Georgia M1A builder help?

[TurdFerguson]

I inherited my dad’s M1A several years ago. He used to shoot service rifle with it in the late 80's-early 90's. His log books, and rifle info disappeared. A while before he had died, he said he shipped it off to be redone by a smith in Georgia. I know its an early SAI (30K range) with a lot of GI parts/NM parts. Its bedded to a heavy commercial stock. If I can get it apart I can look for info on the barrel. I am also assuming there are not a lot of smiths in Georgia that specialize in M1A's right? Any got any ideas or suggestions on where to look on the rifle?

 

[HarryBC]

Glen Nelson is the most notable M14 variant builder of the 70s - early 2000s.... AMU connected... built for SAI as well...

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Hook B. back then
Read Post # 6

Gunsmithing - Who is a good M1A/M14 gunsmith?? Help please..

Just as the title states, I would like to know a few good M1A gunsmiths who would work on my rifle. I picked up a "loaded" M1A that was gently used for $1300. I would like to have everything refinished, torqued to spec, etc. as well as a McMillan stock installed and bedded. Anyone have any...

www.snipershide.com

 

[TurdFerguson]

Anyone know if they would leave a mark or a signature? I read some on the m14 forum about Glen Close, said he used TRW bolts. This one has a GI Springfield bolt. Just curious, was wanting to get it rebarreled, and maybe drop it into an old style Mcmillan.

 

[longebow]

Gerald J. "Hook" Boutin (12 May 2026 - 24 May 2015) never "marked" his builds. I threatened over the years to get him a "punch" of a "hook" but he declined my offer...

He had a unique way of bedding the action and trigger group. If you post pictures of the bedding material on both sides of the stock, I might be able to provide my thoughts of if it looks like his work. He used Devcon Plastic Steel Putty (dried gray) for bedding.

Hook also drilled a small hole in the gas cylinder at the 6 o'clock position as a pressure relief (allowing the gas piston to move freely when the bolt is locked back.

longebow

 

[TurdFerguson]

Got a few pics, of the bedding and gas cylinder. I see the hole but I always thought they were normal lol learn something new everyday I guess.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

Got a few pics, of the bedding and gas cylinder. I see the hole but I always thought they were normal lol learn something new everyday I guess. View attachment 8492760View attachment 8492761

That hole was SOP in all M14's, its gas relief as well as water drain. If went under or filled with rain water.

 

[TurdFerguson]

Would I kill the value converting it to an xm25 clone?

 

[longebow]

My mistake earlier, I meant to say in the GAS CYLINDER PLUG itself (on the front face--facing toward the muzzle).

From what I can see of the bedding, it looks like Hook's work--but pics without the barreled action and trigger group in place would be helpful.

 

[HarryBC]

Might want to call or email Springfield Armory Customer Service with the S/N and see how the rifle was originally shipped.

 

[Stevo86]

Would I kill the value converting it to an xm25 clone?

Beautiful rifle, that was your fathers…

Personally would leave as is. Shoot it and enjoy!

 

[roostercogburn98]

Don’t think I could change it up if it was my dad’s. My dad and I shared very little for most of our lives, so something that special to him would be left alone and enjoyed by me.

 

[smoothy8500]

From what I can see of the bedding, it looks like Hook's work....Hook also drilled a small hole in the gas plug.

Looks a lot like the work of some other smiths that used Devcon too. The drilled gas plug was a pretty common modificaction in the 80's/90's when using heavy projectiles or stiff loads for NRA Long Range.

Regardless, it's a nice rifle that looks like it had some honest use back in the day. As for changing it, if it gets used instead of sitting in the safe, why not.

 

[TurdFerguson]

My mistake earlier, I meant to say in the GAS CYLINDER PLUG itself (on the front face--facing toward the muzzle).

From what I can see of the bedding, it looks like Hook's work--but pics without the barreled action and trigger group in place would be helpful.

No such luck, nothing on the plug unless its been changed at somepoint…. Sometime after I get some rebarreling quotes, ill disassemble it.

 

[Random Guy]

Got a few pics, of the bedding and gas cylinder

The bedding looks like the Bisonite that SAI used on their NM rifles back in the day. Glen Nelson and a small team of former AMU guys built all SAI NM rifles from the mid-197Xs until 2004. Nelson retired that year and passed away in 2007 (cancer). Just call SAI with serial number and they will tell in 10 seconds if it was a factory NM rifle. I don’t know of any M14 gunsmiths in GA, the closest one is Tony Ben in Florida.

 

[kentuckyMarksman]

I'd contact Tony Ben in Florida about your rifle. He has an account here, but is on M14forum.com pretty often

 

[nn8734]

@TonyBen

 

[j-huskey]

Hook taught Jared Joplin /GA, to rebuild m14's and M1 Garands b4 he passed.

 

[TonyBen]

I can help. Send me an email at [email protected]

Nice rifle! Your father had good taste!

Tony.

 

[TurdFerguson]

Emailed this morning. Thank you sir