Just got my first M1 Garand! Seeking Expert Chat (pics)

[cyclopsshooter]

Bought my first Garand today after fondeling several over the last few years... Just waiting for the ONE that spoke to me
Until tonight I had no knowledge of M1 proof marks or any such other info but this rifle just looked "right" to me when the elder gentleman slid it out of the soft case.
Now, after several hours of internet research and breaking the rifle down for inspection I have in mind that it is a:

1942 Springfield that was reworked at Rock Island Arsenal about 1953

There is no import mark.

Markings as follows:

U.S. Rifle
CAL. .30 M1
SPRINGFIELD
ARMORY
764XXX

STOCK: RIA over EB in a box, on left side of stock / large P in a circle on pistol grip.

BARREL: LMR D6535448 2 53 A8 P M (ordnance circle)

Other parts have small type military part numbers all including "SA"

CONDITION: Overall excellent condition, honest 90% I have not done anything to the bore but it looks quite nice with sharp lands and groves. the grooves have a clean medium sheen and there are a dozen or so small spots of what could be light rust on the lands toward the muzzle- (I expect a lot of this to clean up after cleaning and a few shots) For a Garand I would say it has a very nice bore.

With all this I know its not a CAI junker

But where does it sit on the collectibility mark? Any ideas as to estimated market value?

Thanks for your two cents!

 

[az_imuth]

It looks like you got yourself a very nice looking Garand...congrats!
Your rifle looks very much like one I received from CMP years ago, and it was my first one also. Not too far off from your serial #, mine is 759676 and is in a stock marked RIA/EB. Other than the barrel, they could dang near pass as twins. I even have the same yellow/white filler in the elevation knob markings.

On the value, with CMP selling service grades at $600 I think you might get a little more than that since it has a WW2 receiver and GI wood. Of course, it would take a whole lot more than that to get me to sell mine.

Just out of curiosity, look and see if your gas cylinder/front sight are staked on the front. You should be able to see it without removing the gas cylinder lock/plug.

 

[foghornl]

That should be a great shooter. LMR (IIRC, that was Line Materials) made the barrels for the International Harvester & Harrington-Richardson 1950's M1 builds.

Since it has the later LMR barrel, it is not an "All Correct Collector Grade". But enjoy it for what it is....an excellent piece of history.

I have Scott Duff's book on Post-WWII M1's around here somewhere...(grumble grumble mutter smoke rolling out of ears) i can't lay my hands on it right now.

 

[Tim the student]

Very nice looking rifle - one that I would be happy to have. Enjoy it.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

I was wondering about what the LMR stood for, thanks! Am I correct in assuming that this hasn't been messed with since the early 50's armory rebuild?

azimuth, my front sight base has not been staked... but thats cool about being twins it'd be fun to meet up and go shoot them The guy I bought it from said he got it from CMP many many years ago too-


By the way, whats better? a nasty old rotten original barrel or having a nice latter one?

 

[cyclopsshooter]

So this would be graded as a "Service Grade?"

 

[GCBurner]

It looks about like my Service Grade HRA, as far as overall condition. It's a war veteran, but still in good, serviceable condition. I'd like to get one with the milled trigger guard and a WWII serial number, myself.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

milled trigger guard... never woulda thunk about that- i think about that kinda stuff on AR15s and 1911s but just dont know the details when it comes to garands or M1 carbines.

What are the desirable small details that most others overlook?

 

[1KPerDay]

Beauty. Congrats! You always remember your first...

 

[788Ham]

This specimen looks exactly like the one I qualified with in basic training back in '67. Man what a piece of history, hope it shoots as good as it looks!

 

[cyclopsshooter]

I can't wait to see how it shoots either but got rained out today

Been sitting here the last ten minutes thinking about the history of that 1942 receiver... It HAD to see service... but WHERE? Asia, Europe, North Africa, Italy, Normandy, Belgium, did it make it all the way into Germany?.... It would be so freaking awesome to track the serial number to the man or men that carried this. I'd do a whole grad thesis on the topic just to post on THR

 

[cyclopsshooter]

"Man/Gun Love" I need a 12 step...

 

[TheVision]

I'd like to get one with the milled trigger guard and a WWII serial number, myself.

