picked up my first M1 garand

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - picked up my first M1 garand

Posted: 10/13/2014 10:38:22 PM EDT

I picked this up from an older gentleman who got it from his father who served in the Navy during WWII. The receiver serial number indicates it was produced by Springfield Armory between October and November of 1942. I was just looking for some more information as to how original this rifle is and stuff like that. Thanks for any insight.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yfxru7wHP3w/VFpKKHQ_SiI/AAAAAAAAX2M/9sZRVkUEJjc/s1280/20141104_204541.jpg

someone please approve my images as safe as well.

Posted: 10/13/2014 11:59:15 PM EDT

[#1]

Pics don't work

Posted: 10/14/2014 12:02:54 AM EDT

[#2]

should be golden now

Posted: 10/14/2014 1:46:53 AM EDT

[#3]

Very nice!

Posted: 10/14/2014 3:20:21 AM EDT

[#4]

Nice, looks in really nice shape.

Uncut oprod also

Posted: 10/14/2014 4:22:35 AM EDT

[#5]

nice rifle!

Posted: 10/14/2014 9:17:09 PM EDT

[#6]

If the stock isn't humped, you have a pretty valuable piece of wood all by itself. Oh yeah, nice rifle! Sights are post-war T105E1 though.

Posted: 10/14/2014 9:19:20 PM EDT

[#7]

Stock and op rod are worth a few hundred bucks or more by themselves! Great rifle!

Posted: 10/14/2014 9:42:07 PM EDT

[#8]

That stock is nice!! It's worth a good chunk of change.

Posted: 10/15/2014 11:23:20 AM EDT

[#9]

Sweet rifle!!! Looks to be in great shape and most of the big parts are right for the date.

The parts that are not correct would be the rear-sight, bolt, trigger guard and the gas cylinder screw.
We would need to see more pics to tell you more.

Posted: 10/15/2014 12:07:52 PM EDT

[#10]

id recommend going here.

lots of info, and knowledgeable people

CMP Forum

also, look for books by scott duff.

Posted: 10/15/2014 12:57:56 PM EDT

[#11]

Thanks, all! I am very happy with the garand. I've toyed with the idea of finding the proper year parts, what are the pros/cons?

Posted: 10/16/2014 6:14:09 AM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

Thanks, all! I am very happy with the garand. I've toyed with the idea of finding the proper year parts, what are the pros/cons?

View Quote

The Pros are; It will give you something to do with your extra time. It will give you something to do with your extra money. You will get an education on the M1 rifle. The Cons are; It won't add to the collectibility. It will still be a rebuilt rifle. Keep it and enjoy it as it is. It's a typical mixmaster M1 with some desirable parts.

Posted: 10/16/2014 11:52:35 AM EDT

[#13]

Looks like it's got a second "P" proof mark from a rearsenal, so some p[arts are probably changed out. It's a very nice example. I wouldn't change a thing but round count.

I've toyed with the idea of finding the proper year parts, what are the pros/cons?

View Quote

Right now it's as rearsenaled at it's last "clean and repair". You can put the correct parts back on it but many would then consider it a "parts gun" Since 90%+ of Garands saw 1 or more "clean and repair" most so called correct guns are parts guns.

Posted: 10/17/2014 11:10:28 AM EDT

[#14]

very good information, thank you everyone. I'll probably just keep it as is.

Posted: 10/17/2014 8:49:42 PM EDT

[#15]

Nice rifle, I bought a few from CMP.

1943 rebarrels are pretty common in rebuilds I think. So, my guess is your gun is one that has been rebuilt, maybe a few times for the stock.

I have one Danish Lend Lease return rifle that looks like it spent a year in wet Europe in WWII. Finish is worn to almost nothing. That's what I think of as a rifle that has been there and done it. My rifle may have been worn via service with the Danes after the War. I value it because of the wear. It has seen a lot of service without rebuild. I have more garands that are refinished/rebuilt or were never carried much. They are all great rifles and represent a significant edge given our service men over what they were going to face. Truly a fine piece to hold in remembrance of the great sacrifice our country made for freedom.

Posted: 10/18/2014 7:29:28 AM EDT

[#16]

Stock cartouche looks funny, may be fake. Need a better up close clear pic to tell for sure

Posted: 10/18/2014 8:58:03 AM EDT

[#17]

Very possibly a CMP gun. Late trigger guard for sure and very late sights. There are reference BOOKs on the parts but this is far from original.

1942 trigger guard. Lock bar rear sight visible too:

Crappy photo taken to show LOP.

-- Chuck

Posted: 10/21/2014 9:24:31 PM EDT

[#18]

I will work on getting a better picture tomorrow of the cartouche.

Posted: 10/21/2014 9:28:07 PM EDT

[#19]

EMcF cartouche - Earl Mcfarland Col., USA M1 .30 Rifle 1942-1943. My Garand has that cartouche, which matches the SN on my receiver (1.4mil - Mar 1943)

Posted: 10/22/2014 6:58:23 AM EDT

[#20]

My 1942 900,000-series M1 has the EMcF inspection mark as well as the sloppy P mark (only single struck). Inspection mark is not as crisp as this one and there's stock damage in the area. I don't know if the stock is original to the rifle but it's the "correct" vintage. The barrel seems original the rifle as it's late 1942. Certainly a 1943 barrel could very well be original to the rifle we're discussing as these rifles were not assembled in serial number order.

My rifle is NOT completely original as it came with a Winchester front sight and a M14 (!) rear sight both since replaced with "correct" parts. Since these rifles were in Army National Guard units into the 1970s parts replacement is not only possible but likely.

-- Chuck

Posted: 10/31/2014 12:09:32 AM EDT

[#21]

Well, I got the bug and started correcting things. I've replaced the trigger guard, installed a type II lockbar rear sight, and I have an original SA single plug screw for the correct time period that I just need to get installed. Annnnnd I picked up a second SA.

*closer picture of my stamp* -

Posted: 10/31/2014 7:55:12 PM EDT

[#22]

You Sir, have now been infected with the disease known as Garanditis. One or two are never enough. You need a Winchester, and H&R, and IHC made ones. then one of the post WWII rebuilds, then a match rifle, and as the disease gets into advanced stages it demands an M1C or M1D or both, A Navy 7.62 conversion, and Italian BMB or Beretta copy, and the fatal holy grail: the early gas trap model. Me, I am about half way there.

PS Very Nice rifle for a 1st purchase. If the bolt and barrel both date to the same time period as the receiver and stock, then: Heck I would restore it to original configuration. But, If you do, call it a restoration or corrected gun, NEVER call it as issued! As issued means it has all the exact same parts it left the factory with.

As suggested above, go to the CMP forums, buy the books by Scott Duff, Bruce Canfield and others and join the Garand Collectors Association, www.thegca.org. If you are a GCA member and really want to know a lot more about the M1, you can buy books 1 through 5 (so far) of the best info from past GCA journals.

Posted: 11/2/2014 1:53:11 PM EDT

[#23]

Garanditis, I love it and it sure is a lot of fun.

Thank you for all of the info.

Posted: 11/3/2014 8:53:00 PM EDT

[#24]

The shape of the "S." and the muzzle of the left pointing cannon have me puzzled (doesn't seem aligned--may be a result of the bounced strike), but as best I can tell, everything else looks seems in order (to my novice eye).

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - picked up my first M1 garand

Armory » M1 / M14 / M1 Carbine

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