I think I found a winner.

[gtxc01]

Acquired this M1 last week. My grandfather fought on Leyte and Okinawa with the 96th Infantry Division, and after the war collected U.S. and Allied service rifles from the First and Second World Wars. The rifle he always wanted but never found was a WWII Garand. The ones at all the gun shows we went to were post war vintage. I saw this one and snapped it up, as a bit of an honor to him. I just wish he was still here to handle it. After looking through Poyer's The M1 Garand 1936 to 1957 and Duff's The M1 Garand: World War II, I believe that I've found something special. Receiver dates to early November 1944, barrel is dated 10-44. The op rod is in original condition with no relief cut. All parts are Springfield and correct for late 1944 production, the only possibly questionable part would be the bolt, which is a -12 SA bolt. Despite the books indicating this rifle was made a little late for the -12 bolt which was changed in the summer of 1944, I have a suspicion that it's the original bolt for the rifle and was just deep in the parts bin. The only thing about the rifle that doesn't match with most references, is that the chamber isn't bright. Again, I think it unlikely that somebody found a reparked barrel from within a month of the receiver production and put it on this rifle, but I suppose anything's possible. Given the lack of wear on the metal, I'm thinking this rifle must have somehow slipped through the cracks at every turn over the last 68 years. Muzzle gauged at below 1, throat wasn't gauged. Rifle included a correct oiler, type 2B combo tool, and a correct grease pot with YELLOW lubriplate still in it. Anyways, if you guys have any amplifying info, or find something that you think is suspicious, I'd love to hear it. I think that this one is the crown jewel of my collection at the moment, and will likely remain so.

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