...and here I am swapping out my milled trigger guards for stamped ones (which are easier to adjust for tight lock up).

Greg

 

[GCBurner]

milled trigger guard... never woulda thunk about that- i think about that kinda stuff on AR15s and 1911s but just dont know the details when it comes to garands or M1 carbines.

What are the desirable small details that most others overlook?

The milled trigger guard has that loop at the back, where you can stick a tool to help pull it loose for disassembly. They stopped making them that way during the war and went to a stamped trigger guard that just has a hole drilled in the back, where you can stick the cleaning rod handle for leverage to unlatch it. Some of the internal parts were also modified during WWII and post war production to make them cheaper and easier to produce, but a lot of that is pretty esoteric, and only of interest to hard-core collectors. I bought mine as a shooter, not a Safe Queen.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

I'm definitely not afraid to shoot it- got 8 loaded enblocks right here next to it for any sudden plinking needs that come up unfortunately it will spend most of its time uber-clean in the safe... not because I'm anal but because I will most likley be grabbing my Polytech M14S Box fed Brown Bear .308

 

[XxWINxX94]

Lookin good there

I like the 6-digit serial. Mine also has a 6-digit however mine is in the 175,xxx range and is a "pre-war."

Awesome guns, shoot it and indulge in your fine piece of American history.

 

[P-32]

My WWII M-1 is correct with a stamped trigger guard. But then I don't know when they switched for sure.

The LMR barrel is a good one. Generaly the LMR is the best of the US GI barrels. I have run into some Springfield barrels which shot well to. I have one LMR on a Correct H&R. The thing shoots.

 

[FLNT4EVR]

Cyclopsshooter ,You defenitely have a WWII garand.It may have landed at Normandy beach, or walked into Germany. Ther is no way to tell.The records of who it was issued to and where it went were lost many years ago. They were rebuilding these fine rifles and swapping parts within days of the Normandy landing. You have a great Serial Number and a wonderful piece of our history.I hope and pray it will be treated as such.Just knowing you have one should give you a special feeling when ever you see a WWII movie or documentary. Keep it safe and God bless all the servicemen who gave their lives for our freedom.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

Braved the rain- Its a Garand, its at home in that You guys are right about the barrel- crazy accurate- all 64 rounds hit where aimed, cant wait to try it from a bench! Cleaned the bore and its beautiful-
I also shot 16 rounds of old SP hunting loads out of curiosity and they all cycled properly... I had heard that they would jam up the action- Whats the real scoop on hunting ammo in a Garand?

 

[GCBurner]

Braved the rain- Its a Garand, its at home in that You guys are right about the barrel- crazy accurate- all 64 rounds hit where aimed, cant wait to try it from a bench! Cleaned the bore and its beautiful-
I also shot 16 rounds of old SP hunting loads out of curiosity and they all cycled properly... I had heard that they would jam up the action- Whats the real scoop on hunting ammo in a Garand?

Garands are designed for ammo of 150 to 175 grains, with powder that provides a specific pressure curve. Shooting them with commercial .30-06 ammo with bullets over 180 grains, or pressures over what they were designed for, can damage the operating rod. That's an expensive fix. An inexpensive alternative, if you want to shoot commercial ammo, is to get an adjustable gas plug. That allows you to dial down the gas pressure for loads that are heavier than the military standard loads.

 

[velocette]

Cyclops;
Go to: http://forums.thecmp.org/ and you will find all the information, friends, knowledge, skill, loads and any other information you might ever need about your Garand.

Roger

 

[Trebor]

I wrote some articles on M-1 Garand tips and tricks you might find useful

Tips and tricks for the M-1 Garand

M-1 Garand tips and tricks: Part 2 - Cleaning, lubrication, ammo and spare parts

M-1 Garand tips and tricks: Part 3 - Malfunctions and accuracy improvements

 

[Orlando]

Yes it has been rebuilt at one time but may not be a Rock Island Arsenal rebuild. The stock may not belong with the rifle.
Nice Garand

 

[jpwilly]

Nice, Not much to dislike about the M1 Rifle!

PS Trebor those links don't work...

 

[GCBurner]

Nice, Not much to dislike about the M1 Rifle!

PS Trebor those links don't work...

The links worked for me, you just have to scroll down about three screens full of stuff to get to the article.