Garand stock question

[PAC 762]

I recently purchased 3 greek RG's from the CMP. 2 have the usual GI stock, but one has a lighter colored stock that has a significantly thinner grip. At first I didn't realize it, but I shouldered it and it felt so much better than the other ones. I then realized the thinner grip fit my hand (size L glove) much better. So, does anyone know if this is standard or a replacement (1943 SA)? Is it a different type of wood? Is it common to see this type of stock? Is it less durable? Does it add or detract from the rifles value? And finally, does anyone else find the standard garand stock a little bulky and cumbersome, like I do?

 

[BamBam-31]

Birch stock, maybe? I think Garand stocks were either walnut (dark brown) or birch. Maybe it's a birch stock sanded down?

 

[PAC 762]

Found a little info...

Perhaps the most commonly confused phase of restoring an M1 Garand has to do with the stock. There are fourteen variations of the M1 Garand stock that have to do with the style and length of the barrel channel, the shape of the pistol grip and the routing for the trigger guard assembly.

 

[Jason Demond]

It could also be european beech stock, that the Greeks put on.

M1 GARAND – GREEK ISSUE

Same as USGI Garand rifles described for same grades above, except that these rifles were loaned to the Greek Government and later returned to the U.S. Army. These rifles have all USGI parts but stocks and handguards may be either Walnut, Birch, Beech, or other European wood. Rifles do not have import marks.
http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/m1garand.htm

 

[jrhead75]

If it's lighter, it's most likely beech or birch as mentioned above. Both beech and birch will have a yellow/orange tint, and beech will usually have small "scallop" or "scale" patterns here and there on the wood which are hard to miss once you know what they look like.

Greeks also made their own stocks, which seemed to tend towards fatness. Maybe the other two are fatter than normal, or perhaps the lighter one was in use for a long time and got worn down (lots of units scraped, smoothed and reoiled their stocks annually).

Any markings or cartouches on any of them?

 

[PAC 762]

Thanks for the replies. The stock is not worn down. It is in VG condition for a RG. There are no discernable markings that I see. I have 1 other Garand that has a "thick" grip as well, so I'm pretty sure the other 3 are normal and the one I'm describing is thinner than usual. I have not weighed them, but the thinner one does feel a little lighter, but it might just be because it fits me better.

 

[jefnvk]

My US RG has a thinner grip on it, at least compared to most of the Greek ones I handeled. My friend got a Greek one that has a grip so wide I could hardly get my hand around it.

 

[Trebor]

Actually, I'd bet the "thinner" stock is closer to the normal GI standard for when the rifle was built. The replacement stocks tend to be thicker in external dimensions, especially around the pistol grip. Original stocks were all walnut. Replacement stocks (USGI) were often (always?) birch. (Earlier replacement stocks tended to be closer to original GI spec. Later stocks were thicker)

The thing is that the replacement stocks are actually more common on CMP rifles now. Most of the original stocks were replaced over the years, which is why you'd think that the thicker replacement stock was "normal" and that the thinner original style stock was "unusual."

This is all a gross oversimplification, but you get the idea.

 

[Mike Hull]

I was reading the site of a person that restores M1's, and he said his stocks are the bigger, thicker variety that were adopted(made standard equipt.) during the Korean war.
So apparently, before the 50's, the stocks were thinner all the way around.

Sorry, I can't remember who's site it was.