Brian Alpert

Bbls with spacers were a common factory alteration on both rifle and LMG bbls When they did not headspace and the bbl had to be set back, a spacer had to be used to keep the locking collar in proper position. When sight and bayonet lug were removed and repositioned additional grooves had to be cut for the taper pins. I have had several

I don't know what it means but all original buttstocks have a letter and number stamped on the inner circle of inletting. Sometimes you have to brush away the grime before they appear.

If you stop and think about it, the magazine carrying case contained 20 mags. In combat, there was a gunner and a loader, who I assume carried the ammo in the form cases of loaded mags. Although an option, loading mags with stripper clips was hardly efficient enough for combat.

If you look at the contour of the buttstock and the fitting of the buttplate...which has an extra screw, it is fairly obvious that this is a Winfield standard sporter which has been partially remilitarized. The metal looks good. Hope it is an original bbl.

Here you go. It is made of anodized or painted aluminum. It requires drilling and tapping 6 holes and it dovetails into the rear sight dovetail. It is set up for 3 rings. The nice thing about this base is the screw holes are covered by a JSAR rear sight

Missed the last 2 for fear of covid. I was not yet vaccinated and am immunosuppressed from lymphoma treatment. Reserved a table at the Oct show which I will use if I feel well enough. You will also need to provide a sight base....type 1 which fits the dovetail or type 2 which is integral with the receiver. I have plans for both if you need them.

in short, no. The JSAR receiver needs be trimmed about 1/2 inch at the rear and notched for the latch. The inside sometimes needs to be milled to fit also.

The pictures posted show use by Castro's rebel force including rifles captured by Batista's government.. Remember, Castro never announced as a communist until after the revolution and was probably given arms assistance by the alphabet soup agency who, in the 40's and 50's was arming any insurgency claiming to be anti-communist throughout the world. It is said that many of the surplus arms dealers at the time were fronts for alphabet soup agencies. Since Winfield imported virtually all the JSARs in the US, they probably originated with them.

Winfield mounts have a dovetail which finds into the rear sight dovetail slot. They are made for 3 rings

Here is a guy who does custom gun parts. He has all the appropriate CNC machines and is quite reasonable if you contract for 10 or more. The parts are appropriately hardened and finished. He as made op handle bodies and followers for me which are indistinguishable from originals. http://www.steveearleproducts.com

7mm JSARS, particularly if they were not originally Chilean go for less than original 30/06 rifles. BBls are interchangeable if you can find one.....generally $1200 and up for an original 30/06. That being said, that is not a $6500 rifle. More likely under $5000

The bbl including buyer's premium went for over $900

I believe Mr. Scott originally sold these bbl for over $600. They are top quality

Remember a few months ago when a Chilean JSAR (with a 30/06 bbl) went for around $13,000 on GB. The same seller, Rick Crosier, a well established US Martial arms dealer (recently deceased) just sold an even nicer B prefix for $6850. Obviously his firm is still in business. If one is to believe reports from the Indianapolis auction where they came from several years ago, this was sold at a loss. https://www.gunbroker.com/item/872070028 Just goes to show, one never knows what will happen in an auction.

The rebels were apparently recruited, equipped and trained by the CIA. The arms were not, for obvious reasons, supplied by the US government but obtained from commercial surplus dealers, many of which were said to be CIA fronts which would supply arms to any anticommunist group throughout the world. Since Winfield had most of the JSARs, I suspect this is where they came from. Here is a picture (from Life magazine) of the rebels in training with scoped JSARs The JSARs are obviously in Cuba where they were captured. Incidentally, when Fidel Castro was a revolutionary overthrowing Batista, many of his followers were armed with JSARs

Quality is quality and appreciates much faster than items in lesser condition. As long as it is never outlawed or goes out of fashion (like cut glass and silverware) quality is a safe investment.

Hard to see how one can come out on that one. The sear block/trigger assembly ($150) may be OK. After lot of effort getting off the braze, the receiver might be machined and repurposed for a 41LMG look-a-like or Dror semi. The magazine support assembly looks to be toast. With functional receivers in the $1K range, why bother with this mess.

How about this monstrosity! https://www.gunbroker.com/item/901362812

I believe that one is the work of a custom gunsmith from the Chicago area. I had one just like it with the gold plated swivel studs, ejector and trigger and guard. I got it off GB years ago for a song after it sat for over a year without a bid. The carved stock had been broken at the wrist and repaired but it was not safe to shoot. I replaced it with a Winfield Deluxe stock which I ended up with in a trade. Gorgeous rifle but I got barely over $2K on GB after I tired of dragging it tough shows.

Joseph Scott has reproductions which are virtually indistinguishable from the originals. He should respond.

An abomination today but remember (and I am old enough to) that in the 40's and 50's nobody was interested in military rifles and many custom gunmakers like Griffin and Howe and others, including Johnson Automatics specialized in converting military rifles....Mausers, Springfields, Mannlichers and even Johnsons to custom hunting rifles. Winfield Arms who was responsible for most of the JSARs in the US today sold their Deluxe scoped sporters for more than double what they sold the military versions for. Times and tastes change.

Pat, You already have the "Holy Grail", a listed USMC rifle worth "telephone numbers". Whether or not the parts march the factory logs is more of interest to the purists on this site. The value really could not get any higher than it already is. Before the pandemic, I used to be in the Bay area a few times/year. Between covid, my health issues and rehabbing a new knee I am not doing much traveling. If you really want a detailed part by part evaluation (which would make no difference in value) sending it to one of the "authorities" would be a lot cheaper than airfare. B

Nice looking JSAR. Everything looks correct and in 95%+ condition. The dowel in the forearm looks like a repair of a crack. You can see what looks like a vice mark on the wood where it could have been clamped. Dowel repairs are unusual. I have seen "biscuit" repairs on a couple of JSARs.

Painting is a great idea. I am amazed how tough the coating is.

Has anyone ever figured out how to get the chrome plating off the guide and locking collars?