Need a couple of dimentions from a few folks

[wesk]

Thanks again folks.

[Chad]

My original on my 9/52 A1 was the shorter, I needed to replace it and during my research I came across that the shorter bumpers were m38’s and were used on the assembly line for the A1’s until they simply ran out which was in October 52. At that time they switched to the longer bumper which I guess would actually be correct for the A1 according to original design? Where did I see this tidbit you ask? Good question. I thought it was on this forum, maybe. All I recall is thinking “ah there’s my answer as to why there are 2 different lengths, mine is September and my original was the proper length for that month/year, problem solved” it was a plausible explanation and I ordered the shorter version.

[wesk]

Not quite that way. They were continurd from the M38 to the M38A1 in 1952 just like many other parts were. Usually these parts were identified as used thru a certain serial then replaced with another part number. Often they parts manual just shows the early part number superseded by the newer part number. Military manual writers were not always gifted crystal ball troops. Sometimes they were human and made errors or many times they did not always enter the data exactly the same way each time. When you sit down and study carefully the many entries of parts and their ID terms and numbers you will see several variations of their presentation. Some were made by different writers, some were later updates to the manual. The page in the ORD 9 SNL G-758 that adresses the bumper bar and the radiator guard (Grill) are an excellent example of the differences in presentation in the same book: