Garand - Interesting Op Rod Catch!

[PaulTX]

I wrote here a few days ago that my recently purchased Garand had a broken arm on the Op Rod Catch and wouldn't kick out the clip automatically with the last round. Also it was a little hard to get the Op Rod forward when a fresh clip is loaded.

I ordered a replacement catch from Orion 7 and tonight I installed it. I was surprised to see the arm was not broken, it was cut off and it has a hole drilled on top with a spring in it. There was no Accelerator either.

Anybody seen anything like that part?

I'll test the Garand at the range in the near future, but it appears to functioning as originally designed!

I placed my order to Orion 7 for the catch, recoil spring, and two tools on the 16th - received it on the 18th! They are in NY and I'm in TX - that is FAST service!

 

[Deles136]

You have the "Holbrook Device" that is sold by a man named John Holbrook. I have one in my M1 Garand and its purpose is to make the M1 function like my Mini 14. I said before that with this device installed that when I push a clip into the magazine the bolt stays open until I pull back on the operating handle then release it. Also when I fire the last round the clip stays in the magazine until I press the release button on the left side of the magazine. I can also insert an empty clip and load one or more rounds without having to insert a full clip.

I purchased this device from Mr. Holbrook for these reasons and I am very satisfied with the way my M1 operates with the device installed. This is a modification of the standard way the M1 operates and I am old and I like it very much.

 

[Deles136]

Also the hole with the spring in it is on the bottom of the catch.

 

[PaulTX]

Deles136,

Thanks for the information. I can see where is handy to manually eject the clip or top it off. But I didn't care for it being a little hard to get the Op Rod unlatched.

 

[Deles136]

The op rod being hard to unlatch was not caused by the Holbrook device unless the device was installed upsidedown. You said the hole and spring were on the top which made me believe that the device might have been installed upsidedown. The op rod on my M1 is very smooth and functions perfectly.

 

[PaulTX]

It was installed with the spring down - with the rifle laying on it's sights. I don't think it would latch at all if it was installed in reverse, if that's possible. I didn't describe the hole/spring well in my first comments.

With this Holbrook part in, after I inserted a full clip, I would have to pull back on the Op Rod at least 2 times and on ocassion 3 times to get it to release.

 

[Deles136]

With the rifle laying on it's sights it is UPSIDEDOWN from it's normal operating position. With the rifle in this position the spring should be looking at you. If the spring is not pressing against something and causing the Holbrook device to stay in one position, the the Holbrook device is installed wrong and the rifle will not operate properly. This is all the information I can tell you about this problem. If you continue to have problems I would suggest that you take the rifle to a gunsmith who has vast knowledge of the M1 Garand and ask him to help you.

 

[Phil in Seattle]

John Holbrook does the gun shows that my club, WAC runs, he is a wonderful man to talk to. He suffered a stroke I believe in the past couple of years and it's gotten a bit hard to understand him at times, but it is well worth the effort it might take. The stories, knowledge, and wisdom that he has accumulated throughout his life astound me.

An incredibly nice man he is.