...does anyone have any information on the the number of original USGI/M14 (TRW, H&R, Win., SA) rifles that were imported into Canada during the early 1980's?....what was the name of the importer?....what host countries did these rifles come from?....the significance of the letter "O" that was electro-stenciled on the rear of the receivers?.......any information will be gratefully appreciated....thanks guys...................
M14 (USGI) information request....
- Thread starter Syracuse Steve
- Start date
Not sure about the exact number. I believe most if not all came from Isreal.
One of the guys who had his hand in their importation was Allan Lever her in Vancouver, but there were others involved as well.
Incidentally, back in those days, we were buying TRW m14 rifles for about 400.00
I remember Lever Arms selling my buddy a "Family Pack" of 4 rifles, one of each, TRW, HRA, SA and Winchester
He paid 1250.00 plus tax for the set.
Many Isreali sourced rifles exhibitted electropencil markings that were applied in National Guard armories in the U.S. , prior to these rifles being donated to Isreal for use by settlers in Gaza
One of the guys who had his hand in their importation was Allan Lever her in Vancouver, but there were others involved as well.
Incidentally, back in those days, we were buying TRW m14 rifles for about 400.00
I remember Lever Arms selling my buddy a "Family Pack" of 4 rifles, one of each, TRW, HRA, SA and Winchester
He paid 1250.00 plus tax for the set.
Many Isreali sourced rifles exhibitted electropencil markings that were applied in National Guard armories in the U.S. , prior to these rifles being donated to Isreal for use by settlers in Gaza
Lever is where I got my long ago and much missed Winchester M14, it was from Israel. I believe it cost me $289. It had a perfect USGI fibreglass stock.
I did an extended tour of UN duty in the Middle East from 1987-90 and saw M14s in the hands of Israeli reservists during this time. I recall talking to a few of the female troopies in Tiberias and examining their M14s-any excuse to chat up these sweet young creatures!!
I was still getting the old Gunnrunner paper in my mail and saw one of Alan Lever's ads for the CA M14s. I had money for one back to my brother-in-law in a heartbeat. Darn thing was ex-Israeli issue and in as new condition. It turned out to be one of the most accurate untuned MILSURPs that I've ever owned.
I was still getting the old Gunnrunner paper in my mail and saw one of Alan Lever's ads for the CA M14s. I had money for one back to my brother-in-law in a heartbeat. Darn thing was ex-Israeli issue and in as new condition. It turned out to be one of the most accurate untuned MILSURPs that I've ever owned.
As much as it hurts me every time I've done it, at least 30 ex isreali , 12(3) prohib m14 rifles, have been born again on norinco receivers, on my bench.
I especially like it when it's a swap over keeping all original parts but the receiver. Most of these rifles also shoot exceptionally well.
There's lots out there, just seems not many are owned by fellow CGN'ers.
I frequently buy and am always on the hunt for complete usgi m14's but most come from sources other than CGN.
I especially like it when it's a swap over keeping all original parts but the receiver. Most of these rifles also shoot exceptionally well.
There's lots out there, just seems not many are owned by fellow CGN'ers.
I frequently buy and am always on the hunt for complete usgi m14's but most come from sources other than CGN.
Back in the day,
I was buying a lot of these M14s from Lever, Rod Phillipson, and also the AR 10s from OGT. This was before they became CA status. I heard back then that about 5000 of the 14s came in, but that is just hearsay ... and ancient history hearsay to boot. A call to the CFC would probably answer the OPs original question ... after all we spent BILLIONS of our $$$ on the registry ... it should be good for ... something?
Most of these ex-Isreali 14s were MINT, either arsenal refinished or rebuilt. The Israelis really took care of their 14s, and supposedly some of them were issued to Snipers. The Israelis were also playing with a bull pupped M14, and rumored to have fielded a few of these ...
Purple, did you see anything like a bullpup 14 on your tour?
I have an original AWC catalog, with the Bullpup stock from McMillan, which was an evolution of the Israeli bullpup design. Back in the day, a few of the AWC bullpup kits and complete rifle conversion were sold in the US. Today, we have the Short Rifle bullpup kits for the M14. Too bad none of these bullpup kits for the M14 are legal in Canuckistan, because a bullpup M14 could make the M14 an even better rifle than it still is today.
EVERY M14 I saw back in the day was a great bargain, although as the barrel got closer to the bottom, I did see some with finish wear to the parkerising. A few were even shiny. But all of these 14s were definitely safe, reliable shooters. A testimony to the M14 design, and the Isreali soldiers who maintained them.
I actually preferred the original Dutch build AR 10s, Sudanese and Portuguese, to the M14s, however the AR 10s were definitely NOT all in great shape. Quite a difference between an Israeli soldier and Sudanese soldier, and in how they treat their rifles.
However, once cleaned up, on average, most of the AR 10s shot better than most of the M14s. Not a lot better, and probably irrelevant to a BATTLE rifle, but IMHO, out of the box, the original AR 10s were on average, more accurate than the original M14s.
I accurised several of these original M14s, and after accurising, the 14s were competitive with the original AR 10s for accuracy. But the AR 10s still had them beat for ergonomics.
