Springfield Armory Museum - Collection Record



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Title:RIFLE, MILITARY -  U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1922M2 .22 SN# 703
Maker/Manufacturer:SPRINGFIELD ARMORY
Date of Manufacture:1935
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:SPAR 6333
Measurements:OL:110.4CM 43 1/2" BL: 61.5CM 24 1/2"

Object Description:

U.S. RIFLE MODEL 1922M2 .22 SN# 703
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. - Standard M2 rifle. Complete with 5-round detachable box magazine. Production of M2 began in 1933. Band swivel missing otherwise complete and in good condition. Approximately 12,000 manufactured.

Markings:
Receiver: U.S./SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY CAL..22 M2./703.
Barrel: SA/Ordnance bomb/3-35. LONG RIFLE CARTGE. ONLY.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 7 January 1965. At that time weapon was appraised at $95.20.

Notes: On October 22, 1937 this weapon was "Acceptance" tested at Springfield, firing Winchester Army Lot 216 (Tin Lined) .22 L.R. ammunition. In the "Fit and Manipulation Test" this weapon fired 20 rounds with no malfunctions.
In the "Functioning Test" this weapon fired 50 rounds with no malfunctions.
In the "Accuracy Test" this weapon fired 100 rounds with no malfunctions, and at a 100 yard target had an extreme vertical of 1.54, and extreme horizontal of 0.87, a mean radius of .495, and "Group Diam. Fig. Merit or Percentage" of 95". The weapon was fired from a cradle.

"If model 1922 or M1922M1 extractors are present on M1922M2 bolts, a danger of premature firing exists if the rifle is loaded single shot, that is, not fed from the magazine. As the bolt is closed on a cartridge the M1922 or M1 Extractor may cut through the rim of the cartridge causing the detonation. These M1922 or M1 extractors were not segregated by type while in inventory and could possibly be present on any modified 1922, M1922M1 or M1922M2." - Harrison

"At least 21,000 of the M2 were manufactured in the period 1932/1933 through 1942. The first four to five thousand of these rifles were fitted with a bolt mechanism which had no provision for adjustment of headspace; the remainder were so equipped. Rumors of originally rust blued M2 rifles persist, and likely were made, but none have been noted. At first, the black dyed Parkerized finish was utilized, but this was dropped and plain Parkerizing was employed in later production.
A. The service, or issue, rifle was fitted with a new stock, the M2.....
B. The DCM sales rifle was usually sold with the NRA stock and was drilled and tapped for telescopic sight blocks, but some were sold with the service stock and did not have the drilling and tapping. Another minor variety might be the special M2 rifles sold, usually to ammunition companies, that had star gauged barrels. An examination of one of these rifles brought to light no special identification, other than the sales record.
C. The M2A1, or sub-caliber training rifle, has never been reported bearing the marking 'M2A1'; very likely none were so identified.
It is noteworthy that the advent of what turned out to be the highest development of the 1922 series, the M2 rifle, was introduced with so little publicity. The first known information readily available to NRA members was printed in July 1, 1934 DCM 'Price List of Supplies,' offering both the 'United States Rifle, Caliber .22, M1922M1, N.R.A. (caliber .22 Springfield) with target,' at $46.00, and the 'United States Rifle, caliber .22, M1922M1, N.R.A., with M2 bolt and magazine (caliber .22 Springfield), with target,' at $48.39. The latter rifle is the subject of this article. As can be deduced from the spare parts section of this list, the rifle selling for $48.39 had the early M2 bolt, with no adjustment of headspace. The adjustable headspace bolts were not announced until the DCM list of July 1, 1936, was printed, and the entire M2 rifle was not offered for sale until the issue of January 1, 1938. It is known from the sales records, however, that M2 rifle #41 was sold to a retired army officer on September 19, 1933." - W.P. Eyberg, MAN AT ARMS, January/February, 1985.

Test Report in catalog folder.

References:
Harrison, Jesse C. COLLECTING THE '03 SPRINGFIELD. The Arms Chest. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 1993.
Poyer, Joe. THE M1903 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE AND ITS VARIATIONS. North Cape Publications, Inc. Tustin, Ca. 2001.

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