Mutt M1?

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Palescarab

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So years ago I inherited a rifle that I later took to a gunsmith to get some information on it because honestly I have no idea what it is. The gentleman called it a “Mutt gun” and said he personally wouldn’t shoot it because it looked like someone had Put it together from different types of firearms and that it was clearly no longer chambered in .30-06 but it would instead make someone a really nice lamp. I put back It in the safe along side my other milsurps and forgot about it. Couple days ago I was going through my firearms to do some routine cleaning and saw it sitting there and my mind started wandering. It’s a Gnarly looking rifle and honestly scares me a little bit when I think about shooting it simply because I don’t want to eat a face full of receiver or stock if the thing happens to have a colossal failure but the other side of me really wants to put a few rounds through it. I haven’t taken it apart yet but honestly with something like this I don’t think I’m qualified to determine if it’s safe to shoot so I thought I would at least throw this beast out to you guys and see what your thoughts were in general on it. It looks to me like it’s set up to shoot 7.62 but again I’m rolling dice here. I do appreciate the feedback. I’ve included photos below.
 

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Op rod is marked 7.62, the magazine looks like a Beretta BM 59 part. Not uncommon work.
BUT: Look at the mismatched mold line on the receiver. I see no maker's mark to show where it might have come from.
I'd want somebody who knew his stuff to look at that.
 
Well since it says made in the USA by Century Arms International of Georgia VT on the receiver I am betting that is where it was made on one of CAIs cast Garand receivers and yes it appears to be a BM59 variant.

Basically one of the US A20 series of post war Garand mods leading up to the M-14.....

I would have been already shooting it though perhaps from a remote firing position with frequent inspections for the first mag or two.

-kBob
 
Also note it may not have been assembled by anyone you've heard of. Whether gunsmith final assembled or home shop jobs, BM59 parts kits onto CAI receivers (as cheap, so good for projects) are... well, not common, but they are a thing. The BM59E is, I think, the most common of the parts kits by far.

Here's one tale of a parts kit plus many other bits, turned into a gun: https://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?159995-BM-59-Clone-Money-Pit

So I'd check it head to toe for functionality, replace key springs, confirm the chambering, and confirm headspace. Then probably fire remote or with extra PPE a mag, and strip it down, check for obvious cracks and wear.

But then: Enjoy! I love the BM59 in principle. Would love to have one of these gifted or find a deal even if a mutt.
 
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You guys are definitely on to something. After reading posts here I went back and looked a little deeper and I should have been more diligent. Locked the bolt back and found more markings labeled as SIAU 1967 MP on the barrel. The mag seems a little finicky when inserted and needs to be aligned exact so the bolt will close. I’m gonna clean it up and replace springs and anything that looks like it needs it (Hopefully won’t be a pricey endeavor) and put a few rounds through it. I mean it’s basically screaming at me to do it. I made a fools choice a long time ago and sold the 2 legit Garands I had when I got married so seeing this stuck in the back of the safe re-lit a old flame. Not quite the same flame but it’ll do. Hindsight has a way of being painful.
 

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I am by no means an expert but it bears close resemblance to the BM59 E model
View attachment 913035
That receiver heal is weird though

I had virtually the same first thoughts. Argentina had some standard M1s converted to E spec by Beretta -- the recent GCA convention had some discussion about this in the following presentation:

https://thegca.org/the-long-shadow-of-john-garand-by-marty-morgan-at-gca-convention/

The Century Arms receiver markings help explain some of the more iffy-looking bits. The receiver sure looks rough on the outside and the new chambering marked on the op rod is definitely weirdsville!
 
I can’t believe you’ve had it for years and never shot it. Must be some collection in that safe huh?

I’m with these other guys. Strap it to a bench or something and shoot it. That thing looks really cool. Plus it’s a Century so nobody messed up something with history to build it. Have fun and be sure to report back with you results.
 
Does it have Fed Ord or Federal Ordnance stamped on it anywhere?

