Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have a genuinely early Springfield Armory Inc. M1A rifle, serial number 000776, manufactured around 1972 in Devine, Texas. Back when Elmer C. Balance had the idea to build semi-automatic M14s for the civilian market. These early Devine production rifles were built from surplus USGI M14 parts. Balance wasn’t reinventing anything – he was taking actual military components and converting them for civilian use. This rifle has military contractor parts throughout – TRW bolt, H&R operating rod, even a WWII-era M1 Garand hammer in the trigger housing.
The barrel has that “DEVINE TEX” stamp on the bottom – the signature mark of these early Texas-made rifles before the operation moved to Illinois and became the Springfield Armory we know today. Three-digit serial number M1As are rare. Balance’s Devine operation was short-lived. These rifles represent that brief window when surplus M14 components were available and someone saw the civilian market potential. They’re not just early production – they’re built from the real deal, military parts meant for select-fire service rifles, repurposed for civilian shooters who wanted the M14 experience without NFA paperwork.
Most of our POTDs utilize images from our friends at Rock Island Auction Company, the premier firearms auction in the United States. Take some time to browse their current auctions – who knows, maybe you’ll find a piece of history to take home!
“Early Production Springfield M1A Rifle, Serial Number ‘000776’.” Rock Island Auction, www.rockislandauction.com/detail/4095/3629/early-production-springfield-m1a-rifle-serial-number-000776. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Writer | TheFirearmBlog
Writer | AllOutdoor.com Instagram | sfsgunsmith Old soul, certified gunsmith, published author, avid firearm history learner, and appreciator of old and unique guns.
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