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Posted: 12/7/2013 2:09:52 PM EDT
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I guess the members that were "in country" would be able to answer this best.
Were rack numbers only painted on rifles that were used in boot camp as trainers ? Were any painted on issue rifles ? Is there any rhyme or reason as to what they mean ? I am putting together a late 604 clone. It' not going to be 100% historically accurate, more of a tribute style. I was going to use a weed picker instead of a birdcage flash hider, and a port door with the POW / MIA logo laser engraved on it. I like the look of rack numbers, and was going to use my late son's birthday (3 numbers). Any help would be appreciated. Oh yea, being Pearl Harbor Day, thanks and God bless to all who served... |
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It is usually based on unit SOP and can vary from unit to unit. I have seen paint markers, White labels with clear tape on them. engraved but stocks and dog tags with numbers in them wired to weapons. this...... sorta not so much "SOP", but thats the way that it was done back in the day and the numbers haven't had to change. in the 80's, we had small dymo lables on the top side of the stock, below the charging handle. another unit I was in had small numbers stenciled on the side. |
| If you look back far enough, you can find early SEAL Team 2 pics where one of them has a stenciled rifle. It was done by a number of units, to track the weapons. Really seems to be no ryhme nor reason to it. I believe it fell out of favor as the war progressed, then seems to have resumed ad hoc post-war. Some people say only police depts used rack numbers, but I've seen quite a bit of evidence to the contrary. There are several threads about this in the archives that may help. |
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Rack numbers in every unit I served in from 1989-1995 and usually the embossed ones on the top of the stock as it was easy enough to peel them off if need be and no damage other than sticky stuff that would clean off.
As to earlier than that, not sure but you don't see them in many period photos. |
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Hell, I have M1's with rack numbers and an assload of Enfields with them. Look at all the surplus rifle racks on the market. They have rack numbers above every slot.
I've been issued Army rifles for over 24 years. Every rifle, pistol and pro mask had an admin number. Try going to some E-2 telling them you want your rifle 679053. He won't find it. Now, tell him you want rifle 3. He will go to rack 1-10 and pull 3. You find your name on the MAL, verify the serial number an sign your life away. Or they put a weapons card in the rifle slot. We wire tie everything, put dog tags on spare barrels (both barrels), number everything and every solider has a paragraph and line number on a unit manning roster. Ever see Revolutionary War Muskets with a name carved in it upside down? That's a pre-rack number. The name is right side up when the musket is at stack arms. That way the owner grabs the correct one. |
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Hell, I have M1's with rack numbers and an assload of Enfields with them. Look at all the surplus rifle racks on the market. They have rack numbers above every slot. I've been issued Army rifles for over 24 years. Every rifle, pistol and pro mask had an admin number. Try going to some E-2 telling them you want your rifle 679053. He won't find it. Now, tell him you want rifle 3. He will go to rack 1-10 and pull 3. You find your name on the MAL, verify the serial number an sign your life away. Or they put a weapons card in the rifle slot. We wire tie everything, put dog tags on spare barrels (both barrels), number everything and every solider has a paragraph and line number on a unit manning roster. Ever see Revolutionary War Muskets with a name carved in it upside down? That's a pre-rack number. The name is right side up when the musket is at stack arms. That way the owner grabs the correct one. THIS! My issue rack number is 45. My personal 603 and Enfield both came with rack numbers. |
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O.P., what number are you specifically looking to use? I ask because I have a Type C stock with a 3 digit rack number that is in really good shape. looking to use 294. I was going to get some military stencils from the craft store, then spray with white primer. The white primer is flat. Then maybe let it bake in the hot Florida sun for a while (it's going to be 86 today) to sort of "age " it. If that didn't work, burying the stock in the backyard for a few weeks might be an option  .
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looking to use 294. I was going to get some military stencils from the craft store, then spray with white primer. The white primer is flat. Then maybe let it bake in the hot Florida sun for a while (it's going to be 86 today) to sort of "age " it. If that didn't work, burying the stock in the backyard for a few weeks might be an option .Quoted:
Quoted:
O.P., what number are you specifically looking to use? I ask because I have a Type C stock with a 3 digit rack number that is in really good shape. looking to use 294. I was going to get some military stencils from the craft store, then spray with white primer. The white primer is flat. Then maybe let it bake in the hot Florida sun for a while (it's going to be 86 today) to sort of "age " it. If that didn't work, burying the stock in the backyard for a few weeks might be an option .Once the paint cures, try a light dab of grease on your finger to yellow it, then wipe it off. Don't leave it on too long and make sure to get all the grease off afterwards. A dab'll do ya. (Petroleum distillates will smear it so be aware. All you need is a light sheen on your finger.) |
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Quoted:
looking to use 294. I was going to get some military stencils from the craft store, then spray with white primer. The white primer is flat. Then maybe let it bake in the hot Florida sun for a while (it's going to be 86 today) to sort of "age " it. If that didn't work, burying the stock in the backyard for a few weeks might be an option .Quoted:
Quoted:
O.P., what number are you specifically looking to use? I ask because I have a Type C stock with a 3 digit rack number that is in really good shape. looking to use 294. I was going to get some military stencils from the craft store, then spray with white primer. The white primer is flat. Then maybe let it bake in the hot Florida sun for a while (it's going to be 86 today) to sort of "age " it. If that didn't work, burying the stock in the backyard for a few weeks might be an option .i knew i had some in the 200 range but i don't have 294. i do have 261 and 288 if you're interested. 
394 too 
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