I pretty sure the on cartouche is real but is the WES real?
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I pretty sure the on cartouche is real but is the WES real?
What does the rest of the rifle look like? What features and serial number?
The serial number is 650,000 range, with a 1915 dated SA barrel.
If you are asking if there really was a WES, the answer is "yes". It was originally though to be WWI-era, but it has been seen on some earlier M1903s. Just for curiosity, is the left side of the stock a "straight-wall" stock?
http://www.fototime.com/6D0AF921AE6CF63/standard.jpg
No the left is not a straight wall. I was asking if the WES stamp its self is correct.
I admit I have not seen a WES mark on top of an earlier inspection stamp, but the WES inspection stamp itself appears legitimate.
I concur with Rick the Librarian. The "W.E.S." stamp appears real. But it's an overhaul inspection stamp.
Hope this helps.
J.B.
I've never seen a WES stamp used as an overhaul stamp - as Mr. Spock (the Vulcan, not the child psychologist) would say, "Interesting".
For a brief period in 1916 William E Strong served as the provisional inspector at Colt while Frank Hosmer was temporarily assigned to San Antonio Arsenal. An S replaced the provisional inspection mark H during that time.
http://i44.tinypic.com/2eztgs0.jpg
Thank you all. This is an interesting one. Any idea of the inspector stamp under the WES and what is the M for?