Picked up a Winnie at the NS last week.

[canes7]

SN 148K...

I bougt it as a rack grade. I have a few observations... It has the square cut bolt opening. I tried Googling it and one of the returns I got had a guy claiming he had a 2mil Winnie with the square cut.. really?

Came with an 11/43 SA barrel 3MW and 3.5TE. Bore is in not so great condition. -3SA op rod, modified. WWII SA cartouched wood that had gone thru the CMP dishwasher. Small base gas cylinder (I think). Also the front site is the widest I'vew ever seen!

BTW - Is there any significance to a rounded op rod catch? I've never seen one before.

Pics when I can...

[Punch The Clown]

Someone on one of the forums pretty much narrowed down when WRA went from the square cut on the receiver to the round, but I don't recall the serial #. Whatcha mean rounded op-rod catch?

[dogboysdad]

Pictures please.

[Orlando]

BTW - Is there any significance to a rounded op rod catch? I've never seen one before.

Pics when I can...

Do you mean round clip latch?
Round clip latch used up until SA 2,110,000

[canes7]

After a bit more reading, the op rod catch i have is an early Winchester. Instead of the edged being "sharp" they are rounded. Once again, pic when I can. Probably this evening.

[Punch The Clown]

Most WRA and early SA look the same.

[timshufflin]

I too am curious about what is meant my "rounded" oprod catch.

[canes7]

Here is an ebay auction with a pic....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Winchester-M1-Garand-Early-Op-Rod-Catch-/260838510959

[timshufflin]

Okay, you're talking about the cut outs to the rear, the two of them. They are scooped out instead of being square cut right? I thought you were saying the catch part itself was rounded. I got you now.

[canes7]

Some quick pics:

This is what I was talking about when I said straight cut, right above the op-rod track:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/hurricanes7/Winny%20Garand/DSC01215-1.jpg

Decent heel markings:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/hurricanes7/Winny%20Garand/DSC01226.jpg

There's a SA/NFR in there! I know I can see the SA and the Ord. Wheel. The rest is up to specualtion:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/hurricanes7/Winny%20Garand/DSC01218.jpg

Other stock stamps:

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/hurricanes7/Winny%20Garand/DSC01220.jpg

Narrow base gas cylinder with a front sight that's spread out like an old whore:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff207/hurricanes7/Winny%20Garand/DSC01224.jpg

[Punch The Clown]

Nice. The straight cut is correct. Most of the WRA's had it. I don't recall when they changed, but I think it was sometime in '44. Gotta see the side view of the cylinder to see if it's WRA.