Brian Alpert

Joseph, What an interesting find. What did he scan...the receiver? I wonder if the other parts like the bbl or butt plate were also blued or parked. I have an "A" prefix that has obviously NEVER been polished or bead blasted from looking at the markings, and it is blue-black (receiver).

Bore, I own 1 and have seen photos of Bruce Stern's. They are both semi-auto versions in 7mm with distinct markings. Mine has a Mexican crest engraved on the receiver....much like the "W" crested carbines. Stern's has "Systema Johnson", etc engraved on the side of the lower. Both have altered selector levers allowing semi-auto only and are thus marked. Mine has conventional MG front and rear sights. Stern's has conventional rifle sights, which would make it extremely difficult to use. Mine also has a shortened 10 or 12 round magazine with it. They were reported, by a most unreliable source, to have been also seen at the Miranda factory in Mexico City after the war. I personally consider them to be interesting phonys, origin to be determined. I don't know how to post photos on this board but will e-mail some to you.

A resurrected Garand bbl is not unusual on a Winfield "Standard" sporter which it looks like you have. I have owned 2 such rifles and seen several others. The bbl is obviously not worth what a decent original is, but then again, you have a $2M Sporter, not a $5M+ pristene original rifle. You can still "remilitarize" yours with a new butt stock, plate, swivel and bayonet lug and have a nice representative JSAR for well under $3M.