1 December 2021 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

This is an exceptional example of an attractive M1 Garand Trophy rifle that was presented by Springfield Armory to the 1957 top National Match high power shooter John J. Walentine. In the 1957, Mr. Walentine received a score of 244-23X and at 600 yard 100-15 X. An impressive score even by today's standards. These types of rifles were only presented for a few years before the practice was stopped, making these presentation rifles super rare. Even suggesting that this practice was done for ten years would mean that 10 rifles were given away since there was only ONE National Match High Power shooter per year! This rifle is an early type 1 National Match rifle that has been completely upgraded with a hand polished and all blued metal finish and a select walnut stock and handguard set. The stock and handguards have all been hand rubbed with linseed or Tung oil giving them a nice low luster finish that was typical for this kind of rifle and feature some light figuring throughout with a little more on top of the front handguard. The right side of the buttstock has a 3X2 inch silver plaque that has nicely stamped inscription ("1957/ NATIONAL MATCHES/ JOHN J. WALENTINE/ SCORE 244-23"). The rifle has the early type 1 National Match barrel marked "SA F6535448 9 56 A228" along with the correct small "T, P and DOD" proofs on the right side with the left front exposed section of the barrel correctly marked with only the National Match marking. The remaining parts are made up of late WWII and post-war parts, with the trigger housing being a mid-WWII production and the operating rod a later H&R model (marked "6535382 H.R.A." on the beveled area). Fitted with a set of standard rear sights with a National Match front sight. This rifle is accompanied with an original certificate detailing John J. Walentine's 1957 top National Match high power shooting score


JFK Garand Presentation Rifle

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