M1 Garand Springfield all dated '43 cartouche

[wmjchastain]

I recently purchased a Springfield (serial # & dwg. #'s all '43)M1 Garand from a private collection. Previously, the gun had been in a private collection since the '50's. Gun has no import stamp or CMP. It is clean. My question is, Why is the only visible cartouche the "P" proof? If a stock was replaced at an armory, would they have stamped it with ONLY the "P"? OR, were the other cartouche stamps sanded off for some reason??
Thanks,
Chastain

[robcox1]

If it was replaced at an armory or arsenal it would have a stamp indicating who did it. I believe, but I am not sure, that it could have been replaced at a lower level and not have anything but a P stamp. Hopefully, someone can chime in on that. In any case, if you would post good close-up photos, particularly of where wood meets metal, you could get someone to tell you if it was sanded or not.

[wmjchastain]

wmjchastain

If a good stock was used to replace an original that was broken @ an armory, would they sand off the cartouche because it was no longer original or specific to the rifle it was newly installed on? That would explain why they left the "P" proof.
Larger armorers would install their stamp to document the refurbishment but smaller post armories never used stamps. Thus, perhaps the current stock was repairing a battle damaged stock. No armorers stamp was available @ that level just behind enemy lines..
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The gun that defeated the Axis
Thanks,
Bill