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Posted: 12/10/2015 6:42:48 PM EDT
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Finished this M1 Garand lamp up last week,
I originally built it as a display piece from unserviceable parts I had collected over the years. Receiver was a cast commercial piece from the 60's or 70's that had a cracked heel due to an out of battery discharge. Every thing else was worn out or didn't gage within spec. 
Threaded the end of the barrel 1/8 NPS (1-27) for the socket nipple common to lamps. 
Plugged barrel and welded it to the receiver. What you don't see is I gutted the follower parts and made a spacer that I welded the follower rod to. This allows the cord to exit the bottom of the barrel and route towards the rear under the chamber. All this allows the action to cycle. 
Welded the face of the bolt and relieved the receiver bridge to act as a clamp when the trigger housing is installed. 
Gutted the trigger housing, made a fake safety to allow room for the cord. It exits the back of the trigger housing cut in the stock through a hole that intersects the upper cleaning kit hole. 
I removed the trap door from the butt plate and a junction box is screwed to the bottom of the box. A piece of conduit come up through the lid into the upper cleaning kit hole to strengthen the whole assembly. 
I searched forever to find the appropriate ammo crate that was marked correctly. 
I'm really happy with how it turned out, Wpns Man |
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Quoted:
Great looking lamp and a great build WpnsMan. You did make a different top for the ammo box. Thanks All, Yes, I had to make the top and reverse engineer all the hardware for it as I couldn't find any when I got the box. I figured this was putting the thing to good use. The dummy rifle had been in my closet for a few years gathering dust. Wpns Man |
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I thought about that,
Not enough room through the barrel with the cord. Thought I could use the pull chain type through the gas plug and attach to the front of the op rod/piston. Guys at work wanted it to be trigger activated but, I would have to find a rebounding toggle and make room for it. Too much work. As is, it has a three way switch so I can select the level of light I want, Wpns Man |
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Look into something like a SPST roller micro switch.
Might work. switch |
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Quoted:
That has possibilities, This one is done though. However, my buddy has one hanging on the wall of his shop that I will probably end up doing at some point. I wouldn't mind doing an '03 if I can find a likely candidate reasonably. Wpns Man we will discuss that M1 next time you are up,, and you know I have a few boxes,,, had an 03 donor a few years ago,, but sold it, |
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Super Cool Wpnsman!! I tried my hand at lamp building once too...  |
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Great job!
If I could make one suggestion though it would be for the shade to come down a bit more to hide the lamp parts. Perhaps in a period correct camo or OD green? it will cover the muzzle a bit but I think look better by hiding those parts. Even then, I wouldn't throw it out of my man cave 
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The rear sight was a rough WWII elevation pinion and the windage knob is a modern one that the tension screw broke out of. So, I found a rough lock bar that someone crudely tried to convert from a type III to a type II and used that. I.E, no valuable parts were harmed in the making of this lamp.
I had thought about the helmet shade but the one on it looked the part and was like $15 at Lowes. If I happen upon a roached helmet I may revisit that option. Best way would be to cut a hole in the top to vent some heat and for maximum light output. The shade on it now covers most of the socket when viewed at a normal angle, I took the pic angled up to get a good view of the parts. Glad you all like it, Wpns Man |
| Thanks for sharing. Turned out very nice. First look, I thought the ammo box was on wheels until viewing bottom pic. Great utilization of roached parts. Possibly a work in progress with a few modifications down the road or leave as is. I liked the helmet idea and possibly incorporating a few dummy / loaded appearance stripper clips or accessories. German or jap helmet with lots of bullet holes for added lighting might work on the shade. Still trying to figure out what's roached on the sling? |
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that is extremely cool.. i have a wall hanger Garand made from a demilled barrel and welded receiver... my wife would love one (if they sold it at Pottery Barn)
would be cool if you posted the lamp pieces you used to mount to the barrel, and that idea to use the action as a switch, tempting! |
DUDE! That lamp is slicker than owl snot! 
I too think a little longer shade would be better. And cover it with a WWII burlap sand bag! The smell will wear off in a few years! 
The trigger switch would be cool but it ups the difficulty quite a bit. We are all JEALOUS! I've got an old shot out barrel and some junk M1 parts floating around and I have wanted to do an M1 lamp for AGES! TOP NOTCH STUFF! 
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The lamp parts are not that noticeable when viewed from a straight on, standing position. I looked at bigger/longer shades but they were just to Big and this one seemed appropriate at the time.
I may look into the helmet shade option as I have a few ideas for that. I added two pieces of wood (3/4" x 1.5") to the bottom of the box followed by poly furniture "feet" to add a little height and keep the bottom of the box off of carpet if it ever got damp. I finished the box in satin poly to further protect it. The sling is probably the only thing that isn't roached, I just had it laying around. I will probably put an enbloc full of dummy ammo on it at some point. I also have a dummy Mk II grenade I may fix to the lid of the box, don't want to over do it though. Wpns Man |
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I was thinking of doing something similar with a cheap Sten kit for the base and a Tommy Helmet as the shade.
I was wondering what to use as a heavy base and the ammo crate is a great idea. If I get some tinkering time over brake - mabe I'll try to get some parts together. |
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Quoted:
I was thinking of doing something similar with a cheap Sten kit for the base and a Tommy Helmet as the shade. I was wondering what to use as a heavy base and the ammo crate is a great idea. If I get some tinkering time over brake - mabe I'll try to get some parts together. I like that idea! It would make a nice desk lamp or bedside table lamp! |
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