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Hello Everyone,
I'm new here, and going to purchase my first Garand in the near future. I dont know much at all about them just what I have read. I joined the GCA recently and I live close to the Anniston CMP. I'd love to own a Garand used in the Pacific and one used in Europe. Can anyone tell me what to look for so I'll know the rifle was used in the Pacific or Europe? I'd like one that was actually used in battle.
Thanks,
Any info will help
Any Winchester, and Springfield Armory 3.8 million and under should cover both.
A bit more detail on the topic:
There are NO databases known to exist that list specific serial numbers and which units had them except for Springfield Research (they have a web site, but usually charge for their services) who have a partial database of real early Garands--pre WWII.
Once WWII started, all that careful tracking of s/ns and unit assignments was tossed out the window as it was too time consuming and of little use to anyone (except collectors 50-60 years later, LOL).
Anyway, about the ONLY way you will be guaranteed/assured of owning any M1 that was used in either theater would be to buy one from a WWII vet who brought it back (stole it) during the war AND would be willing to give you a letter stating such (good luck with THAT). :D You had better hurry as there are very few of those old guys left.
There are a handful of "Guam Police rifles" which came back to the U.S. about 15 years ago. If you could find one of those, and were able to pay the price (likely outrageous!) you could rest assured it came from the Pacific.
Well, on Guadalcanal in Nov '42, the US Army had Garands.
Operation Torch-- US Army Forces in N. Africa in Oct '42, also had Garands.
Taking into consideration the time to get into theatre, the possiblility of obtaining a war time Garand with blood on it is pretty assured in the first one million serial number guns. Excepting the lend Lease Garands sent to England. Most of those guns other than the lend lease Garands have been rebarrled by now. Only the Lend Lease seem to be largely unused and unrebuilt in the first million guns.
Following that period, most guns made in the first half of 1943--to serial number 1.7 million, likely went to replacement troops fighting in Scicily, Italy, Tarawa, Bougainville, New Guinea, etc.
Most of those 1943 guns have been well used and rebarreled too. A 3 month service life was planned upon and battle damage and environmental damage was extreme. Enemy artillery and mortar fire was a big factor as was the gun getting hit by bullets or grenade fragments.
The next million or so 1943-44 guns from 1.7-2.7 were sent wherever as replacement guns, guns for strategic reserve and to troops training for "D day" and the other Pacific invasions. Guam Tinian, Saipan Pelelieu ate guns.
Pretty good chance of getting a receiver used somewhere in that bunch too. After 2.7 million or so, the chances of getting a receiver that was used in battle diminishes somewhat.
Most collectors look for a gun that is "as issued" or "as new" restored, in the time frames they want to collect in, and leave it at that.
Good hunting.
One thing you should be aware of is that it is most likely that any M1 that saw action in World War 2 would have had at least one rebuild. It is getting harder to find a World War 2 era M1 in originally build condition.
I thank god none of the Band of Brothers listed the serial#'s they remembered using.
Likewise, many other WWII authors. It's a madness we don't need...that way any of our Garands might have been...
My greatest quest is to know for certain that my M1's were used either at Fort Polk, LA or Fort Lost In The Woods (Leonard Wood), MO or Fort Indian Town Gap, PA. Now those were the places where history was made!
A good example of a WW2 stock, stock is an early SA SPG with the large over small hole in the butt. Also some damage, has the large RA-P stamp on the grip
Scott Duff will work with you, but prepare to get out your checkbook on something like you're looking for. It might not be that satisfying if you intend to shoot it. I haven't seen any indication in years that CMP still has any WW II rifles or expects to get any more - it'd be a fluke and they'd probably auction it. If you want a good shooter with some authenticity your best haul would be a 1954-56 period H&R or SA. Korea was over and they didn't have anything to do but build those late ones real nice.