I pretty sure the on cartouche is real but is the WES real?
I pretty sure the on cartouche is real but is the WES real?
Last edited by 1mark; 09-26-2013 at 05:19.
"Three people can keep a secret as long as two of them are dead" Mark Twain
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.
"Three people can keep a secret as long as two of them are dead" Mark Twain
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?
Last edited by Rick the Librarian; 09-21-2013 at 12:28.
"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. Lewis
No the left is not a straight wall. I was asking if the WES stamp its self is correct.
"Three people can keep a secret as long as two of them are dead" Mark Twain
I admit I have not seen a WES mark on top of an earlier inspection stamp, but the WES inspection stamp itself appears legitimate.
"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. Lewis
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.
Last edited by John Beard; 09-21-2013 at 08:19.
I've never seen a WES stamp used as an overhaul stamp - as Mr. Spock (the Vulcan, not the child psychologist) would say, "Interesting".
"We make men without chests and expect from them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst."
--C.S. Lewis
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.
Thank you all. This is an interesting one. Any idea of the inspector stamp under the WES and what is the M for?
"Three people can keep a secret as long as two of them are dead" Mark Twain