So,
just a bit of a history lesson from an old fart who was there,
reminiscing about "back in the day" ....
when four GENUINE M14s or AR 10s could be had for less than the price of one now.
PS: Any one know what happened to Rod since he crashed Chicita?
ttfn
LAZ 1
I was buying a lot of these M14s from Lever, Rod Phillipson, and also the AR 10s from OGT. This was before they became CA status. I heard back then that about 5000 of the 14s came in, but that is just hearsay ... and ancient history hearsay to boot. A call to the CFC would probably answer the OPs original question ... after all we spent BILLIONS of our $$$ on the registry ... it should be good for ... something?
Most of these ex-Isreali 14s were MINT, either arsenal refinished or rebuilt. The Israelis really took care of their 14s, and supposedly some of them were issued to Snipers. The Israelis were also playing with a bull pupped M14, and rumored to have fielded a few of these ...
Purple, did you see anything like a bullpup 14 on your tour?
I have an original AWC catalog, with the Bullpup stock from McMillan, which was an evolution of the Israeli bullpup design. Back in the day, a few of the AWC bullpup kits and complete rifle conversion were sold in the US. Today, we have the Short Rifle bullpup kits for the M14. Too bad none of these bullpup kits for the M14 are legal in Canuckistan, because a bullpup M14 could make the M14 an even better rifle than it still is today.
EVERY M14 I saw back in the day was a great bargain, although as the barrel got closer to the bottom, I did see some with finish wear to the parkerising. A few were even shiny. But all of these 14s were definitely safe, reliable shooters. A testimony to the M14 design, and the Isreali soldiers who maintained them.
I actually preferred the original Dutch build AR 10s, Sudanese and Portuguese, to the M14s, however the AR 10s were definitely NOT all in great shape. Quite a difference between an Israeli soldier and Sudanese soldier, and in how they treat their rifles.
However, once cleaned up, on average, most of the AR 10s shot better than most of the M14s. Not a lot better, and probably irrelevant to a BATTLE rifle, but IMHO, out of the box, the original AR 10s were on average, more accurate than the original M14s.
I accurised several of these original M14s, and after accurising, the 14s were competitive with the original AR 10s for accuracy. But the AR 10s still had them beat for ergonomics.
So,
just a bit of a history lesson from an old fart who was there,
reminiscing about "back in the day" ....
when four GENUINE M14s or AR 10s could be had for less than the price of one now.
PS: Any one know what happened to Rod since he crashed Chicita?
ttfn
LAZ 1
Re post #7. Never saw a bullpup,but most of my contact with the IDF was above troop level, so don't take this as a definitive answer. I did see an M21 sniper rig on one occasion though.
During an earlier tour in 1979 I had the opportunity to go thru the IDF Armour School in some detail. It was most interesting to see their retrofits of the various Soviet tanks.
During an earlier tour in 1979 I had the opportunity to go thru the IDF Armour School in some detail. It was most interesting to see their retrofits of the various Soviet tanks.
Using my Google-Fu skills has yielded...
Sirkis M36 SWS designed by Nehemia Sirkis and made by the Sardius Company.
http://www.arrse.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/p=1046420.html
BTW, look at this comment down the page a bit...
Sirkis M36 SWS designed by Nehemia Sirkis and made by the Sardius Company.
http://www.arrse.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/p=1046420.html
BTW, look at this comment down the page a bit...
I have no idea, but the people on that forum didn't seem to think so...
300Spartans
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Canada of course
That's an old pic of an Israeli female sniper, circa 1994.
Definitely has some posterior puff.
Definitely has some posterior puff.
The engraved circle or letter O found on some M14 receiver heels means that rifles so marked went through depot level overhaul by the U. S. Marine Corps. Depot armorers at the Marine Corps Logistics Bases (then Depots of Supplies) Barstow, CA and Albany, GA marked overhauled M1 Garand rifles on the flat surface behind the rear sight with O-65, O-66, and O-67. The two digit number in the marking referred to the calendar year of the overhaul, e.g., 67 meant 1967. The practice was continued with depot overhaul of M14 rifles. M14 rifles overhauled by the U. S. Marine Corps were marked O-69 in 1969. By at least 1970, the marking was changed to a four alphanumeric character code, e.g., OB-70. The second letter in the code stood for the depot which performed the work. By similarly marking the M14 receiver heel with the letter O, the rifle would not require disassembly to identify it as an overhauled unit.
I used to get it for years. It slowly got thinner and thinner...sites like this haven't helped print media, let's face it.
The competition from Access to Firearms didn't help either.
- Location
- Central Pacific
Someone was selling these op-rods on Ebay 6-7 years ago and nobody was buying as they didn't think they were real. I wish I had bought all that he sold....about ten I think and they were less than $100.
I mounted one on my 18.55inch sage set up.....it was really nice and no snagging on clothes. Here it is on the sage with an old CF PVS-502
Here is another view of the mod'd rifle, note the cantalevered scope mount....I think that is an Elcan base on it also
Aloha
GG&FB
