Letterkenny rebuilt Garand.

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Mustang51

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I won a LEAD rebuilt Garand this weekend at an online auction. The lot description was pretty thorough and it came with many pictures.

I've become interested in the 1960's arsenal overhaul rifles and recently glommed an "O-66" (USMC overhauled) Garand that is in outstanding condition. This LEAD looks pretty good too.

q3lBRuy.jpg
onChBY5.jpg
U0xOLXh.jpg
JSKAEh2.jpg

It looks like it could have the "red triangle" on the pistol grip.

bhkRMW3.jpg
 
Over the years I have accumulated a pile of rifles. I have a few M1 Garands and among all the rifles I still enjoy taking those rifles to the range. I just really enjoy shooting those rifles. May the rifle you got bring you many, many hours of enjoyable shooting. It's just that sort of rifle.

Ron
 
There's something about shooting that old war-horse that makes me feel just a little more....American.
 
Mustang51 said:
I won a LEAD rebuilt Garand this weekend at an online auction. The lot description was pretty thorough and it came with many pictures.

I've become interested in the 1960's arsenal overhaul rifles and recently glommed an "O-66" (USMC overhauled) Garand that is in outstanding condition. This LEAD looks pretty good too.

q3lBRuy.jpg
onChBY5.jpg
U0xOLXh.jpg
JSKAEh2.jpg

It looks like it could have the "red triangle" on the pistol grip.

bhkRMW3.jpg
Click to expand...
Have you been bitten by a bug?
At one time I had fifteen or better with at least one from each manufacturer.
It took several years to recover and I now own but five, all Springfields.
 
Over the years I have accumulated a pile of rifles. I have a few M1 Garands and among all the rifles I still enjoy taking those rifles to the range. I just really enjoy shooting those rifles. May the rifle you got bring you many, many hours of enjoyable shooting. It's just that sort of rifle.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. These are a lot of fun to shoot.

My sons and I shoot in a vintage semi-auto military rifle silhouette match--chicken, pigs, turkey, and ram silhouettes at 220 to 550 yards.

Here is a picture of the range that we shoot it on...

vF5dBCc.jpg

We've been using Swedish Ljungmans up until now, but am thinking of trying the Garands.
 
There's something about shooting that old war-horse that makes me feel just a little more....American.
Click to expand...

Definitely agree.

Have you been bitten by a bug?
At one time I had fifteen or better with at least one from each manufacturer.
It took several years to recover and I now own but five, all Springfields.
Click to expand...

Yep, definitely bitten hard by the Garand bug. Some might think it is time for an intervention...:D
 
Mustang51 said:
I couldn't agree more. These are a lot of fun to shoot.

My sons and I shoot in a vintage semi-auto military rifle silhouette match--chicken, pigs, turkey, and ram silhouettes at 220 to 550 yards.

Here is a picture of the range that we shoot it on...

vF5dBCc.jpg

We've been using Swedish Ljungmans up until now, but am thinking of trying the Garands.
Click to expand...
Nice range you have there. There is just something about shooting prone at the 500 yard or meter line with a M1 Garand or M1A that works for me. :)

Ron
 
Nice range you have there. There is just something about shooting prone at the 500 yard or meter line with a M1 Garand or M1A that works for me.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Ron. There is something about shooting silhouettes at 500 meters with iron sights...the second or so that it takes the bullet to travel down range, making you believe that you missed, and then watching it tip over.

Here is an aerial view of my range. You can see the silhouette range in the middle of the complex and the 1000 yard range at the top. Pretty much every other kind of range is in there.

http://binged.it/LRzsfF
 
I won a LEAD rebuilt Garand this weekend at an online auction. * * * I've become interested in the 1960's arsenal overhaul rifles and recently glommed an "O-66" (USMC overhauled) Garand that is in outstanding condition. This LEAD looks pretty good too.
Click to expand...

You should join the Garand Collectors Assoc (GCA) just for their quarterly magazine. Last year one issue had a very detailed and well-written article on the history of the Letterkenny Arsenal rebuilds in the 1960s.

I've got a LEAD M1 and it's a great shooter. Mine's a '65 rebuild on a '42 Winchester receiver, with most parts marked Winchester. Barrel is an SA.

WRA-2.jpg
 
You should join the Garand Collectors Assoc (GCA) just for their quarterly magazine. Last year one issue had a very detailed and well-written article on the history of the Letterkenny Arsenal rebuilds in the 1960s.

I've got a LEAD M1 and it's a great shooter. Mine's a '65 rebuild on a '42 Winchester receiver, with most parts marked Winchester. Barrel is an SA.
Click to expand...

Wow, agtman, that is one nice looking Garand! How does it shoot?

I joined the GCA back in 2007 when I bought my first CMP Garand. I read that article and it really inspired me to collect a few of the 1960 rebuilds. I glommed a 1966 USMC rebuild a few months ago. Those are marked on the upper receiver with an "O-6x" and are easy to identify from most auction pics.

As you can see, this LEAD is only marked on the receiver leg and I was surprised that the auction house took the rifle down and photographed the inner parts, to include the "LEAD 3-65" on the receiver leg. If they hadn't, I would never have known that this a Letterkenny rebuild. There was nothing in the description about it.
 
Yeah, my Winny LEAD shoots great! :cool: The collector value on these re-builds is increasing rapidly too.
 
The LEAD Garand arrived at my FFL today and I looked it over before it started the 10-day "cooling off" period.

It looks good. Very little wear on the metal and the stock is solid, with only a few small dings. The lower handguard has a small split near the receiver end. The Letterkenny triangle stamp is present on the pistol grip.

Bore is great, sharp, shiny and measures a "1" on the CMP muzzle gauge.

More pics and a range report when I've cooled off.
 
Once you're able to remove the stock, you should find "LEAD" scrolled somewhere on the receiver (near the leg, IIRC).

Man, collecting these M1s can become addictive. :eek:
 

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Is that the original sling? It looks more heavy duty than the GI surplus web slings in the stores.
 
Let us know how it shoots.

There've a been couple of write-ups in the GCA magazine on the arsenal-rebuild M1s. You can get GCA back-issues if you missed them.

One issue last year had an in-depth article on the Letterkenney rebuilds from the 1960s. Interesting stuff. :cool:
 
Let us know how it shoots.

There've a been couple of write-ups in the GCA magazine on the arsenal-rebuild M1s. You can get GCA back-issues if you missed them.

One issue last year had an in-depth article on the Letterkenney rebuilds from the 1960s. Interesting stuff.
Click to expand...

Thanks, agt. I've got a few of the issues that feature articles about the 60's rebuilds. Those inspired me to try and collect one of each. I've got a LEAD now and an Anniston Rebuld now. I'd like to find an Red River and Toole also.

I've also got an "O-66" USMC rebuilt Garand. Did the GCA magazine ever do an article on them?
 
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