Question about a Garand

[83fj60cruiser]

I found a used Garand for sale that is in excellent shape from what I can tell. My ? is it is shorter than other Garands I have seen. I would like to get one but not if it has been changed or modified in any way. The wood stock in front of the band is only about 2" long with maybe a 4 or 5" barrel. All the Garands I have seen seem to be longer than this. Were their shorter Garands made? What were the shorter ones used for (paratrooper maybe)?

Thanks for your help.

 

[cuervo]

This is a so-called "tanker" model. I say so-called because "tanker" was never an official designation of the Garand and none were ever issued for service.

Many people modified Garands to be tankers, and the success rate varies. If it is a non-GI receiver, I'd avoid it. If it is a GI receiver, it might be worth buying if you can test-ride it first.

Top picture is an unmodified Garand.
Middle picture is a tanker.

 

[highorder]

Right on, cuervo.

If its a GI receiver (SA, HRA, IHC, Winchester) I would consider it.

What is the price?

 

[83fj60cruiser]

How do I know if it is a Gi reciever? It says Springfield Armory on it.

It is priced at 699.

Thanks for the pic Cuervo. It looks just like that middle one you have.

 

[theoldgringo]

I doubt anyone has modified a newer Springfield (Inc.) as a "tanker", but here is a link to Garand serial# specifics. If "your" serial# doesn't fall onto this chart somewhere it is likely NOT GI.

http://www.fulton-armory.com/tea/m1serial.htm

 

[Jeff F]

If I remember right And I'm probably wrong but quite a while back I think Springfield Armory made Garands and I think they made some of the tanker models.

 

[P5 Guy]

If it has a 7 million or higher serial number it is not a military M1.

 

[Gator]

Springfield Armory, Inc. (The company, not the armory) did make "Tanker" Garands, and they were very good...as far as "Tankers" go. If it is an SA, Inc. Tanker it might be worth getting, if the price is right.

 

[Jeff F]

Those are the ones I was thinking about. It would have been a lot of years back I believe.

 

[Ian]

You can also look at the barrel; it may well be stamped with the name of whoever did the tanker conversion. I have one made by Arlington Ordnance on a 1944 Springfield receiver, and it's my favorite rifle.

One of the common issues with tankers is improper shaping of the oprod, causing it to drag or bind. A simple test you can do before buying is to remove the stock and oprod spring. Then the barrel assembly upside down, and tilt it up or down (ie, from having the muzzle pointing straight ahead to pointing at the floor or ceiling). If properly built, the op rod will slide smoothly forward or back under the force of its own weight by the time the rifle is about 30 degrees up or down.

If it checks out, I would definitely buy that rifle. The $700 price is pretty good, and the handling of the tanker is just outstanding.