ArtR

Hi Guys Sorry for delay, but we have been somewhat busy with extremely warm temps and sap flows. While not as busy or productive as last year, we are plugging along. Yesterday we made 120 gallons, filling three 40 gallon barrels. To date, we have made 640 gallons of Maple Syrup, and may make another 75 gallons today. Photos taken today, showing hauling sap using our new 1500 gallon transport tank.

SN A2463 seen on Gun Broker

Hey WOOF, thanks for the comments and encouragement. Yes. Michigan and especially the Upper Peninsula are frequently mentioned in one of the industries leading papers ( https://themaplenews.com/ ). You are correct in that it is both a lot of fun and work, and it is the end product that makes it all worthwhile.

Update: I had come home from Hardwick on Feb 28, and I drove back again Mar 5. We finished up the last of the sugar house setup/cleanup/etc and hauled 4 loads over 3 days for just under 5000 gallons of sap that tested 1.2% sugar content. This was 'first run' sap, which is normally very low sugar content, and it is also kind of looks skanky, as sap, that freezes in the lines, when it starts to thaw, it rushes down the lines like little scouring pads and cleans the lines of any biologic's that may have 'grown' in the lines since last season. Sounds kind of gross and weird, but it is a fact of life. All that 'crap' is filtered out of the sap during processing. First the largest is filtered out with a fabric filter when we dump sap from the truck into the holding tanks at the sugar house. Then, as we process that sap, through the RO (reverse osmosis) filters, more is filtered out through screen filter at the pump and then again using 2 membrane pre-filters, which are changed each day. The sap is finally filtered as it passes through the RO membranes where we extract 75% or better of the water, and then pass the concentrate to a holding tank. We need at least 4000 gallons of raw sap to justify a boil. As, when the evaporator is fired up, the sap concentrate flows through it at 300-420 gallons per hour, and it is just not energy efficient to fire up with anything less than that. And, our first boil of the year, we start with a completely empty evaporator, which holds a lot of super concentrated sap (40-50gal), until we do an end of season final boil and flush. We did our first boil Mar 7, and we ended up with sweet pans and drew off 35gallons of Amber Color-Rich Flavor syrup. Unfortunately, there are many tests that 100% Pure Vermont Maple Syrup must pass to be sold as such. Tests include a hydrometer test for sugar content (66.9% minimum), color, clarity, aroma, taste, etc. While our first 35 gallons passed the sugar content, clarity, and aroma, the taste was just not up to our standards, and we will label and sell it as commercial sweetener. The weather went back to a deep freeze Thursday nite, and there will not probably be another sap flow until Mar 11-12. When it flows again, any newer sap should be much better (sweeter and clearer), and when we process that and start a new boil, the new concentrate will push through the approximate 27-30 gallons of still off quality syrup in the pans, which we will collect and store separately, and then after testing, we will begin to collect good syrup for the season. As I mentioned earlier, we had installed a new 2000 gallon poly storage tank to hold RO permeate (clear water) that is used for washing and rinsing the RO filters after each use. The included photo shows that new tank installed ( replacing the two 600 gallon tanks of the previous photo) and it is filled with crystal clear pure water, which always appears sort of sky blue in color (due to refraction)! Notice also the nearly 24" snow that has slid off the sugar house roof's.

More than likely, whom ever added the SN and USMC stamps to the stock was only trying to impress someone. There is no reasonable theory that any 'rebuild/repair' facility would have done that. If so, literally hundreds of rifles would have been so marked, which is not the case. We have seen all sorts of attempts to make rifles look something that they are not, including USMC stamps and other cartouche's. As for the stock, while not specifically addressed, would require some more examination. Some stocks did have a number stamped on them. Per the production logs, this one did not, thus "Stock No. none". But that in and of itself is no proof that the stock is original to the rifle.

All in all, that is quite good news. Having 5 parts that match the factory numbers is really exceptional. That would be good information on any transfer. The firing pin, extractor, barrel are all parts that could have been replaced normally. Most of the rifles that went to places after the war were fully stripped, and parts co-mingled, and reassembled, so the likelihood of matching anything dropped to zero.

Per Brian Alpert "Every JSAR I have ever seen, including the Chilean contract ones, had the Dutch acceptance star above the Cranston Arms Logo."

SN 0591 seen on Gun Broker SN B6355 seen on Gun Broker SN A3915 seen on Gun Broker (Receiver with magazine only) SN 2836 Seen on Proxibid.com (Bauer Auction Svc)

The following information is provided from the production logs: Receiver SN 4280, Received From: Cranston Arms, Date Received 1/7/1942, Stock No. none Barrel No. 9169E, Hammer Block No. 2803, Hammer No. 5396, Bolt No. 5561, Locking Cam No. 6296, Firing Pin No. 8598, Extractor No. 3025, Magazine No. 5266, Disposition Date 1/7/1942, Transferred to J.A. Inc - N.P.C Without proper and reliable provenance, be very careful about any claims of both ownership and usage. As "camstuff" noted, by disassembling the rifle and comparing rifle part numbers to the above list, you will get an idea of how close this rifle is to being original. Right now the bolt SN matches the assembly list, but the barrel does not. Do not be disappointed if not many parts match. To date, I have only noted a vey few rifles that are actually complete, and a few more that were close. ArtR

