[George W]

Sorry if I posted this in the wrong spot it's not really a tripod

I found a 30/50 forked mount in the garage a while back trying to figure out if it's a repo or an original.
It 's got D38579 cast into one side of it above that there is a 2 as well as an S with a circle around it (All are raised #'s and Letters). On the opposite side is an X571 these are stamped into it.

How can you tell the originals from the repo's.
This looks like an original. It's complete with all the pins, chains and reducing bushings. It looks like its cast. Weight is about 8-10 lb's

Thanks
GW

 

[George W]

Oops I guess it's more for a 1919/BAR

I looked at the ones Crane was selling .
I guess it's for a 30 cal or BAR not .50.

Anyway it looks like the one they show .
Except mine has a 2 instead of 6.
GW

 

[kkkriverrats]

How about a picture?

 

[Lucky#13]

Ordnance Research did, I believe, make a repro. All their stuff is very well made and I don't know if they are currently still in production. But my guess is that you have an original, unless you acquired it from Sarco or BMG Parts, who were the main retailers of the OR stuff.

 

[Armorer]

Geroge, I tried posting a reply a minute ago and it disapeared into limbo just like the last one I tried. So I hope you get this message and don't get it twice. I have one of the same forks and it has the same markings as yours. I am certain mine is a replica. I bought it for a song at Sportmans Guide a number of years ago.

SARCO was selling these for about $300.00 or more a couple years ago. They claim to have made only about 100 of them. IMA also offered a replica but stated they were for display only (not for firing from). I have no way of knowing which one this is but it is well made and made of steel. If you look inside and scrape around with a screwdriver you may find a lot of the original casting sand in there. I don't know if the GI model was painted but mine was not.

Yes they were originally made for the .30 Cal M1919A4 and the BAR.

 

[Lucky#13]

After checking around a bit, I am coming round to the opinion that it is indeed a repro. I'll have pics posted here shortly.

 

[Lucky#13]

Here it is for the record.

 

[George W]

Armorer
Thanks for your reply.
I would really like to know how to tell an original one from a repop.

GW

 

[Armorer]

Unfortunately the repros are very good, too good. And also unfortunately there aren't enough originals around to compare them to. It would be nice if the manufacturer would alter the markings a little so you could tell the difference or maybe put their own name on it somewhere.

I get a little tired of having to figure out what is a replica and what is original. I recently saw an ad for rebuilt M1 Rifles where the rebuilder claims they will duplicate the stock markings and will even apply a date stamp to the barrel at the customers request. That may make the purchaser happy but what about the guy who buys it from them years from now. I have a couple of M1s and an 03 Springfield with new made replica stocks and have no intention of duplicating the original markings. Anyone who eventually gets these will know exactly what they are getting.

One example: I was recently at the Sportsmans Guide and looked at an M2 tripod, advertised as being a "Veteran". It looked good, too good. There was not a ding on it. It was painted not parkerized. The parts of the legs where the T&E bar sleeves ride were not painted OD like the rest of the tripod but looked like parkerizing until I looked close. Nope just painted gray. A dead give away was the steel bushing for the pintle rather than bronze, the rather comercial looking bolts, lack of markings in the tripod head and of course the replica data plate. It was very well made though but I don't think worth $399.95. It is possible it was rebuilt using new parts but I doubt it. A picture appears in their latest "Shooter's catalog" on page 72.