+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Just picked up an H&R Garand -- looking for information

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    jbayless's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last On
    06-15-2019 @ 12:25 PM
    Posts
    25
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:07 PM

    Just picked up an H&R Garand -- looking for information

    Hi folks,

    I just picked up an HRA Garandicon at the local gun show this weekend. Barrel gauges about a 2.5, throat erosion is 4. Bore is shiny.

    Only the bolt and the receiver appear to be HRA. The sights are marked DRC/UX, trigger assembly is milled SA, barrel seems to be SA. The markings on the barrel confuse me ... they do not look like other examples I have seen. Anyone want to weigh in on the barrel markings?

    If I am reading them correctly, this is a 1945 SA barrel on a 1954 HRA receiver. There is electric pencil engraving on one of the receiver legs ... cannot really make out what it says (pictured below).

    Here are some pics.

    The receiver leg and draw number (these look all warped because the photo angle -- sorry; had bad light).

    Attachment 20671Attachment 20668Attachment 20675Attachment 20672Attachment 20669Attachment 20676Attachment 20673Attachment 20670Attachment 20677Attachment 20674

    The gun seems to be a mix of SA and HRA parts; can't tell whether this is the result of a civilian assembling the gun out of parts later, or an arsenal rebuild.

    I took it out to the range this weekend and the gun shot very well. I'm excited to have a Garand again; I sold one of these and a Winchester 1917 to buy my wedding bands 7 years ago.
    Information
    Warning: This is a relatively older thread
    This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.
    Last edited by Badger; 02-21-2011 at 02:24 PM.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Rick Cummelin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last On
    01-29-2020 @ 05:20 PM
    Location
    Whitewater, CO
    Posts
    138
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    12:07 PM
    To me it looks like a fairly typical arsenal rebuild, possibly/likely done at Springfield in December, 19-something. Maybe 65? Those last two digits are anyone's guess.

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    Legacy Member togor's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Last On
    Today @ 09:59 AM
    Posts
    57
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:07 PM
    Barrel looks like it spent time in the sand/bead blaster before getting reparked. Probably not arsenal work. Same may be true of op-rod. But in this day and age if it has all USGI wood and parts then that's a real plus. Might want to look into a trigger guard with less lug wear, to improve lockup.

  6. Thank You to togor For This Useful Post:


  7. #4
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    jbayless's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last On
    06-15-2019 @ 12:25 PM
    Posts
    25
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:07 PM
    Thread Starter
    Thanks for the info! I *think* it has a USGI stock. Only markings are a P on the pistol grip and a very faint RA or WA stamped at a slant on the side below the back of the receiver.

    Was my interpretation of the barrel date correct? Also, any idea what the huge P I stamped on the barrel to the right of the barrel numbers means? I have not been able to figure that out.

    The seller told me he does not know the origin of this gun ... suspects it might have been a Dane or Korean. The stock has a messy number in white paint on the bottom of the pistol grip, if that helps at all.
    Last edited by jbayless; 05-05-2010 at 06:30 PM.

  8. #5
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Rick Cummelin's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last On
    01-29-2020 @ 05:20 PM
    Location
    Whitewater, CO
    Posts
    138
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    12:07 PM
    FWIW, I have seen several barrels on arsenal rebuilt rifles that exhibited the bead/sand-blasted look like yours does. To me, that can be considered normal.

    Yes, it's a Feb, 1945 barrel made by SA.

    The large Ps on the barrel are proof firing stamps. There are at least 2, maybe 3 on that barrel, indicating the barrel may have gone through 2 rebuilds. Again, normal.

    That's an H on its side, not an I, and I don't know what it represents.

    The stock looks GI, but VERY well used. The Danes stamped the rifle's s/n on the bottom of the stock, near the buttplate. The white numbers are likely rack numbers which are VERY common on US rifles.

    I don't believe we gave any HRAs to Korea, but maybe we did.

    I agree with togor, you need a new trigger guard. Find a stamped one with a bent hook as that would be original to the rifle--cheaper too. If you replace a part, might as well find one that at least looks original.

    You have a great shooter, but the cost of restoring it would be totally prohibitive. Shoot it and enjoy it. Refinish the stock if you want, as that will only improve the value.

  9. #6
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    JBS's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Last On
    07-08-2019 @ 09:37 AM
    Location
    removed
    Posts
    455
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:07 PM
    You can recover the trigger guard you have by removing the lugs and turning them a quarter or completely over and reinstalling them. Any good Gunsmith that works with Garands can do this for you. Takes about fifteen minutes. Also new lugs from a stamped import can be used to recover a valuable original with worn out lugs.

  10. #7
    Legacy Member Calif-Steve's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    10-01-2023 @ 12:52 AM
    Posts
    2,508
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:07 PM
    Looks recently re-parked. A parts gun? Think so. Very unlikely a 1945 barrel found have found its way on to a H&R at Springfield. Somebody did this one recently. This was bought off a table at a gunshow? Parts gun.

  11. #8
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    jbayless's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last On
    06-15-2019 @ 12:25 PM
    Posts
    25
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:07 PM
    Thread Starter
    It may well be a parts gun ... I bought it as a shooter for a pretty good price, so it serves well for that purpose.

    I'll eventually be installing a Criterion barrel, new wood and NM sights, so I'm kind of glad it's not all that original. :-)

  12. #9
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    usgicollector's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    12-21-2016 @ 09:14 PM
    Location
    IL
    Posts
    448
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    01:07 PM
    If it was reparked recently the SA 12-65 would be parked not in the white.
    I guess you could put that on yourself, but why, most would think of that a a detraction from value not an addition like a fake cartouche to some who doesn't know better.
    just my humble opinion
    Dave
    Last edited by usgicollector; 05-08-2010 at 08:06 AM. Reason: typo

  13. #10
    Legacy Member John Wyatt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Last On
    05-04-2023 @ 10:16 PM
    Posts
    76
    Local Date
    03-28-2024
    Local Time
    02:07 PM
    I have no problem believing a WWII barrel could have been used during a 1960's re-build. S.A. and other armories / depots used any servicable parts on hand and that would include WWII parts. The barrel was probably salvaged from an otherwise unservicable rifle and used for re-build.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Picked Up A BSA No4 Today
    By Alan de Enfield in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 04-23-2010, 09:25 PM
  2. Picked up a CZ-82
    By GS_Geoff in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-22-2009, 01:51 PM
  3. Just picked up a
    By Paul B in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 11-08-2009, 12:47 PM
  4. Picked up an A4
    By xarmor in forum M1903/1903A3/A4 Springfield Rifle
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 04-12-2009, 12:06 AM
  5. Picked up some books while I was away
    By Gibbs505 in forum Book and Video Review Corner
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-30-2008, 09:26 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks