Honey, it followed me home...

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Orcon

Orcon

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Sidney, MT
I had good intentions, I really did. I was on a budget and planned only to spend money on food and gas while I was out West elk hunting with my Dad and brothers. On the last day before I had to head back home, I happened upon a man with a Garand in his hand who was on his way to see pawnshop Dan. Next thing I know I'm $500 lighter and trying to figure out a way to justify my purchase to my book-keeper, the missus. Meh, sometimes you just gotta take your lumps.

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She's a Springfield (Korean import) but in impeccable condition for the sub-300k receiver stamp. Bolt, barrel and receiver date '41-'44 but with the stamped trigger guard and lack of shiny ring at the chamber it is obviously a reconditioned franken-gun. It's no high-end collectors piece but it's mine!

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Pro tip: On Monday, sell two other rifles. "Consolidating the collection."

Not your best ones, necessarily... ;)
 
Thanks for the kind words, guys. I've always wanted a Garand but never even shot one 'til recently and they are so stupendously fun to shoot. First range session and I was down over 3 boxes of American Eagle M1 ammo in no time at all.
 
She's a beauty. As far as justifying the purchase show her a picture of an M1 that sells for $2000 and tell her you saved $1500.
 
Wow, thats a good score! Looks great but you don't have to worry about some extra insurance policy for the "Investment". This is what I wanna find. You did good, just tell her they don't make em like this any more...
 
You got that for FIVE HUNDRED???? You stole it at that price.!!! And another little tidbit. It is hard to tell exactly, but it looks like the support ring on the gas cylinder is rounded on top. That makes it a Winchester, all others had a flat on the top. Also that front sight appears to have widely flared protective wings. They look very "Winchester" to me. Is there a punch mark on the right side of the sight? Another Winchester giveaway.

Now, during the war, the Winchester Garands were the most troublesome. But in todays world, they bring a higher premium..And Winchester Gas Cylinders are becoming very hard to find and pricey in the marketplace. The worth of that GS and front sight combo just could be half of what you paid for the entire gun !

Can you post a couple more pics of the areas in question.?
 
Thanks for the info, Tark. Could you clarify what part of the gas cylinder you are refering to? Is it the part closest to the stock or on the muzzle side of the front sight?

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Well, your pics are excellent , and that's a Springfield Armory Gas Cylinder. (Or H&R or I.H.C.) Darn. That does look like a Winchester front sight, I see what appears to be a punch mark in the usual place. Unfortunately, it's the Gas Cylinders that are valuable. I am restoring a Winchester and it took me years to find a proper GS. They are beginning to be forged, by welding up an SA cylinder and then grinding down to a round contour and re-finishing. In all the gun shows I have been to in the last ten years I have only run into a handful of WGCs and they were usually on a Springfield gun!

You still got a fantastic bargain. Shoot the snot out of it!!!
 
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