ol' scratch
Member
Hello,
I wanted to share an recent experence I had with an M1 Garand used by the VFW. When I tried to research it, I didn't find too much online to help me out. My grandfather has had it in a closet for about 10 years. It was one of the rifles used at my uncles funeral. We worked something out and I am the proud owner of it.
I took it to our local smith who collects Garands. He headspace gauged it and said it was good to go. One odd thing I asked him about was a very small spot weld joining the barrel and the reciever (it was so small, the smith missed it at first. He told me it was an old VFW rifle and they had joined it because they hadn't ever intened to rebarrel it. The weld did effect value. Something else I noticed was that the gas plug had been drilled and welded into the gas tube. The reason for the mod is so the rifle wouldn't cycle. It also made it impossible to remove the plug and gas lock from the barrel.
Because of the sentimental value, fact that the barrel and reciever match, furniture is in great shape, bore is in pretty good shape, it has green park on many of the parts (I learned this is a good thing) and it had many matching parts I decided to go ahead with a restoration. I also don't believe in wall hangers. If it didn't work, it was useless to me.
The first thing, well outside of field stripping the rifle, was to break the gas plug loose. I used a big screwdriver and after a lot of swearing, broke the weld. The threads were shot and the gas lock was still fused to the gas piston. I was forced to get my drill press going and drill the rest of the weld out. It did break free, but it destroyed the parts. After taking them off, I called my grandfather (retired welder, plumber, pipe-fitter) and asked him about the weld. He told me it was a low heat spot weld that wouldn't effect the ntegrity of the reciever or barrel. I also called my Dad (welder, mechanic) and Uncle (welder, mechanic) and all varified what granddad told me.
Cleaning the barrel has been the most difficult part. I have spent most of my time getting the fouling out. It had been used at the hall since "52" I later found out and had only fired blanks. The reciever is a 1945.
After I broke all the parts loose and cleaned it up, I happened to find someone who was kind enough to let me borrow the parts I needed to test it. I took it to the range and fired a box of ammo threw it. I just got it on paper and ran out of ammo. I will see about posting my results after my replacement parts come in and I can get back to the range.
After returning from the range, I checked everything over. It has held the headspacing and I see no problems.
These results are not typical. The "improvements" made to the rifle were very minor. I did find a pic of one that was completely welded to the reciever. The length of the weld on my M1 is less than an 1/8 inch long and wasn't prepared before hand, meaning it will be easier to remove. I have started grinding it off, but have switched to a file. The file is easier to control. This rifle wasn't really demilled. It was set up to fire blanks. It never had a blank adapter installed.
Part of the reason I put this post on here is to help anyone who might be a newbee in the Garand field educate themselves. If you find a rifle with any of the above modifications, be suspicious. Some of them have been so messed up (I found out later) that they will never work again. The weld is on the right hand side just under the op rod. If you see a funny weld near the muzzle on the gas tube it has been modified.
I hope this helps someone. If I had paid a bunch of money for my rifle, I would be pretty angry right now. But I paid nothing for it. If you are considering purchasing one of these, don't pay any more for them than a parts kit would cost. If not for the above discribed condition, I wouldn't have bothered, I would have found a reciever and barrel and used the good parts in a build.
I wanted to share an recent experence I had with an M1 Garand used by the VFW. When I tried to research it, I didn't find too much online to help me out. My grandfather has had it in a closet for about 10 years. It was one of the rifles used at my uncles funeral. We worked something out and I am the proud owner of it.
I took it to our local smith who collects Garands. He headspace gauged it and said it was good to go. One odd thing I asked him about was a very small spot weld joining the barrel and the reciever (it was so small, the smith missed it at first. He told me it was an old VFW rifle and they had joined it because they hadn't ever intened to rebarrel it. The weld did effect value. Something else I noticed was that the gas plug had been drilled and welded into the gas tube. The reason for the mod is so the rifle wouldn't cycle. It also made it impossible to remove the plug and gas lock from the barrel.
Because of the sentimental value, fact that the barrel and reciever match, furniture is in great shape, bore is in pretty good shape, it has green park on many of the parts (I learned this is a good thing) and it had many matching parts I decided to go ahead with a restoration. I also don't believe in wall hangers. If it didn't work, it was useless to me.
The first thing, well outside of field stripping the rifle, was to break the gas plug loose. I used a big screwdriver and after a lot of swearing, broke the weld. The threads were shot and the gas lock was still fused to the gas piston. I was forced to get my drill press going and drill the rest of the weld out. It did break free, but it destroyed the parts. After taking them off, I called my grandfather (retired welder, plumber, pipe-fitter) and asked him about the weld. He told me it was a low heat spot weld that wouldn't effect the ntegrity of the reciever or barrel. I also called my Dad (welder, mechanic) and Uncle (welder, mechanic) and all varified what granddad told me.
Cleaning the barrel has been the most difficult part. I have spent most of my time getting the fouling out. It had been used at the hall since "52" I later found out and had only fired blanks. The reciever is a 1945.
After I broke all the parts loose and cleaned it up, I happened to find someone who was kind enough to let me borrow the parts I needed to test it. I took it to the range and fired a box of ammo threw it. I just got it on paper and ran out of ammo. I will see about posting my results after my replacement parts come in and I can get back to the range.
After returning from the range, I checked everything over. It has held the headspacing and I see no problems.
These results are not typical. The "improvements" made to the rifle were very minor. I did find a pic of one that was completely welded to the reciever. The length of the weld on my M1 is less than an 1/8 inch long and wasn't prepared before hand, meaning it will be easier to remove. I have started grinding it off, but have switched to a file. The file is easier to control. This rifle wasn't really demilled. It was set up to fire blanks. It never had a blank adapter installed.
Part of the reason I put this post on here is to help anyone who might be a newbee in the Garand field educate themselves. If you find a rifle with any of the above modifications, be suspicious. Some of them have been so messed up (I found out later) that they will never work again. The weld is on the right hand side just under the op rod. If you see a funny weld near the muzzle on the gas tube it has been modified.
I hope this helps someone. If I had paid a bunch of money for my rifle, I would be pretty angry right now. But I paid nothing for it. If you are considering purchasing one of these, don't pay any more for them than a parts kit would cost. If not for the above discribed condition, I wouldn't have bothered, I would have found a reciever and barrel and used the good parts in a build.
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