M1D cheek piece

[usmcre9d]

Can anyone let me know how to identify an original GI cheek piece for an M1D? I am trying to determine if the one pictured is authentic.

Thanks

[M1Garandy]

Had one marked and packaged like that and it was a repro. What color are the felt pads?

[Tony-in-NH]

Felr pads should be GREY

[usmcre9d]

I did not take them out but the edges look like they are black. There are 3 of them.

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

Can anyone let me know how to identify an original GI cheek piece for an M1D? I am trying to determine if the one pictured is authentic.

Thanks

The cheek pad you have was made during the 1970s - 1980s by Cathey Enterprises, Inc., Brownwood, TX. They were a government contractor and also produced the MRT ink stamped M1907 slings during the same time period. They not only sold on contract to the U.S. Government, but to the gunshow crowd as well. Cathey began manufacturing leather goods sometime during the 1960s.

What is interesting is that the dies and molds used to produce the cheek pad you have was made during the 1950s and turned out some of the last contract M1 cheek pads bought by the U.S. Govt. Cathey Enterprises acquired the dies and molds from an original contractor sometime during the 1960s and produced the cheek pads along with their other goods. Cathey was also a U.S. contractor for the M12 Holster in direct bid with Bianchi for the M9 Beretta 9mm.

I was fortunate enough to acquire the molds and cutting dies for the cheek pads from Cathey's Daughter after George Cathey passed and the business closed. I had to have the dies rebuilt and sharpened since they had gone through a lot of abuse and use over the last 50 years. Just by luck, I was able to locate the original manufacturer of the dies and they did the rebuild. George used various colors of felt padding in the latter years, but mainly used the gray felt. So don't solely rely on the gray felt spacers as a determining factor as to authenticity of a particular cheek pad, as the correct felt is still available. I outsourced the felt from one of the original U.S. wool felt manufacturers and this is what we use in our cheek pads. One of the reasons the gray felt was used was because it is known as trash felt and is about the lowest grade of felt made, made from recycled wool fibers and scraps. There are three different sized cutting dies for cutting the gray felt pads, as each is different.

Here is a photo of our cheek pads which are made more to spec, with the correct blackened NOS grommets. The leather is our English Bridle Leather and is split to the correct thickness on a our leather splitter which is over 140 years old and is arsenal surplus equipment.

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[usmcre9d]

I guess I can assume that it is not USGI because of the absence of an acceptance stamp or date?

[Richard Turner/Turner Saddlery]

I guess I can assume that it is not USGI because of the absence of an acceptance stamp or date?

An MRT (Mildew Resistant Treated) ink stamp requires a date stating the date of treatment, not date of manufacture/acceptance. Since your cheek pad does not have a date, it is one of the ones that Cathey made for resale to the general public and not issue.

Richard

[usmcre9d]

Thanks again for sharing your expertise!