rod sections, cleaning rod patch tip, short oiler bottle, plastic spacer for bore brush and patch tip, 7.62 mm chamber brush for 7.62 mm M1 Garands only, .30 Caliber bore brush (although the drawing during the 1960s shortened the brush slightly to prevent it from hitting the inside of the butt plate), and either Plastilube or Lubriplate grease was authorized for use on both rifles. The bolt assembly and disassembly tool can be used with either rifle bolt.
M1 Garand Parts on M14 Type Rifles
As part of the Marshall Plan after World War II, Italy was given Winchester's M1 machine tools and dies for producing M1 rifles and M1 parts for our European allies which had adopted the M1 Garand. Beretta was given the machinery for making the M1 Garand but two other Italian companies made M1 rifle parts as well. Italian parts quality is as good as USGI M1 Garand parts quality.
Springfield Armory, Inc., Reese Surplus, AIM Surplus and a few other American and Canadian companies have imported many M1 parts kits from Italy. Springfield Armory, Inc. has used some of these Italian parts in its assembly of M1A rifles. Except for very small parts the Italians marked M1 Garand rifle parts with one of three markings: 1) PB for Pietro Beretta 2) BMR for Breda Meccanica Romana Italia and 3) BMB for Breda Meccanica Bresciana. Inexplicably, Pietro Berretta marked BM59 rear sight knobs were observed on two USGI M14 receivers destroyed by the U. S. government in the 1990s. The destroyed M14 receivers were obtained through U. S. government surplus auction."
"Parts Interchangeability with the M1 Garand Rifle
The following parts are interchangeable between the M1 Garand and the M14 type rifle: butt swivel, lower butt plate screw, rear sight aperture, elevation knob and pinion (note that the M14 elevation knob is calibrated in meters, while the M1 Garand elevation knob is calibrated in yards), rear sight base, sight cover, trigger (although the sear requires slight modification of the M14 sear for use in the M1 Garand rifle), hammer, hammer spring, hammer spring plunger, hammer spring housing, safety, hammer pin, trigger pin, extractor, extractor spring, extractor spring plunger, hand guard band (as long as it has not been deformed during removal from the M14 rifle hand guard or the M1 Garand rifle rear hand guard), and butt plates on certain M14 stocks. Hammers marked with part numbers C46008, C5546008 and D5546008 are often found in the firing mechanisms of commercial M14 type rifles. These markings indicate World War II, early 1950s and mid-to-late 1950s production M1 Rifle hammers, respectively. The letter prefix of the part number indicated the actual physical size of the part drawing.
The M1 Garand rifle hammer spring plunger may cause a problem with the M1A rifle. The original date for the USGI M1 rifle hammer spring plunger drawing 6008880 is August 02, 1937. In 1978, Springfield Armory, Inc. assembled M1A firing mechanisms with modified M1 Garand rifle hammer spring plungers. The head portion of the M1 Garand rifle hammer spring plunger was originally designed with “wings” or “ears” akin to the M1 receiver rear sight pocket. The hammer spring plungers were modified by grinding down the left side “wings” before assembling into the M1A firing mechanisms. By not grinding the “wings” of the hammer spring plunger, the hammer spring plunger may move out of the hammer notch which could cause the hammer to move. The USGI drawing 6008880 was revised, likely in 1958, to remove the “wings” from the head portion of the hammer spring plunger. Nonetheless, both types of hammer spring plungers are acceptable for USGI M14 rifle overhauls per U. S. Army DMWR 9-1005-223. The M1 hammer spring plunger is often used in match grade M14 type rifles.
The following operator level items are interchangeable: web sling, cleaning rod section carry case, cleaning rod sections, cleaning rod patch tip, short oiler bottle, plastic spacer for bore brush and patch tip, 7.62 mm chamber brush for 7.62 mm M1 Garands only, .30 Caliber bore brush (although the drawing during the 1960s shortened the brush slightly to prevent it from hitting the inside of the butt plate), and either Plastilube or Lubriplate grease was authorized for use on both rifles. The bolt assembly and disassembly tool can be used with either rifle bolt.
M1 Garand Parts on M14 Type Rifles
As part of the Marshall Plan after World War II, Italy was given Winchester's M1 machine tools and dies for producing M1 rifles and M1 parts for our European allies which had adopted the M1 Garand. Beretta was given the machinery for making the M1 Garand but two other Italian companies made M1 rifle parts as well. Italian parts quality is as good as USGI M1 Garand parts quality.
Springfield Armory, Inc., Reese Surplus, AIM Surplus and a few other American and Canadian companies have imported many M1 parts kits from Italy. Springfield Armory, Inc. has used some of these Italian parts in its assembly of M1A rifles. Except for very small parts the Italians marked M1 Garand rifle parts with one of three markings: 1) PB for Pietro Beretta 2) BMR for Breda Meccanica Romana Italia and 3) BMB for Breda Meccanica Bresciana. Inexplicably, Pietro Berretta marked BM59 rear sight knobs were observed on two USGI M14 receivers destroyed by the U. S. government in the 1990s. The destroyed M14 receivers were obtained through U. S. government surplus auction."