Howard,
I share your love for the M-1A, although mine went away to pay bills back in our skinny years. And has yet to be replaced.
When I was assigned to Riverboats in Vietnam, I was issued an early M-16, which I dispised. Absolutely worthless for river interdictions on bumboats and junks.
I had the opportunity to run across an unattended M-14 at an ARVN base. So I "upgraded" my unknown allie's weaponry my making him a trade. I never regretted it. And although he never thanked me, I'm sure he must have been happy with the deal.
At least he never complained.
Ron