History and Development ~ SAGE M14 EBR

The History and Development of the M14 EBR

With the lone exception of the Springfield M1903, the M14 rifle is
the longest serving rifle used by units of U.S. Armed forces. 2011

Thank you to everyone @ Sage International, Ltd,
CRANE NSWC, and TACOM RI for furnishing historical facts.

A special thank you to: Clyde Armory and Smith Enterprise, Inc
for more than a decade of excellent customer service.

SHOT SHOW 2011

In the year 2000 some east coast SEALs began
searching for a more compact M14 for arctic warfare.

For evaluation purposes the folks at CRANE NSWC and others custom
built an assortment of M14 stocks including one GI synthetic with
the telescopic butt stock SAGE makes for the 870 shotgun attached.

After field evaluations t he SEALs reported they liked the SAGE 870 mod the best.

With a new replacement stock machined from a solid billet of aluminum...
The SAGE Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) chassis stock system was born.

MK14 Operators Manual

The M14 EBR - a Continuing Evolution

Production numbers as of 2011

Mod 0 - 1000
Mod 1 - 500
Mod 2 - 250
Mod 0 type SEI - 125
M39 EMR - 700
M14EBR-RI - 6200

There were numerous self financed EBRs that are not on the list.

2024: US Tactical Supply is your source for new production chassis stocks.

< All 25 Navy Gray EBRs have the Vibro Peen engraving pictured.
All 25 Navy Gray EBRs were sold to the general public by Clyde Armory.

< The NSG EBR stock is noticeably lighter than the vintage EBR stock due in part
to the 25 extra holes drilled/cut through the frame, rails and butt stock/pistol grip mount.

< The pistol grip/butt stock mount is much improved and strengthened with fewer welds.
These improvements are now standard on all SAGE EBR chassis systems.

125

Civilian Mod 0 type SEI in a 1 of 25 'Vibro Peen' EBR chassis
< Featured in Lee Emerson's books: M14 Rifle History and Development 1 & 2

	< Springfield Armory, Inc. Scout Squad below vintage SAGE M14 EBR chassis stock. This was my very first hands on experience with the EBR chassis system.
	< Complete Scout M1A action being prepared for installation. Pictured with assorted parts and accessories 10/2004.
	< Scout M1A in the vintage EBR stock with accessories 11/2004.
	< EBR Ashley, the original EBR girl.

December, 2010
At Camp Perry, Ron Smith poses with Doug Carlstrom,
the project manager for the M14 EBR program at TACOM-RI.

"Doug is holding what will soon be an accepted service
rifle for competition at Camp Perry and NRA matches.
The rifle pictured has our approved barrel and gas system.
This particular rifle shot 184 out of 200 at a 1000
yards by Ret. Brigadier General Eddy Newman.

We are offering a replica of this with some variations
and the stocks will marked RINM-NM". -- Ron Smith
EDIT: I don't believe they were approved for competition.

	Not satisfied with the standard EBR the SEALs requested additional changes and modifications. < NSWC CRANE modified several EBR stocks for further evaluation. The front of the EBR stock was shortened from 13" to 11.25" and extra lightening cuts were made.
	This reduced length required side rails that are 1.60" shorter than those used on EBR stocks. < The NAVY SEAL GRAY "Chop Mod" EBR stock was born. Crane built MK14 Mod 0 pictured.
	Hundreds of stocks have been delivered to NSWC CRANE. < Pictured on the left is a January 2005 production NSG 'Chop Mod' stock.
	< Para Jumper with a CRANE MK14 MOD 0 in a Navy Seal Gray (NSG) EBR.