Help Finding Authentic Springfield, Garand & Carbine For Museum Display

[Cosmoline]

I've got an urgent request from the Alaska state museum to help in assembling some additional rifles to represent the USA in the WWII firearms display they're setting up now. Ironically the museum has plenty of Arisakas and Nambus and such with a verified provenance, but the US arms were almost all returned to the arsenals so it's impossible to know whether one actually served in Alaska during the war.

As a stop-gap I'm helping to track down some as-authentic-as-possible Springfields, M1 Garands and carbines which can stand in as display of what the 7th ID or similar units would have carried in the early days of WWII in the Pacific.

My knowledge of US rifles is much less complete than my knowledge of foreign ones, but AFAIK the best bet is to find 1942 or earlier dated weapons that weren't parted out too much. But what of stocks? Slings? I believe the Garand winter trigger is a Korean era innovation so that's probably out.

Any assistance would be very much appreciated. Also if you care to discuss a loan of your prize to the museum let me know! This is only for a season I believe.

Ideally we're also trying to find a loaner BAR and Thompson, but I'm also hoping to win a lottery.

 

[dprice3844444]

cmp forum or cmp.org

 

[BullfrogKen]

I was going to suggest the same place. Try the CMP.

 

[RCArms.com]

Cmp is out of as-issued WWII rifles and all they are currently selling are post war rebuilds and post war new production rifles.

For an authentic WW II original, you're going to have to hit the open market for them.

Don

 

[BullfrogKen]

Cosmo, if you're looking for authentic and complete examples . . . well good luck.

 

[Cosmoline]

I've posted over at CMP. I think the prospects of finding an actual Alaskan-used Garand or other weapon with verified provenance is all but impossible. And if we could find one, it would still be US government property anyway. The chance of tracing SN's from the 7th ID or Alaska Territorial Guard to an actual Garand would also be exceptionally difficult with 8 million of them out there.

So we're left with tracking down reasonably authentic period examples for the display. If it's all Arisakas it will look like the Japanese won!

 

[BullfrogKen]

A complete issue rifle used during the conflict in Alaska?


I'd suggest the museum content itself with some nice representations.

 

[RCArms.com]

I have a very nice original (Ogden Arsenal repaired) 1943 Inland Carbine in my personal collection that I am selling off. No Alaskan connection that I am aware of though.

PM me if interested. Maybe we can arrive at a sale price or some other arrangement that is mutually beneficial.

Don

 

[Steve CT]

This is a sort of crazy suggestion, but maybe contact the real, original Springfield Armory

http://www.nps.gov/spar/index.htm

I visited there a few months ago, and it is amazing. They may be willing to help out a new Museum trying to start up

 

[Cosmoline]

I think he's already tried there but I'll suggest it.

This isn't a new museum BTW. It's the Alaska State Museum in Juneau. They've got an enormous collection, but typically don't collect items that lack a clear provenance. So your granddad's Luger that he got from General Schnitzengruben would be there but not your granddad's Garand because that went back to the arsenal for refurb and reissue.

I'd suggest the museum content itself with some nice representations.

Yup that's what we're looking at now. Barring some miracle.

 

[.45Guy]

Cosmoline, there is a pawn shop here that has all three sitting on the rack. I don't have specifics, but I could send the info your way.

 

[Tim the student]

Maybe Orest would be willing to help out a museum. Seems worthy enough, but what do I know. If nothing else, maybe you could get a particularly nice looking M1 in the right SN range you are looking for (WW2 SN I mean.)

The chance of tracing SN's from the 7th ID or Alaska Territorial Guard to an actual Garand would also be exceptionally difficult with 8 million of them out there.

It isn't the number of M1s, its the lack of records. There is a guy I have seen over on the CMP forums that will do some detective work for a price, but good luck actually turning up the records. Miracles happen though.

If the museum could by chance track down any SNs that have anything to do with Alaska, you might be able to cross reference the list on the CMP forums. Needle and a haystack and all that though.

Good luck. Please let us know how it turns out.

 

[Cosmoline]

If nothing else, maybe you could get a particularly nice looking M1 in the right SN range you are looking for

This is what I'm aiming for now. Part of the problem is the state has a budget to buy, but only items with a provenance. Examples used to fill in the display have to be donated or loaned. Of course you know this is going to turn into another attack on my back account ;-)

 

[ball3006]

Too bad you are not in Dallas this coming weekend. You can find many examples of what you are looking for at the Market Hall show.....chris3

 

[ACP230]

Replicas are available in ads in Shotgun News.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Cosmo is looking for a example that actually served in Alaska during the war, not some unknown linage rifle.

 

[FlyinBryan]

Maybe Orest would be willing to help out a museum.

this is who i would contact first. orest michaels, anniston alabama cmp store.

or maybe scott duff, or clint mckee at fulton armory.

 

[RCArms.com]

Cosmo is looking for a example that actually served in Alaska during the war, not some unknown linage rifle.

I would ask the Alaska National Guard if they have any weapons that were transferred into their armory immediately after WWII. Chances are, those would have been transfered immediately because they were already located there.

Another option would be to seek out shipping records from the Ordnance Dept to see if any record of weapon type and serial number can be traced to a unit based in Alaska.

Other than that, I think it would be exceptionally hard to verify actual Alaskan Service on any WWII Era weapon.