Records of rifle deliveries from all manufacturers were not kept as meticulously during the Korean War as they were during WWII. Other serial numbers ranges were curtailed by such events as the end of WWII. Several semi-major anomalies were the result of duplicate serial numbers produced by both Springfield and Winchester. These are the ASSIGNED serial number ranges and do not necessarily reflect the actual number of rifles produced within each range. Numbers assigned to HRA from the Springfield s/n range for a 400-rifle contract overrun. Perhaps allocated for Beretta samples or experimentation? Springfield Armory (Actual intended use unknown, but ALL documented guns are in this range are generic SAs). The duplicate numbers were lined out and the substitute numbers electro-penciled under the original. The original s/ns apparently inadvertently duplicated by IHC at the factory. Two IHCs have been found that had two s/ns one below the other. Possibly planned as a dumping ground for duplicate, mutilated or overrun s/ns. Springfield Armory (Rifles were actually produced to about s/n 3,889,xxx Last actual WW II serial number unknown) Winchester (Rifles were actually produced to about s/n 2,540,000) Winchester duplicated approximately 30,000 Springfield s/ns in this range. International Harvester Corporation:……………….337, 623 Total M1 production from all manufacturers: (approx.) Total Post War Production from all manufacturers: (approx.) 1,427,970ģ. International Harvester Corporation: 337,623 (produced from 1953 - 1956) Harrington & Richardson Arms: 428,600 (produced from 1953 - 1956) Total WWII Production from Springfield and Winchester: (approx.) 4,040,800Ģ. Springfield Armory: 3,526,922 (produced from 1932 - 1945 including tool room models) This leaves an unexplained gap of approximately 312,xxx serial numbers According to Armory records, Springfield M1 production was resumed in 1952 with serial number 4,200,000. The last rifle produced during WWII by Springfield Armory WWII lies in the 3,888,xxx serial number range with production ending in October 1945. This lack of active production of the M1 due to the research and development efforts, creates something of a dilemma for researchers of M1 Rifle production. This is probably due to Army Ordnance effort(s) being directed toward "product improvement" of the M1 rifle design as a result of "lessons learned" during WWII, and the development of the so-called "lightweight rifle system". Production Between Wars: Records on the production of M1 Rifles immediately following WWII until the outbreak of hostilities in Korea are spotty at best.
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