Object Description:

U.S. RIFLE M15 (T44E5) 7.62MM SN# 1235
Manufactured by Springfield Armory, Springfield, Ma. - Standard M15 rifle. Select switch. This specimen test fired 3034 rounds. Complete with 20-round detachable box magazine. Weapon declared obsolete on 17 December 1959. Stock shows wear near buttplate.

Markings:
Receiver: RIFLE/CAL.30 T44E5/SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/1235.
Bolt: 7267003SA/A15.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 4 February 1966. At that time weapon was appraised at $250.

Notes: "A heavy barreled version of the M14 (T44E4) was developed as the T44E5. It was tested as a replacement for the M1918A2 BAR and was adopted as the M15. The differences between the T44E4 and T44E5 were that the latter had a heavy chrome lined barrel, bipod, and a hinged butt plate which resulted in an increased weight of 13.6 lbs.
The ventilated handguard, hinged butt plate, chrome lined barrel (although standard weight), and quick detachable bipod (Bipod, Rifle, M2) developed in testing of the M15 in 1958 were tried as standard T44E4. The military found this combination so effective that a separate weapon system was deemed necessary and plans to produce the M15 ceased in 1959.
However, this was not the end of the story. The military reversed its decision when subsequent full automatic fire testing of the standard M14 equipped with the M2 bipod, proved uncontrollable and inaccurate. The attempted solution was a new stock equipped with a pistol grip and a muzzle stablizer slipped over the flash suppressor, in addition to the M2 bipod. Testing of the M14E2 was conducted between 1963 and 1967.
The M14E2 was adopted as the M14A1 in 1967. As production of M14 rifles had ceased, and Springfield Armory was on the verge of closing, a contract was awarded to Canadian Arsenals, Limited for production of birch stocks for the M14A1. Once again a reversal of decision; further evaluation of the M14A1 determined that the M60 machine gun was more suitable for fully automatic fire support and the M14A1 was canceled." - Duff & Miller

References:
Duff, Scott A. & John M. Miller. THE M14 OWNER'S GUIDE. Scott Duff Publications. Export, Pa. 2001.
Walter, John. GREENHILL MILITARY MANUALS: MODERN MILITARY RIFLES. Stackpole Publications. Mechanicsburg, Pa. 2001.
Walter, John. THE GREENHILL DICTIONARY OF GUNS AND GUNMAKERS. Stackpole Books. Mechanicsburg, Pa. 2001.