What the hell did I just buy? I know its a Garand

yellowsled · Nov 25, 2015

I have never bought a gun knowing so little about it, but I took a chance....

So I did some trading and ended up with this. I know ZERO about Garands, Part of me thinks I did good, but part of me things I just got a "parts" gun. I know its rebuilt obviously, new stock and all. I was told it is a CMP gun, but there is no Cert.

Please tell me anything you can about this, thanks! I have no idea how old it is, how correct it is.... Im lost......

-YS

gre24ene · Nov 25, 2015

I think you better let me have that piece of crap.

iH8DemLibz · Nov 25, 2015

The big end goes against your shoulder.

And it's post WWII.

Rack&Roll · Nov 25, 2015

Firewood plus fireplace poker.

J/k

Seems very nice.

-Z/28- · Nov 25, 2015

The only thing anyone needs to know about Garands is keep pulling the bang switch until it goes *ping*

I can tell you that 5.8mil serial # puts it at mid 1950s production, not WWII.

Machodoc · Nov 25, 2015

Not at all sure, but the first gut reaction was wondering if it may have been re-done by some company such as James River Arsenal?

Easytarget18 · Nov 25, 2015

It was made probably in 1955 based on the serial, which would lead me to believe that is has the original barrel. The bolt drawing number that you have is correct for a 5.8mil Springfield receiver. Obviously no idea on the rest of the parts without seeing the numbers. So far from what I see you are on the path to correct. I think the stock maybe a newer issue though and the finish is really new looking - maybe redone? My Garand kung-fu isn't as strong as some of the fellas around here and I am sure they will chime in (my lane is Lugers).

The how "how well did I do?" question is based on what you traded for the rifle. Either way you have a good example of a M1 that will serve you well on the range.

iH8DemLibz · Nov 25, 2015

Also, look on the barrel between the hand guard and the front sight for Arlington or Blue Sky import marks. They are very, very, small.

Threeband · Nov 25, 2015

The stock is a new CMP replacement. Looks good, makes for a good shooter, but may need a little minor fitting.

5.8 million SA is late production. Yours looks very good. I'm sure it's a CMP gun. That excellent "Read This First" book ships with every CMP Garand.

It could conceivably be a Service Grade Special, which were Correct/Collector Grade rifles with no stocks. The CMP put them in new stocks.

Check the parts drawing numbers against

http://usriflecal30m1.com/Parts/PartsList.aspx

to check "correctness".

It looks really good, and I'll bet you did well on the price.

yellowsled · Nov 25, 2015

No import marks, I looked really good. Guess that's a good thing...

iH8DemLibz · Nov 25, 2015

yellowsled said:
No import marks, I looked really good. Guess that's a good thing...

That is a good thing. They were South Korean imports.

My SK import is at CMP getting a new barrel fitted. The old barrel shot minute of zip code at 100 yards.

You have a beautiful rifle there.

tdt91 · Nov 25, 2015

Looks like a CMP "Special". New Stock, new barrel and completely reparked.

Bafflingbs · Nov 25, 2015

1955-57; http://myplace.frontier.com/~aleccorapinski/id11.html

iH8DemLibz · Nov 25, 2015

You guys are posting some awesome and useful data sites.

yellowsled · Nov 25, 2015

tdt91 said:
Looks like a CMP "Special". New Stock, new barrel and completely reparked.

Think the barrel is original as the Barrel date seems to match the receiver, I believe.

Threeband · Nov 25, 2015

Yes, the CMP Special has a Criterion barrel. It's basically a new rifle built from parts.

(The OP's barrel is USGI, Springfield production, dated 4/55.)

The Service Grade Special was different. These were Correct rifles in new condition which had no stocks. The CMP put new stocks on them.

You can check for "correctness" by plugging your serial number in at
http://usriflecal30m1.com/Parts/PartsList.aspx to create a component list. Then go over the rifle piece by piece comparing drawing numbers, heat lot codes, etc against that list. If every part is consistent with that list, you can call the rifle "Correct".

"Correct" doesn't necessarily mean every part is original to that rifle. It just means everything is consistent with the parts which were original. If the hammer was ever swapped, it was swapped for an identical one, for instance (a type 2J with the drawing number SA 5546008).

If it is "correct", then you might want to find a "correct" stock for it. If it isn't "correct", then you still have a really, really nice Service Grade.

No CMP rifle will have an import stamp, by the way. They are not imports. Whether they spent the years between 1956 and today in Tennessee or Turkey, they were always US Government property until the day the Army turned them over to the CMP.

Also, new stock doesn't mean rebuilt. The CMP received lots of rifles with badly beat up stocks, fugly Greek replqacement stocks, or no stocks at all. The put new stocks on many Service Grades. Service Grades should all be Mixmasters to some degree. That is normal for USGI rifles, which gets parts replaced, repaired, or upgraded over the years. Parts get mixed in barracks, too. A late production rifle like yours might have only one or two swapped, "incorrect" parts. If so, you could "correct" them, if you want.

Me, I'd take it out and shoot it. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! PING!

I hope you got ammo. You really should grab 10 cans of this HXP on clips:

http://estore.thecmp.org/store/catalog/catalog.aspx?pg=product&ID=4C3006X216-192P

People are selling the empty bandoleers and clips for like $40 shipped, so these spam cans are a good deal. Best deal out there.

Threeband · Nov 25, 2015

Damn, I just realized your rifle has a WWII trigger guard. Not a Service Grade Special, then, but a really nice Service Grade.

The milled trigger guard on top was replaced by the stamped version in the middle in 1944.

The bottom version is post war.

Melnic · Nov 25, 2015

Choot em Jake Don't forget to lube it up If you did not know a Garand should not be shot with commercial 30-06 unless it's rated for Garand use. So there are no stamps on the stock ?

Threeband · Nov 25, 2015

That is definitely a CMP replacement walnut stock. Some have a CMP cartouche, some don't.

yellowsled · Nov 26, 2015

No cartouches in the stock sadly, looks brand new.

I'm still feeling better about this trade now though.

What the hell did I just buy? I know its a Garand

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Retired C&R Addict

Attachments

Ultimate Member

When All Else Fails.

R.I.P

I wanna go fast

Old Guy

Señor Member

When All Else Fails.

The M1 Does My Talking

Retired C&R Addict

When All Else Fails.

I will miss you my friend

Gozer the Destroyer

When All Else Fails.

Retired C&R Addict

The M1 Does My Talking

The M1 Does My Talking

Ultimate Member

The M1 Does My Talking

Retired C&R Addict

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics