Odd M1 Garand stock

[greyhound]

So I am trying to figure out why the M1 I bought at last week's Birmingham show was "only" $599 when the others I saw were $800-$1000. Its a H&R, S/N 5,6xx,xxx with the op rod and receiver correctly numbered for H&Rs of the 1956-57 period (per "The Complete M1" book). Metal 90%, a little rust in the bore which easily cleaned up leaving a nice shiny bore.

Maybe the stock is weird? Its a light wood (birch, maybe?) with next to no dings or scratches. It has so nice a finish I would almost think its synthetic. And, instead of the "P" and eagle cartouches it has a "T" where the "P" usually is and an "OK" stamped approximatley where the cartouche would go. What's up with that?

There are no import marks anywhere on the rifle and unfortunatley I do not know yet how to use my digital camera.

What I am really curious about is those stampings. A "T" and "OK" are not stampings I have ever heard of before. There are no ther markings on the stock

 

[Father Knows Best]

The stock may indeed be a replacement. Usually, a couple of letters without an inspector's mark indicate an arsenal replacement. For example, I have a Springfield Armory Garand built in June 1945 that is all original except for the rear sight (post-war replacement) and the stock. The stock is walnut, but it it doesn't have the correct SA/NFR mark on it. Instead, "RRA" is stamped into it. RRA stands for Red River Arsenal in Texas, where it was presumably rebuilt. Similarly, a plain SA or RIA are rebuild stamps I've seen on stocks.

I'll check my references at home, but I don't remember OK as being an arsenal rebuild mark. The type of wood is also unusual. The only light wood stocks I've seen have been European replacements. It's possible that your gun was loaned to an ally such as Denmark and restocked before its return to the U.S. Such "loaner" Garands generally do not have import marks on them.

 

[greyhound]

OK, I am home now and able to inspect the rifle. Numbers on the receiver are 6528287 HRA, and the barrell 6535448 5-55 (May 1955), which I am pretty sure are correct on HRA 5,625,xxx rifles.

No wear at all on the receiver/bolt area, or even the mag area where the clip goes, just a little wear on the muzzle/gas assembly part of the rifle. The "T" and "OK" marks are kinda crude, but the stock shows no wear at all. (Dang I wish I knew how to use that new digital camera!).

I think FKB is on to something here- this stock is odd. But, if it was loaned to another nation they sure didn't use it much - this rifle is almost pristine!

 

[Father Knows Best]

I looked it up, and OK is not a known arsenal rebuild mark. The closest I could find were OG, which indicates a rebuild by the Ogden (Utah) Arsenal, and OGEK and O.G.E.K., which are inspector's marks (one of those is Elmer Keith, and would really be worth something).

I think you've got a Garand that was lent to a European NATO member.

 

[Swampy]

greyhound,

Sounds like a Greek replacement stock... and the rifle may be a Greek return as well. LOTS of Greek Rack Grade HRA's have come out of the CMP in the last year with a very light blonde Euro replacement wood set. One of the defining things about these wood sets is that they are FAT, FAT, FAT.... in comparison to most US wood for the M1. Generally they are known as "2x4" stocks. This is most noticeable in the wrist area..... can't hardly get my hand around the stock in this area, and the trigger is hard to reach.

The Greek Euro wood is solid, just not esthetically pleasing to some folks, me included.

Also, many Greek stocks have initials carved into them by the soldiers in question. "OK" may be the initials of some Greek GI..... or his girlfriend.

What color is the metal finish??? If it appears almost black and shiny, almost looking like a blueing instead of parkerizing, that's another almost certain giveaway that it's a Greek return. The Greeks did this when they re-arsenaled their M1's.

One last thing that is almost a giveaway... the price. The Greek Rack Grade HRA's sold for $295... delivered to your door. Sounds like somebody just made a $300 profit on a gun show sale.

I could be wrong here.... but that's what it sounds like.

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[greyhound]

Hmmm. Well, the stock does look kinda fat compared to what I've seen before, but the metal is definately parkerized. I think the NATO loan is probably the answer, though if it was lent it was never used - this is almost pristine, as opposed the CMP rack or field grades I've seen.

Also, there is no cosmoline anywhere.

My biggest clue, I think, is that the "T" is right where the "P" usually is; as if someone was trying to ape the USGI way of proofing.

So I probably did get rooked a bit; though as more of a shooter than a collector I am glad I got one in almost perfect shape.

My original intention was to pick out a Greek field grade once the Anniston, AL store opened, but I decided I couldn't wait till Spring 2006!

 

[Swampy]

but the metal is definately parkerized. I think the NATO loan is probably the answer, though if it was lent it was never used - this is almost pristine, as opposed the CMP rack or field grades I've seen.

By "NATO Loan" you mean Greek??? Many M1's were sent to Greece long before Nato... but many, including HRA's, were sent later. As far as I know, Greece and Denmark were the only two Nato countries that received M1's and have since returned them to the US. There may be OTHER Nato countries with M1's, but if so, they've not been returned. Also, I've not heard of any HRA's coming back from Denmark... it's been all SA's and Winny's from there.

Don't be fooled by the finish... many certifiable Rack Grades (due to wood or barrel condition) have very nice finishes. I have seen many.... have a few myself.

Anyway.... best regards and good luck with it.

Swampy

garands forever

 

[Father Knows Best]

It might have been essentially unissued, or it might have been refinished. The only way to tell is to have someone who really knows that the original H&R finish from that time period looks like.

The lack of Cosmoline doesn't mean anything. It's true that CMP rifles often come slathered in Cosmo. My Springfield Greek M1 was thick with it -- so thick that the action was hard to work. Most buyers, however, immediately clean them up. You probably got a Greek CMP Garand that was cleaned up for sale.

It might also not be such a bad deal. Check the bore, and also gauge it for throat erosion. If the bore looks good and throat erosion is less than 5, it was probably a service grade rifle. Service grade Greek M1s sell for $550 from CMP. While you paid a little more than that, so what? You got it right away, and you got to inspect it first, which ensures you got one in excellent condition.

Just replace the stock with a USGI original or a repro, and you'll have a fine shooter. Boyd's sells a Walnut pre-finished Garand stock set for about $80 plus shipping:

It will probably require a little fitting, but it's not difficult. Just take your time, and you'll have a beautiful Garand to shoot.

 

[greyhound]

Thanks for the info, guys!

I will order that stock, and get one of the TE gagues, I believe CMP sells 'em....

One of these days I'll get a pic up!

 

[ocabj]

If you need a gauge go to http://www.stoneaxeengineering.com

Warning: The Boyd stock is fatter than the standard USGI stock. You may not like the feel of the grip. They did manufacture a small run of slim profile stocks which were really nice, but they sold out and don't plan on making anymore (why is beyond me; they sold out quick and people want more).

You may just want to refinish your current stock. It's not a collectable stock, you won't ruin it's value by refinishing it. You could also try Doug's Stock Pile for a USGI stock, but it will most likely benefit from a refinishing.

Then there are the Wenig stocks finished by Dean of DGR (www.dgrguns.com). I have a rifle in his hands right now being reparked, rebarrelled, and restocked. His stocks cost more than the Boyd stock sets, but they definitely look and feel a lot better (http://www.dgrguns.com/M1-Finished-Stock-Examples.htm).

 

[jefnvk]

What Swampy said. Both times. I had a Greek rack once, it was actually the nicest M1 I've had. This is compared to my US Rack and Field, and many hundreds of Service and Rack and Field frades still sitting on CMP's shelves.

What ocabj said on DGR stocks. Seen a few at gunshows, and they are beautiful.

I'd check the muzzle over the throat, been told a few times by precision shooters that only the most competitive shooters will be able to tell a worn throat (that CMP would sell) over a worn muzzle. Try sticking a '06 bullet in the muzzle, and see how far it sinks.