Ardennes relic

[RCS]

I never had any of Harrison's books on firearms due to the amount of incorrect data. I would disagree with his stamped WRA trigger guard story until some supporting documentation was to surface that would prove without a doubt that Winchester manufactured a stamped trigger guard.
Even Scott Duff's book on the WW2 Garand states that Winchester used the forged type trigger guard until the end of production.

I have seen alot of data sheets on Winchester rifles including the Win 13's but never a stamped trigger guard.

[tom gray]

That is an awesome find! I can tell you will take good care of it. We would all like more
detailed photos when you can. I am very jealous!
Tom

[Rick B]

Please never use Harrisons book for a reference. It is full of bad info and horrible cartouche copies that the forger use so when you put them over the fakes they look real. Rick B

[latigo 1]

Collecting the Garand II, A Collector's Field Guide by J.C. Harrison, picked this up at CMP North. Page 35 Type 7, WRA Stamped mentions Rare use on WIN-13 rifles only. The bottom right corner of Page 34 shows a drawing for a WRA Stamped WIN-13, additional explanation of unique features are listed next to Type 7 description on page 35. How he determined this or what he based this information on I have no idea, which is why I added that last statement. Hope that helps.

No photographs exist but there is a picture of one that somebody drew. What more proof do you need?

[ABPOS]

Very nice find indeed!

[oneshot onekill]

So... Is it still in Belgium? Just curious how it got back to the US. If it is back in the US it's a truly rare bird indeed! Because as we all know, EVERY Garand that came back the traditional way was torn apart and rebuilt. This one having been left behind is the only one I've ever seen in its original WWII condition. Nice!...

[Bob Seijas]

Several years ago the GCA Journal featured two such rifles -- one was picked up by a Free French fighter during the battle for Brest. The other was found in a barn. Both were still over there, were acquired by a European collector.

"Springfield M1 serial 2742717 was recovered by Jo (Joseph) Gentil from the body of an American GI who had been killed on the morning of August 27, 1944 during the capture of the village of Plousané in western France. He also took the cartridge belt and left his German Mauser rifle next to the fallen GI. The American soldier was a member of the 29th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, and had been killed in combat in the cemetery around the church in Plousané. Gentil was from the village and was part of the Free French resistance group of Saint Renan about five miles to the north. These partisans fought alongside the US 29th Infantry Division for the liberation of Le Conquet peninsula that includes the city of Brest."

[jmoore]

Is it still in Belgium?

John Gelotti is in Belgium. I would guess that's where the rifle is also.

[John Gelotti]

Yes guys, I live in Belgium, a few miles from the Ardennes and also close to the French border.
I have not found the rifle by myself. A few people who know that I am very interested in ww2 have taken contact when they found it. I make lots of travel to the European battlefields (Ardennes, Normandy, etc...) so if you have any questions about this, feel free to ask.

[Clash77]

I was wondering, what are the legalities of relic hunting over there? A friend and I were considering a trip to France, Belgium, and Germany to search for WWII artifacts