Can you help me ID this rifle?

[rkwright]

My grandfather passed away last month and has left 80+ guns. We always knew he had a lot of guns and growing up I saw one that I believed was an M14/M1a. My dad was going though all his stuff and has come across what may be an M14 - but after sending me pictures of it I am second guessing it. I believe it may be an M1 garand dressed up as an M14 look alike. I was hoping to post some pictures here and get your feedback.

My dad is planning on taking it to a local gun store to have someone look at it - but I figured there were probably some good experts here. Disclaimer - sorry for the pictures, my dad was taking them on his iphone.

 

[rkwright]

BTW Serial # behind the aim sight is in the 2.4-2.5 mil range, pretty worn. Springfield Armory.

Serial # on the bolt (the piece that rotates slightly when ejecting the shell... the bolt or receiver? I'm not sure what to call it....) is in the 6.5 mil range. Also Springfield Armory.

 

[Vaarok]

What you're looking at is either an Italian BM-59 variant, or a home-made/gunsmith-made pseudo-BM-59. It could also be an extensively modified "Tanker Garand", a catch-all term for shortened M-1 Garand type rifles custom built as carbines, but again, along the lines of and probably incorporating parts from a BM-59.

And worth mentioning, if it actually adheres to an Italian pattern, it's worth much more than a tanker-ized Garand- the work and parts involved are pretty pricey.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beretta_BM59

The BM59 was adopted in 1959 and served with Italian, Argentinian, Indonesian and Moroccan armies. In the early 1980s, semi-automatic versions were imported to the USA and sold to private collectors. The earliest BM59s were manufactured from US manufactured M1 parts, including re-chambered barrels.

 

[Ian]

It's a homebrew modified M1 Garand that uses either M14 or BM59 magazines. Original BM59s would not have lockbar rear sights.

 

[rkwright]

Thanks guys! Looks like this ones going on the sell list..

 

[[email protected]]

Why? Looks like a nice rifle to me.

 

[451 Detonics]

There is also a chance it could be a Shuff conversion...you might contact him with the serial number... http://shuffsparkerizing.com/

 

[4v50 Gary]

Is it a movie gun from Rumor of War? I remember they couldn't get M-14s so they modified some M-1 Garands to look like them.

 

[two gun charlie]

80 + guns you sure had one cool grandpa leaving you all that firepower