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My Recent Posts · (08/16/09

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I posted this question on a couple of forum sites also.
Anyway I just got this all correct, no upgrades, all matching May 1940 K 3184 Mas 36 that has a Beechwood butt stock and forearm. Now from everything I have read Beechwood wasn't used for stocks until 1944. Could this be an earlier first use of Beech wood when the arsenal began implementing/substuting that wood for stocks or did it sit in the arsenal until fully assembled in 1944 even though it has a low K serial number well below the numbers used in 1944.
The serial numbers in the stocks appear to be original.
The serial number has been entered in the sticky above.
The cartouche is fairly worn but the previous owner said by using image enhancing methods, he was able to, by looking long and hard at the picture (attached), to see the "1940 date. And at 11:30 o'clock from the "K" and the "M" for MAI, and the "A" at 12 sharp. As it is one of only two months starting with a "M" in French, the other being "MARS" and the "M" would have been more like at 11 sharp. So the serial number matches a "MAI" 1940 production.

The metal to wood is a good fit and the stocks appear original to the rifle with equal wear. Also what does the large "K" that's stamped in the center of the cartouche stand for? Has anyone seen another original K series with an original Beechwood stock?
Any opinions or thoughts, Ray

My Recent Posts · (08/16/09

Can't figure out how to post the photos, They're up at the top of the post in tags?Ray

My Recent Posts · (08/16/09

I just noticed that there appears to be some small initials on the heel of the stock under the serial number. They look like LKG but not sure. Hope these photos come out.
http://i28.tinypic.com/e5r63b.jpg

My Recent Posts · (08/16/09

http://i26.tinypic.com/ru43zt.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/1pie6f.jpg
http://i32.tinypic.com/sx1v1k.jpg
http://i27.tinypic.com/1pie6f.jpg
http://i31.tinypic.com/10wij3k.jpg

My Recent Posts · (08/16/09

A trick I learned a while ago is that when you want to bring out faint marking on a stock is to dab some clear oil over the stamp/mark. I dabbed some linseed oil over the cartouche and you can more clearly see the 1940 date. A 1940 date on the stock sure seems to add weight that the stock was put on in 1940, Yes, no?

I also did the oil thing to the three initials and they look more like a Lk either an "b" or a "6" and not a G, Ray

My Recent Posts · (08/17/09

Found out the stamp is LK5 which indicates a type 2 modified receiver, Ray

My Recent Posts · (08/17/09

I just found there is some question that the LK5 stamp may not even be a French stamp but possibly a stamp put on by the Germans. Does anyone have a non-French gun with that LK5 stamp? Ray

My Recent Posts · (08/18/09

Apparently there are other non-German guns that had a LK 5-6 or 7 stamped on them. Here's some http://forums.gunboards.com/showthre...ght=LK+5+stamp
There are other examples also. So that gives good evidence that the LK stamps are German WWII capture stamps.
I also think this rifle puts the question to rest on whether Beech wood was used earlier then 1944 on the rifles. Not only because of the 1940 date on the stock, but also having that the LK5 stamp which apparently was applied to the rifle/stock pre 1944 during the German occupation. To add weight to that thought, in the sticky above, the LK5 stamps only appear in pre war rifle serial numbers. Ray

My Recent Posts · (08/20/09

Hi RayGr. Nice MAS 36!

Interesting info. May be there was a mix of walnut and beech wood used during the war instead of a complete switch from one to the other? I don't know.

As a data point, one of my MAS 36s is a post-war late L series MAS 36 with a matching serial numbered walnut stock and walnut hand guard. IIRC it is in the L76## range? I always wondered if mine has an original stock or a refurb replacement as the serial number is the only marking on it.

