Info on Garand variant

It's a Beretta BM-59, modified M1 Garand design.

Yup, a BM-59 Alpine model.



For info on its history, see http://www.gunsmagazine.com/bm59.html .

i see it has the evil folding stock and pistol grip

I beg to differ on the ID of that rifle. Yes, it is stocked in the BM-59 stock, but take a close look at the gas system, top handguard, and magazine - all pure M-14/M-1A. It is a Springfield Armory M1A1 Bush Rifle. Marketed by SA in the 1983-1984 timeframe. The old SWAT magazine and Chuck Taylor had a pretty good write up on it at the time. I'm sure I have that issue in my 'library' still if you want pics or more info. Basically, SA shortened the barrel and gas system and flash hider on commercial M-1As and fitted them to the modified Beretta Stocks.

Correct ID

Spieler - you got the ID correct on this - M1A based, not BM59.

If you can find that old SWAT article by Taylor that covered these types of guns, I'd very much appreciate any info from it. A friend was going to dig his up and copy it for me, but he never followed up.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Keep your powder dry,

Atlas Shrug

I'll be danged...you're right, Spieler. Must be an M1A that someone put a BM59 stock on...they fit right on, from what I read.

G.I.Jew - And a grenade launcher and bayonet, too. All the BM59s are preban.

AtlasShrug and Braindead,

I found my old issue of SWAT, April 1984, that had the write up of that rifle. Here are a few facts about that modified M1A.

It was called the M1A-A1 "Assault Rifle" and in the article by Jim Steele it was dubbed the Guerilla Gun. It's a chooped and channeled M1A fitted with the Beretta BM59 Mk III folding stock, has a 16 inch barrel and 1.5 inch flash suppresor. Overall lengths are 29inches with stock folded, 38 inches extended, with a weight of 10.5 lbs loaded with 20 round mag/8.75 lbs empty rifle.

The review is rather brief, but if you would like to read it in it's entirety let me know and I will try to scan it for you (scanner is not healthy at the moment, but I'll fire it up) and email the article.

-Pat

Spieler,

Thanks for your offer. Is this the issue that has a rating/competition/evaluation of several battle rifles? That's the one I'm really interested in. In that, IIRC, Taylor does a fairly extensive comparison of Garand, M14, BM59, FAL, etc.

Too bad the local library does not have it archived.

Atlas Shrug,

The issue I believe you're talking about is the SWAT Showdown '83. It has Chuck Taylor wtih a Galil on the cover and is filled with tests and evaluations of battle rifles, assault rifles, SMGs, and combat shotugns as well as strategies and tactcis, ammo evals, etc.

I have that issue as well. I can't say that I'm willing to part with it, as I just re-read it a few months ago, but perhaps I can copy or scan it for you.

Here's part of a full-page ad from Springfield Armory in the SWAT Showdown '83 for the M1A-A1 and BM 59 Ital Alpine. Sorry, scanner is out and had to take a quick digi-pic.

oops...

I saw one at the Manatee Civic Center gun show Saturday. $2500 price tag!