I had both types. A Beretta BM-59 and a Fed Ord conversion from an M1 Garand to BM-59. That looks like one of theirs. Shot well. Santa Fe conversion I think.
 
That's decidedly a BM-59 magazine.
And those work best in BM-59 receivers.
CAI receivers are not exactly known for consistent tolerances.
CAI and FedOrd both built these up as mock M-14 and mock BM-59, and without a lot of care as to how they actually worked, as long as they fired once so they could put the spent case in the box with the arm.
So, the mag catch is going to be dicey (as you have already seen) and mag fit and "repeatability" will also be iffy (as you have already seen).
When it chambers, it will likely go bang 95+%, and the round will likely go where the barrel points.
As a prediction, it will be a bit like a brother-in-law.
 
I would appreciate closer pictures of the receiver and heel. Here is the story running in my mind: The importer was not allowed to bring in the receivers because once a machine gun always a machine gun. Either they were blocked or decided they could not sell fully automatic Italian Garands. So, they decided to build up semi automatic versions using everything else Italian except the receiver. The receivers they had someone make them, could be cast, could be machined, can't tell from the pictures. I suspect they were cast as that is a lot easier than machining from bar stock.

So, you have a faux BM 59. You can look up the history but the US Army had developed a box magazine Garand just at the end of WW2 but never fielded the thing. And after the war, the Nation spent billions on bombers but almost nothing on rifle development. So, selling a program to replace millions of eight round Garands with a 20 round fully automatic Garand fell on deaf ears.

The Italians did not have millions of newly made expensive Garands, unless they were given the things as foreign aid. So, when they decided to replace all those Carcano's they sold to Lee Harvey Oswald and the like, they decided to upgrade the basic Garand into a more effective combat weapon.

Does a Kennedy duck when they hear a loud noise?
 
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Did a basic strip of the gun and got some pictures for a closer look. Serial number on the gun reads M1P23269 the .30-06 markings have been scratched out. Markings on trigger group are PB BM 59. Stamped directly beneath is 6528290-HRA N. Noticed come cracks in the stock and hand guard as well and what looks to be some type of sheering on the back side of the firing pin. I’ll post those up next. Hopefully these help
 

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Here’s the the other pics. I don’t know if these are repairable or worth the trouble ( minus the firing pin which I’m guessing I can purchase) but if the wood can be patched at home and is fairly inexpensive then I’m willing to try though I have no real experience with stock repair. My gut tells me though someone with more expertise on the matter would need to look at it.
 

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You will need a new firing pin. The tang has broken. Happened to me at a match, always carried a spare because I had been told about that part breaking, that plus extractor and extractor plunger and springs. When the extractor breaks, all of those go flying!

An older USMC shooter I met ( Mr Triggs) had been in the Korean War and had been at Chosin Reservoir. He was playing a game of pop up, where he and a People's Liberation Army representative on the other side of a pile of boulders, were alternating popping up and shooting each other. Unfortunately for Mr Triggs, the firing pin broke on his M1 rifle, something he figured out just before the PLA guy got bored and tossed a hand grenade. Mr Triggs was blown out of position, lay stunned and bleeding, as the PLA unit ran past him to fight with the next bunch of Marines. Mr Triggs had a surreal moment. He could look out of the corner of his eye (he was playing dead) and saw a Chinese kid, standing proud, blowing his bugle, on the rise amongst the boulders. Then he heard a bullet hit the kid, the kid falls down and was still for a moment. Then as the kid was bleeding out, Mr Triggs heard the kid crying. At that moment Mr Triggs felt compassion for the kid and the kid's parents and the family. War creates some surreal moments. Mr Trigg's fellow Marines pushed the Chinese waves back, and retrieved their buddy, and got Mr Triggs to safety.
 
As an aside; Right before Cl. Cooper passed I had a chance togo down to his gunvault and poke around. In it I found a MUCH used BM59 , a real deal Beretta one, Louis Awerbuck saw me checking it out extensively and said it was one of the Col.'s personal favorites and he put a bazillion rounds thru it , as did Louis . He said it was like pitching a half mile base ball for them !
 
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