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Author	Comment
RayGr	First use of Beech wood stocks?	Lead	[-]
Posts: 86 (08/16/09 07:37 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None I posted this question on a couple of forum sites also. Anyway I just got this all correct, no upgrades, all matching May 1940 K 3184 Mas 36 that has a Beechwood butt stock and forearm. Now from everything I have read Beechwood wasn't used for stocks until 1944. Could this be an earlier first use of Beech wood when the arsenal began implementing/substuting that wood for stocks or did it sit in the arsenal until fully assembled in 1944 even though it has a low K serial number well below the numbers used in 1944. The serial numbers in the stocks appear to be original. The serial number has been entered in the sticky above. The cartouche is fairly worn but the previous owner said by using image enhancing methods, he was able to, by looking long and hard at the picture (attached), to see the "1940 date. And at 11:30 o'clock from the "K" and the "M" for MAI, and the "A" at 12 sharp. As it is one of only two months starting with a "M" in French, the other being "MARS" and the "M" would have been more like at 11 sharp. So the serial number matches a "MAI" 1940 production. The metal to wood is a good fit and the stocks appear original to the rifle with equal wear. Also what does the large "K" that's stamped in the center of the cartouche stand for? Has anyone seen another original K series with an original Beechwood stock? Any opinions or thoughts, Ray
RayGr		#1	[-]
Posts: 87 (08/16/09 07:40 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Can't figure out how to post the photos, They're up at the top of the post in tags?Ray
RayGr		#2	[-]
Posts: 88 (08/16/09 08:27 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just noticed that there appears to be some small initials on the heel of the stock under the serial number. They look like LKG but not sure. Hope these photos come out. http://i28.tinypic.com/e5r63b.jpg
RayGr		#3	[-]
Posts: 89 (08/16/09 08:32 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	http://i26.tinypic.com/ru43zt.jpg http://i27.tinypic.com/1pie6f.jpg http://i32.tinypic.com/sx1v1k.jpg http://i27.tinypic.com/1pie6f.jpg http://i31.tinypic.com/10wij3k.jpg
RayGr		#4	[-]
Posts: 90 (08/16/09 09:31 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	A trick I learned a while ago is that when you want to bring out faint marking on a stock is to dab some clear oil over the stamp/mark. I dabbed some linseed oil over the cartouche and you can more clearly see the 1940 date. A 1940 date on the stock sure seems to add weight that the stock was put on in 1940, Yes, no? I also did the oil thing to the three initials and they look more like a Lk either an "b" or a "6" and not a G, Ray
RayGr		#5	[-]
Posts: 91 (08/17/09 10:28 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Found out the stamp is LK5 which indicates a type 2 modified receiver, Ray
RayGr		#6	[-]
Posts: 92 (08/17/09 12:27 PM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just found there is some question that the LK5 stamp may not even be a French stamp but possibly a stamp put on by the Germans. Does anyone have a non-French gun with that LK5 stamp? Ray
RayGr		#7	[-]
Posts: 93 (08/18/09 11:06 AM) active member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Apparently there are other non-German guns that had a LK 5-6 or 7 stamped on them. Here's some http://forums.gunboards.com/showthre...ght=LK+5+stamp There are other examples also. So that gives good evidence that the LK stamps are German WWII capture stamps. I also think this rifle puts the question to rest on whether Beech wood was used earlier then 1944 on the rifles. Not only because of the 1940 date on the stock, but also having that the LK5 stamp which apparently was applied to the rifle/stock pre 1944 during the German occupation. To add weight to that thought, in the sticky above, the LK5 stamps only appear in pre war rifle serial numbers. Ray
CR Hound		#8	[-]
Posts: 735 (08/20/09 01:06 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi RayGr. Nice MAS 36! Interesting info. May be there was a mix of walnut and beech wood used during the war instead of a complete switch from one to the other? I don't know. As a data point, one of my MAS 36s is a post-war late L series MAS 36 with a matching serial numbered walnut stock and walnut hand guard. IIRC it is in the L76## range? I always wondered if mine has an original stock or a refurb replacement as the serial number is the only marking on it.

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First use of Beech wood stocks?

First use of Beech wood stocks?