25 April 2024 Garand Picture of the Day more FN Rebuilds

[Mark in Rochester]

[browningautorifle]

They'd be as new...wonder if there were any rebuild marks we have seen and not understood?

[ed skeels]

They sure aren't camera shy!

[hardcore]

first confirmed pic of garand pinky

[Mark in Rochester]

They'd be as new...wonder if there were any rebuild marks we have seen and not understood?

After the fall of Berlin and Japan’s surrender, the U.S. military contracted with FN to repair, refurbish and package all the small arms used in the European theatre. More than 2.1 million American military arms made their way to FN, including M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, Thompson submachine guns, M3 “grease guns,” Browning .30-cal. and .50-cal. machine guns, as well as others.

Fabrique Nationale’s s task was to strip all components, inspect parts, check for wear and re-assemble the arms with new replacement parts (when needed) before packing and crating. The spare parts were supplied by the U.S. military or made at FN. Countless new walnut stocks were made for M1 Garands and carbines—including M1A1 paratrooper stocks.

Guns were not disassembled and reassembled one at the time, instead parts were stripped and piled into large wicker baskets. No attention was paid to parts markings—only to functionality. Fabrique Nationale did not add any known markings, even some markings found on postwar M1 carbine magazines and generally attributed to FN manufacture are questionable at best. It is likely that the U.S. military specified that no markings be applied, as FN historically marked parts for quality control in its own production.

Redeployed: FN M1 Garands And Carbines | An Official Journal Of The NRA


In any event, it's a bunch of dropped M1's

[browningautorifle]

Fabrique Nationale did not add any known markings

OK, so much for that.

The pics in the link and the link I've seen and enjoyed before.

the U.S. military contracted with FN to repair, refurbish and package all the small arms used in the European theatre

I wonder because they don't specify, there must have been refinish involved. Parkerizing, because FN sure wasn't in doubt on top coats. I remember seeing the big pics of the M1A1 stocks, by the stack of hundreds.

[Mark in Rochester]

[RCS]

later on in time, you get the US made circle F marked parts for these rebuilds

[Bob Seijas]

A fantastic character named Will Piznak who worked at SA and knew JCG well went through the war as an Ordnance officer in Paton's army. After the war, he was instrumental in getting the contract for FN which he said saved them from bankruptcy. Years later the Director of FN Rene Laloux came to New York with his genius designer Dieudonne Saive. He brought a custom-made FN49 for Will and an engraved hunting rifle for his wife. Will despised the guy for treating Saive like a servant, complete with snapping his fingers at him to get his attention. I saw both rifles, they were very showy.
He also helped SIG and they wanted to pay him. As a serving officer he would not accept money, and they asked him what they could do for him. Will was an avid gun collector, and they were standing in the SIG museum... Will pointed to a Mondragon in a display case and said, "Well, I don't have one of those." They whipped open the case and gave it to him. When will was dying of cancer, I bought it from him. It was mint perfect.