Accordingly, these M14 rifles were put up for sale but, as full automatic weapons, they could not be imported. These rifles were utilized through the 1960s and on into the 1980s until the receiving countries no longer wanted them because they too desired modernization by a reduction in caliber to 5.56mm. The Israelis received large quantities, as did the Philippines and Taiwan. holding hundreds of thousands of M14 rifles as surplus inventory, it was decided that they would be sold off or given to friendly governments, with many South American countries receiving huge lots of them. abandoned the M14 rifle, which had been designed to replace World War II’s famous M1 Garand, in the 1960s in favor of the 5.56mm M16. With the 1911A1 program launched, Federal Ordnance moved onto their M14 program. FedOrd manufactured several thousand of the Philippine model for their official use. When advised that their guns would be emblazed with their national insignia and inscribed “Property of the Philippine Government,” their nationalistic pride was intensified the idea of having their own guns rather than old U.S. 45 automatic, and just when they needed it. The success in that deal was based on the fact that Brenner was able to furnish the Philippine army with just what they needed in a Model 1911A1. With the backing of a Spanish casting company, FedOrd moved forward into production.Ī few years later, the FedOrd 1911A1 pistols formed an essential part of a big transaction with the Philippines. 45 automatic produced from scratch, along the lines of John Browning’s M1911A1 design, which then was still the official sidearm of the U.S. By the success of the mail-order business and the various other deals, FedOrd flourished.Ī few major decisions were made that resulted in Federal Ordnance manufacturing some popular, but at the time, difficult to obtain firearms. There were also huge lots of Springfield spare parts, including some of which had been in very short supply.Īfter the CCC Springfield deal, Federal Ordnance was occupied with constant movement of a variety of merchandise out to gun shops throughout California and, in an ever-increasing arc, through to Arizona and Nevada. There were also P-17 rifles, built on the British-designed Enfield pattern. 22 caliber training rifles with target sights. There were approximately 12,000 Springfield rifles in the lot, and over a thousand Remington Model 515.
Brenner, with sufficient financial backing, won the bid. The state mailed out invitations for bids in the Sacramento area.
The rifles had been the property of the California Conservation Corp, the old CCC, which prior to World War II had been a substantial workforce within the California state bureaucracy. At the time the guns could still not be imported into the United States, but Brenner learned that the State of California had a large reserve of Springfield rifles stored in a warehouse in Sacramento. Perhaps the best single piece of business ever done by Federal Ordnance was, once more, involved with Springfield rifles. With production off and running, Brenner undertook a visit to Montgomery Ward and K-Mart, selling them on the idea of handling the Springfield rifle at the retail end. It took a crew of six men to fabricate 50-60 rifles a day. government parts, all carefully inspected, tested, and found serviceable, in combination with new Federal Ordnance receivers, which followed specifications for government dimensions, heat treatment, steel composition, and was in all ways entirely up to spec. It was a decent weapon consisting of 99% U.S. The newly created company launched a full-scale production of the Springfield, which was well received by an enthusiastic market. Rest in peace, Bob.ĭuring the early 1980s Burton Brenner launched a new company he named Federal Ordnance that offered a newly manufactured Springfield M1903 rifle as its flagship firearm. Brenner will be sadly missed by all who knew him and by those who have learned of his life through the articles. His family has reported that he was quite pleased to see his narrative appear in SAR. We are glad to have had the opportunity to publish the majority of his story before his passing. Brenner passed away on Saturday, Augafter a lengthy illness.
#Fed ord m14 series#
As this final chapter goes to print in the six-part series of The Life and Times of Burton “Bob” Brenner, SAR has learned that Mr.
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