An update from Hardwick, VT: 3800 trees were all tapped back in January. Now, after nearly 30 additional hours (by my nephew and myself), much of the prep work has been completed. A new 3000 gallon sap tank is now installed and plumbed in, (which replaced a 2000 gallon tank), now giving us 5000 gal raw sap storage (25% more) at the maple orchard. A 2000 gallon poly tank has replaced two 600 gallon tanks at the sugar house and will be used for RO (reverse osmosis) permeate water (pure water...used to wash and rinse the RO filters after each use). A 1500 gallon poly tank now replaces a 1000 gallon tank, used on the truck, giving us 50% more capacity for moving sap from the maple orchard to the sugar house. With the trees tapped, and sap storage ready, the vacuum pump was turned on, and 19 vacuum sensors were set out with new batteries. These will monitor the vacuum in the sap drops, lateral lines, and main lines to the collection station. The sensors will alert us to possible line damage (squirrel, deer, other) and possible downed tree limb damage. When vacuum in a line drops, someone will go out and walk the associated line, search for, and fix vacuum leak problems. The evaporator is mostly all reassembled, and just needs a new, improved auto draw off valve to be attached, and then it will be ready for the first boil. We also need to assemble and set up a new 3rd RO post, which houses another pump and RO filter membrane. This will increase our RO processing capability by 50%, (processing up to 1800 gallons per hour from 1200). The RO removes about 75% of the water from the sap, bringing it up from 2% sugar to about 8+% sugar concentrated sap. We had a two slightly warm days and about 3000 gallons of sap was collected, but not enough to start the RO or start boiling. We need over 4000 gallons of sap to justify a boil, as it takes that much start the process... running sap through the RO to both give us enough sap to fill the evaporator, boiling, and starting to draw syrup before we run out of sap and also to have enough RO permeate (pure water) to wash and rinse the RO. As the weather has turned colder, mother nature will cool and help us store the sap until the next warm spell and sap run. If you enjoy 100% Pure Maple Syrup, enjoy, and understand what goes into getting it to your table. And don't waste. Every drop of syrup has many hours of dedication invested!

After viewing newer photos, I am really leaning to "non-Miltech" and a lot of original parts finish, although, not saying a complete original assembly. Still, a very decent example at a currently reasonable price. Nice job.

B7948 was last seen back in April 2024 on GB...did not catch if it sold or not SN 0587 seen on Proxibid.com (Centurian Arms) SN B6423 seen on Proxibid.com (Lock Stock Barrel) Also: SN A3954 seen on GunsInternational SN B5209 seen on GunsInternational SN B5298 seen on GunsInternational

JSAR barrel on GB

In the RAW aftermarket stock handguard

Buy the rifle, not the story. When all is said and done, it is still just a MilTech restoration. And to the best of my knowledge, MilTech is still doing M1941 restorations....regardless of what the seller is saying.

SN 7511 on GunBroker, photos are not the greatest, but appears a full military

SN A5638 seen on Proxibid.com (Rock Island Auctioins)

After revisiting the listings, and seeing the current bidding status, I have to seriously wonder which of the bidders is reading the description fine print? Definitely not JSAR aficionados. Neither listing mentions that the stock is not original shape/configuration ( or carved up). Some of the other 'description listings' are really a stretch with concern to originality and percentages. Without more and better photos, two 'collectors' are going to be seriously disenchanted with their purchases, unless they both happen to have an original stock set on hand and at least one of them with a bayonet lug, especially if the bidding goes much higher. SN A8938 "Stock Configuration & Condition: The rifle features a walnut stock with a pistol grip and a shrouded handguard over the barrel. The stock has a repair on the left wrist and a crack behind the tang. Despite these issues, the stock is structurally sound and remains in good condition." SN B4047 "Stock Configuration & Condition: The walnut stock shows a repaired crack behind the tang and has handling marks consistent with age and use. The buttplate is smooth stainless steel. The length of pull (LOP) measures 13.25 inches. Despite the repair, the stock is structurally sound and retains its shape and functionality."

Torrey: "Interesting" is a very diplomatic choice of words! ArtR

SN A8938 seen on GunBroker (a LSB item) stock issues SN B4047 seen on GunBroker (a LSB item) stock and barrel issues

Happy New Year 2025 to one and all and wishing everyone the very best in the upcoming year! ArtR

SN B1222 ?? on Gun Broker, hard to read SN but I think that is the #

SN 8391 seen on Gun Broker 8/14/2024 sporter, cracked stock SN 4659 seen on Gun Broker 8/14/2024 SOLD 8/29/2024 $7000 SN 6294 seen on Gun Broker 8/14/2024 sporter

Wishing everyone, including family and friends, the Very Best All Throughout This Holiday Season! Stay warm. Stay healthy. Stay safe! ArtR

While I am not sure on the Miltech claim, a decent looking rifle for the price, and as eb said, chips (and dents) can be repaired. Look at the rifle more closely, when you finally receive, and add any other photos that you feel pertinent. The higher quality the photos, the finer the detail that can be seen. The barrel bore/lands/groove would be the first thing that I would check, along with muzzle and throat measurements. Also check headspace before attempting to fire. There is still plenty of 'military' M2 ball available, though now quite pricey, or if you reload, make your own.