I do believe it is real as all parts are correct. It would be best if it could be proven and had the heel markings left on it.. Winchester was known for oddities like this. Rick B
The presentation rifles are truly interesting pieces. Not all of them are chormed (WRA leaned that way for some reason though ...), but I have had the privilege of handling one or two over the years and have examined a number more thru the wonders of the internet here.
To use Bob's framework, the first group of presentation rifles (which I would place pre-war)were definitely using up superceded leftover or defective parts (and SA did the same - there are som really neat pieces there). The second group appears to have been put together late in the war as things were winding down and they also used a number of leftover superceded or defective parts. WRA appears to have asembled them a bit more 'whenever' than SA, and there are some WRA's from mid-war (again, using up some clearly rejected parts).
But I am going to give you another possiblity; parade rifles. These were made in various places (as far as I can tell) as the need arose and can be anything from mostly straight rifles to total mixmasters. These were made using otherwise serviceable (and what sometimes certainly appear to have been original) rifles so defective parts are not evident. many are mixed though, as it is necessary to completely disassemble most of the rifle to chrome the parts (though I have seen trigger groups chromed as an assembly ... like this one has) and even if the various chromers tried to keep things straight between makers, unless they did them one at a time there is almost always a part or two mixed in from another maker (I am thinking of one really straight WRA that has an SA barrel band, gas cylinder and aperature) and wood is generally up for grabs (if not painted completely black or white). There are lots of these parade rifles and they are not really presentation rifles, but from what I have seen they seem to be predominantly WWII rifles. Whether this means they were made pre-Korea or whether older rifles were chosen to be chromed, I don't know and leave you to ponder ... I am sure there are late production rifles that are chromed but I don't know if too many of them ever drew my eye to them (other than the ones below). Chromers can easily grind and polish away the heel markings if they desire, too (as appears to be the case with the rifle in the link). I don't think this was dione for parade use, at least not as far as I ever saw.
The most interesting chromed presentation rifle that I have had the chance to put some DNA on was the supposed first Winchester Garand produced off the line - the supposed 'gage gun' (according to convicted felon, R.L. Wilson - which means it is a load of hooey not only because the guy was caught lying thru his teeth and taking money by the millions from a museum collection and that the first rifles appear to have been almost hand built, but because given the stacking of tolerances and the problems caused in the Garand design it is only comical ignorance (or outright fraud) that would allow anyone to even think to propose a chromed rifle as a supposed gage gun ... sure ... But I digress, ...), unlike the rifle in the link which is odd and I think significant. From the amount I was able to disassemble it, the rifle had the most gorgeous presentation grade, uncartouched, unproofed, unsanded, untouched, RS era stock set with flat buttplate and grooved rear handguard clip that I have ever or will ever see ... whooo, sexy. But the rest of the rifle didn't really add up - some parts were early and some parts were, well ... not. Receiver had the logo but no serial number (pre-GCA '68 - who cared). Early flusnut sight but grooved cover (IIRC) and no sight seal, definitely no keystones (though I could only go by the 'feel' - yup, the auction house wouldn't let me break it down completely but would let me rack back the action ... so I did, very cautiously - my call and my buddy Pete's was defintely round wire), and just other 'not super early' parts. The details are lost in my memory but without being able to disassemble the rifle completely I got the feel more of a 1.2 million range.
This might be odd to build such a thing in the middle of WWII (but I know of 2 others that were built mid-war - also using some obviously rejected parts ...), but there were so many changes in that serial range that there had to be bunches of leftover parts (like flat buttplate stocks and short pinions). The history of the rifle was no help really - it was hung on a wall over a doorway at WRA from WWII until Olin purchased WRA. It was sold off when Olin sold off the rest of the 'museum rifles' as some call them today (though no brass tag on this one).
All in all, an interesting rifle - it never was a gage gun, but it is an interesting bit of the Garand story at WRA (much more interesting was the box magazine experimental 1.64 WRA ... the one I let get away that I still think about ... super, super neat rifle - the kind of piece that is a window into what they were actually thinking ...).
Then there is always this one held by my good buddy Pete ... there were two of these (HRA's IIRC); both were a little rusty and I think the other one had a broken stock, but both of us look back and think we shoulda bought these - never seen 'em before or since. Pitch black park with a white stock set - this is what came in the box with GI Joe, right ... what a hoot. Even then guys at Anniston seemed surprised by them. Hasbro made them and in all these years after handling thousands of these things, we have only heard of two of them. Maybe the CMP is hoarding them and waiting to auction them - . Nah, they are long gone.
Anyway, thanks for lettling me prattle on again. Cool subject.
In my humble opinion, and we all know what daddy said about opinions, anyone that would do that to a rifle like that should be horsewhipped. It may be pretty at the range if it's even shootable and you sure couldn't take it to the woods. Oh and for that price whoever paid that much I have some prime swampland right smack dab in the middle of the Gobi desert I'll sell real cheap.
In my humble opinion, and we all know what daddy said about opinions, anyone that would do that to a rifle like that should be horsewhipped. It may be pretty at the range if it's even shootable and you sure couldn't take it to the woods. Oh and for that price whoever paid that much I have some prime swampland right smack dab in the middle of the Gobi desert I'll sell real cheap.
Read the post. It is not for taking to the range. It is not for taking to the woods. It is a presentation rifle. It was made by the Winchester Company as an award for an important person. You do not give someone like General Patton a plain old run of the mill Garand as an award. It would not mean anything to him. It would probably just get stuck under his bunk and forgotten.
Did any of you guys notice the Drawing number on the receiver leg?? It's a WIN-13 receiver!!! That puts it in the right time-frame for the story, 1945.
Last edited by Dave Waits; 07-26-2010 at 07:29 PM.
Garand , just a bit pricey for me tho. Check it out.
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Originally Posted by Shotshooter
. Nah, they are long gone.
