1919a4 What makes an Original USGI Parts Kit

[42rocker]

Original U.S.G.I. 1919a4 vs changes.

I first must THANK Lucky13! Thanks for all of the information that you have shared with me over the years. The visits when you stopped by the house and we reviewed my parts kits and talked of things. Sharing info and finds at Knob Creek. And all of the sharing that you have done on websites and emails and phone calls.
THANKS I SAY!! This could not have been done without you.
Also many Thanks to kkkriverrats for his Great website and his sharing. Also Thanks to toolmanm203 for his sharing of parts and info. Thanks to you three for your sharing with everyone. I could not have done the following without you.

Note Photo's and article are copyrighted to 42rocker and this site. While you are welcome to use them for your own personal use, they may Not be posted to any other sites. Thanks

I'm writing this in an effort to show the differences between an Original 1919a4 30.06 and the many changes that have happened over the years to 1919a4s. The 1919a4 is an Original US of A weapon that has helped the US in winning wars. Now the 1919a4 has been used by many countries, some changed a few things and that's what I'm going to try to show. Who has used the 1919a4: why US of A of course, Great Britain, Germany, Israel, South Vietnam, South Korea and several of the countries East of Germany and a few more. The Original was in 30.06 and it has been changed to shoot 8mm, .308, 7.62x54r, 22 long rifle, and I'm sure maybe more. Well off we go.

1st Barrel booster - In order to shoot something other than 30.06 the size of the booster opening had to be changed in some cases. What we want in the original is to see the stamping .718 DIA.
In following pic the Original is on the right. The side left booster is what Israel did to shoot .308.

2nd Trunnion - Belt Fed Paw Aea - Look for a normal size opening (.39 inches) vs a larger opening that Israel did for a larger Feed belt paw, size (.56 inches).
In following pic Original is on the right, Israel reworked trunnion on left. Both trunnions are BA

3rd Belt Feed Paw - Look for a smaller size (.37 inches) vs a larger size (.55 inches) used by Israel.
In following pic an Original is on the right and one made by Israel on the left. The paw on the left has Israel markings and the paw on the right is a Westinghouse (circle W).

4th Left Side Plate - A) No additional hole (.375 - 3/8 inch) Mainly done by Israel.
In following pic the Original is on the left and one reworked by Israel on the right. Plate on left SG bottom plate and SG cast rear sight holder. Plate on right has S.G. bottom plate and milled rear sight holder (normally non SG)

B) The Left Side plate has not been changed, either additional slot or added hole in the area around the Belt Fed Paw Holder.
In following pic the plate on the right has received an additional slight slot cut. Can be seen on the plate on the right.

5th Additionals on Left side Plate - A) The Belt Fed Paw Holder has not received an enlarged opening (Israel) or addition holes (change made for 8mm guides). Note the plate can receive changes and a new Belt Feed Paw Holder can be added. Need to check for both.

B) Original Rear Sight Holder has not been changed. Israel welded a piece to the front of the rear sight holder.
In following pic the Original is on the right and the Israel rework on the left.

End of part 1. See following part 2.
42rocker

[42rocker]

Part 2
Note Photo's and article are copyrighted to 42rocker and this site. While you are welcome to use them for you own personal use, they may Not be posted to any other sites. Thanks

6th Rear Sight - Israel (and maybe others) reworked the sight, removing the yard markings and replaced them with meter markings and also added a small pin. Marked 30.06 or 7.62.
In following pic the two on the right are Original and of course the two on the left side are reworked by Israel (or others). The two sights on the left are SG. On the right the top one is BA and the bottom is RIA. Note all makers were reworked by Israel so you can find reworked RIA or BA or BCI or ?, redone in 7.62.

7th Rear Sight Leaf Spring - On an Original Leaf Spring you need to look for the makers mark. The interesting item here, is that an unmarked spring is ok, it should be an Original. Also we are looking for normal makers marks as this item can be interchanged with other weapons leaf springs. BA, BCI, SG, S.G. RIA, drawing number, and blank are ok. Israel marks are not Original, also other makers may not be Original to the 1919a4. Also DP, NE1 (Israel marking), IR CO and maybe others are not Original.
On following pic left is Israel and right is an Original BA and a RIA

8th Top Cover - A) Original Top Cover itself has not been reworked or cut in the slide area.
In following pic the rework cut area is seen on the left slide area on the top. Both Covers are BA

Note added Israel marking on left cover, Israel normally also added numbers on the right side of the cover.

B) Complete Feed Slide
In following pic the reworked Slide is on the left and Original on the right. All parts BA.

C) Belt Fed Pawl arm - Straight arm vs Bent, Straight arm is Original.
Note several arms were bent in order to feed a needed order. Normally the straight arms have makers marks (not all). The company (OOW) bent the arms of almost all of the makers, so BA, RIA and more can be found with bent arms, which should not have bent arms. Both parts BA.

D) Feed Slide - Original is not cut, Israel (and others) cut the slide so it could handle the bent arm pawl.
In following pic recut is on the left and Original on the right. Both parts BA.

E) Feed Lever Arm - Original has not been changed. Israel countersunk the pin hole.
In following pic counter sunk on left and Original on right. Unmarked on left and BA on the right.

F) Feed Lever Arm - Original has not been changed. Israel (and others) thinned one side of the end of the arm.
In following pic counter sunk on left and Original on right. Unmarked on left and BA on the right.

G) Feed Lever Pin Holder Group - Original, there were 2 designs used, the first is somewhat rare and uses a pin cap. The 2nd design uses a button screw and holder is threaded, Normal WW2 style. Irsael Switched to a angled head pin with a cotter pin on top.
In following pics 1st on left is Israel countersunk, cotter pin style group, on right group used on most WW2 top covers. Both groups unmarked. 2nd pic the top cover has the normal Original WW2 Group, BA cover, pin group is unmarked. On bottom cover you can see the cotter pin on top and also other added markings and cut.

9th Charging Handle - Original is bell shaped without a cut in the end of it. Israel added a cut out.
In following pic Israel cut is on left and Original on right, left is unmarked, right is BA marked.

10th Barrel Extentsion - Main body is the same only the spring has been changed.
In following pic spring on left is for .308 and spring on right is for 30.06 or 8mm. Both springs unmarked.

11th Barrel - Original is in 30.06 and has scalloped reliefs for the barrel spring to grip. Normal .308 barrels have square style reliefs for the new style barrel spring.
In following pic scalloped style (30.06) is on the left and the right is square relief style (.308).

12th Bolt - A) Original Bolt not cut or marked 7.62. .308/7.62 marked bolts have had their feed channels recut for the .308 rounds and marked 7.62 on top. Note I know that some bolts have been worked on to remove the 7.62, watch out for weld areas.
In following pic note 7.62 mark on left and unmarked Original on right. Both bolts BA.

B) Bolt Extractor Hook - This is the only item in the Bolt body group that might have been changed. Israel did change some of the Hooks, I believe not to change to a new idea but to only replace worn out hooks with a new hook. Note unless totally worn out, all hooks seem to work with all ammo. Except 7.62x54r, needs to be reworked.
In following pic you can just make out a little bit of the letters normally found in Israel stampings on the left. On the right you can see a BA mark.

11th Lock Frame - Original has not had the back bar drilled and threaded and a screw added to. Israel added a screw and lock nut as a trigger stop.
In following pic added screw on left and Original on right. Frame on left Westinghouse (redone) and BA on the right.

Well look for anything different, changes, whatever. Original is Original and changed is well changed.

Later 42rocker