Quoted:
I would look into the CMP for a Service Grade. You won't be let down, IMO.

Left side of the barrel at muzzle end has markings of:
BN then a clover leaf or crown looking symbol followed by 30/06 2.494
After that it is marked: 18 TONS PER and a square looking symbol

Quoted:
Newbie here looking at a Garand someone has for sale.  It has nice wood but the finish is pretty worn around most metal parts, especially the front & rear sites and muzzle end – pretty shiny.  Exterior trigger & guard etc has almost no finish at all

It is a Springfield Armory with a serial number in the 43547xx range.  I have no idea when that was made or if that’s bad or good.  I’ll do my best with my old eyes on the markings.  If you guys could help my on the decision to buy or not, it would be very much appreciated.  I consider the price OK but this could sure be refinished.  I have no idea on the throat erosion etc.  

Left side of the barrel at muzzle end has markings of:  
BN then a clover leaf or crown looking symbol followed by 30/06 2.494
After that it is marked:  18 TONS PER and a square looking symbol

Barrel at receiver has:
Upside T (maybe) R then another symbol followed by SAD6535448 then 8 56 OIC and then a little crown looking symbol like a box with 3 dots above it.

A Lot of BS has been written by people who don't understand the British system of Military Acceptance and Commercial Proof laws.

If a Rifle (or other Ordnance) is/was Accepted into British Military Service, it will carry several "Inspector's" marks, of RSAF Enfield ( crown with a number/letter, later "EFD" in Logo Form); There will also be the "Broad Arrow property mark", and a Date (two digits) denoting
year of acceptance...Best examples of this are the US-made P14 rifles, which carry these marks on the barrel shank, left side, under the top handguard. The other British Military "Proof" mark is the Firing proof, consisting of crossed pennants or guidons, denoting the firearm has passed a Military firing proof (this crosssed pennants stamp will be found on all British Empire adopted or made Military rifles(Britain, Canada, India, Australia).

All these marks are commonly found on Rifles and also Pistols of Foreign origin in British Service(Colt and S&W Revolvers, P14 rifles, etc.) as well as those British made.

Now comes the confusing part.... All the Lend-Lease and other foreign Firearms which Britain acquired during WW II, were, when surplussed,(By the British) sent to Birmingham to pass "Commercial proof" ( 1813 Gun Proof Act) before they could be on-sold, either in Britain or overseas. When Sam Cummings (Interarms) bought the entire British Inventory of available Rifles from Britain in the early 1960s, he arranged for a branch of the Birmingham Proof House to be set up in his Warehouse complex in Manchester, to attend to the "proofing" of all the SMLEs, No4s, No5s and other British rifles he had bought( at an average price of less than $1.00 EACH!!!)( Close to 1,000,000 rifles).

Now to Garands>>>in WW II, not all "Imports" for British Military use were "stamped" by the Enfield Inspection teams..more for time factor and manpower than anything else. The only mark that may be found is a " Crown E" mark (very small) and nothing else, if at all, and the "red Stripe" to distinguish a .30 cal rifle ( But this was more for Home Guard use, than Regular Army); red stripes also indicated "Drill Purpose", and not just "Cal .300".

As the Garands were sent to specialist units (RMCs, Army Commandos, etc) there was not felt any special need to distingusih them in any particular manner. of course, if the British had decided to Buy Garands in a really big way ( say 100K or more,) then certainly some sort of "Acceptance" PROCEDURE WOULD HAVE BEEN INSTITUTED AND ACCORDINGLY MARKED ON THE RIFLES.

Garands from European Allies Post-WW II were generally surplussed THROUGH Britain, and so got the BNP banner proof marks.

End story: The presence of "BNP etc" proof house markings on a Garand means simply that it was Commercially proofed for civilian sale at some time of its life, as Milsurp. (either from British sources or imported Milsurp)

The British Government did NOT use the Commercial facilties of London Company of Gunmakers Proof House, or the Birmingham Proof House for Acceptance of Military Arms...they had RSAF Enfield do this through the ISA (Inspectorate of Small Arms).

So Be Warned...the fact that a Garand (or other US Rifle) carried a BNP or similar mark is simply a Commercial Milsurp mark, and NOT any indication of official Use by Britain...so
let the Buyer Beware.
6528287 – SA  A11

Stock has AA stamped on it followed by 24030 and the number 3 under that.  Looking down the barrel with a light, I see grooves and it does not look pitted or anything.

Should I spend money on this or pass given the above markings etc.

Quoted:
Muzzle wear is more important than throat wear as far as effecting accurcy. I wouldnt give up so quick. If it shoots well its worth the price

Quoted:
Muzzle wear is more important than throat wear as far as effecting accurcy. I wouldnt give up so quick. If it shoots well its worth the price

Quoted:
Forgot one pic:

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/rr87/Thismightwork/Garand3.jpg?t=1247191075

I may pass.  Seller wants six hundred. I won't be able to verify throat erosion.

Quoted:

TE is relevant to accuracy.  A tight muzzle won't usually help a barrel with a TE of 6 or more.  The M1 in question looks like a "Field Grade" to me.  Unless this one's really accurate, I'd sooner spend the money on a CMP Service Grade.

Quoted:


You are putting words in my mouth, I never said TW wasn't relevant to accuracy. I said MW is much more important , which it is
I will take a rifle with a TW of 6 anyday over a rifle with a MW of 6. I actually have shot rifles with high TW and low MW and they shoot fine.Have you?
What effects the bullet last as it leaves the barrel? The Muzzle.
Yes I agree MW and TW affect accuracy but MW is a more important factor  when checking a barrel.
Something else to remember . A new Post War USGI barrel can have a TW of 3 , so a barrel reading 6 is actually only a 3 on the throat. MW of 6 is 6 no matter how you slice it.

All depends what you want the rifle for, casual plinking with some history or shooting matches?
If you just want to have fun at the range it would probably be fine, its worth thinking about

CMP Service Grade is $595.00 plus $22.95 plus shipping but you will wait 3 months to get it.
Field Grade is $495.00  plus $22.95 shipping =517.95 you could get this Garand now with no waiting for $82.05 more and dont have to wait 3 months. Check the rifle over, if it looks good offer him $550.00

I wish that Garand was close to me I would take a serious look at it before dismissing it.
I need a British lend/lease to add to my collection

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f197/Garandlover/misc/MVC-008S-1.jpg