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Posted: 11/26/2013 11:17:39 AM EDT
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Quick question about 2 M1 Garands:
Both are Springfield Armory guns and barrels. I have an M1 with an October 1943 dated serial number and a November 1943 dated barrel. Can I safely assume that this is the original barrel? Is there any way to tell? I also have an M1 with an April 1943 serial number, but a May 1944 barrel. Is it safe to assume this gun was rebarreled for some reason within those 13 months? Again, is there any way to tell? I paid $500 for the first gun with a sling and 8 clips. I paid $900 for the second gun with 4 clips, 100 rounds of sealed WW2 M2 ball ammo, a bayonet + scabbard, a sling, a multi tool, and 2 cleaning kits (one in the stock, one in a pouch). Thanks, BCM |
| There is no way to be sure exactly but according to Scott Diff's books barrels are commonly dated one to two months after the receiver. So rifle #1 is wearing it's original barrel. And as you noted the barrel on rifle #2 is dated a year keyed. Somewhere, for whatever reason, it was rebarreled. |
Well there was this war going on. 
One can only speculate of course but I think it would be safe to assume the original barrel was shot out. My own Garand is an Oct. '43 Springfield that was wearing a wore out April 1945 SA barrel. Who knows what stories it could tell? Same as yours. That's what makes collecting these old arms so much fun. |
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I also heard that info on corrosive ammo, but didn't know the dates. My H&R is in the 5.7 million serial range, but it has a 52 dated SA barrel.
The little I have found out was mine was most likely dated within the Korean police action period or just after. I would like to find out the history of my relic also. |
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USGI 30 carbine ammo was ALWAYS non-corrosive. >>>30-06 didn't become N/C until ~1952.... depends on which factory made it... Quoted:
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I thought American ammo in WW2 was non-corrosive...? beware there is some Chinese head stamp LC 52 carbine ammo that is very corrosive |
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The date of the barrel is close enough to possibly be original to the receiver. Original barrels will have no parkerizing on the rear of the barrel (chamber/feed ramp).
Here is a pic of a Sept. '43 SA Garand to illustrate the unparked breech. And the whole package. 
 
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Correct but that would complicate or eliminate the ability to determine if its original. Quoted:
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Original barrels can have parkerizing on the chamber if the rifle was refinished. Correct but that would complicate or eliminate the ability to determine if its original. Exactly, thats why you cannot gauge wether it is original barrel or not only by the chamber face |
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The date of the barrel is close enough to possibly be original to the receiver. Original barrels will have no parkerizing on the rear of the barrel (chamber/feed ramp). Here is a pic of a Sept. '43 SA Garand to illustrate the unparked breech. And the whole package.
http://www.fototime.com/1886289D93D2A8C/standard.jpghttp://www.fototime.com/21CC8D95FE29552/standard.jpg Thanks for the info. The first M1 I described definitely has what appears to be the original barrel and finish, while the second one definitely has been rearsenaled (reparkerized and rebarreled) at some point. Both are still good looking guns with plenty of history. I won't part with either one.
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