[dinosaur]

A couple of weeks ago I ran into what I was told was a Navy Garand in .308. I have no idea how to verify and at $1300 I wasn`t real interested. The thing that got me to post was the stock. It was some kind of exotic wood that you`d expect to find on a custom rifle. The best I could describe it was highly polished light wood with very dark stripes. I didn`t think to look for a cartouche. To keep it short, were the Navy models gussied up like this one?

[Swampy]

dino,

Sounds to me like a trophy presentation rifle.... Many of these were made from Navy 7.62 Nato M1 rifles.

The wood was probably standard USGI birch replacement wood, which has no cartouches (usually). Some small percentage of birch stocks have a distinctive "tiger stripe" pattern much sought after by Garand afficianados (Note: the M14 used the same type wood... and Yes, M14 shooters love the "tigers" as well). Sounds like this rifle had wood that was ferreted out of the supply bins and then "gussied up", as you call it, for the presentation with some fine sanding and a semi-gloss finish.

These occasionally show up for sale.... but are fairly rare. The asking price does not seem out of line if that's the kind of thing you are after. You certainly wouldn't want to pay that much for a shooter.....

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever

[dinosaur]

Tiger stripe, exactly! I couldn`t think of the term when I posted. It was nice and for a real Garand collector it may be a rare find. Not for me but now I`ve learned something new. Thanks. :D

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Yeah, sounds like the Secretary of the Navy Trophy rifle. Beautifully done. Seen a couple of them. Had a chance to buy one from a dealer friend back in the 80's; didn't have the cash to spend at the time but I seem to recall a price of about $500. US. Kicked myself every time I thought about missing it since then. Consider it a full-house custom grade Garand in 7.62 Nato. Impeccable fit and finish as I recall.

Just make sure it's not a 'reworked Garand tanker model'. Some of those could be passed off as the Tropy models.

Regards,
Rabbit.