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Is it possible to trce the serial numbers of M1 Garands and M1 carbines to see who it was issued to? If so where can I find this info? Please excuse my question if it is "dumb" as I have limited experience in US rifles. I looked around on the forum but I didnt find much info on such a service.
mdrim13
That info is not available for any military rifle from any country in the world. Never was.
Sarge
How many times have we been asked that here?
Had we been computerized back in the 50s some of that information might have survived. Page 20 of every 1950's era Marines "Service Record Book" contained the Marines rifle serial number and bore condition as noted in yearly "Page 20" inspections. Unfortunatly these paper records are long gone.
I was in the air force 60-64 as a glorified sentry dog/security grunt - we were armed on duty with a variety of weapons - when we went on duty we were issued either carbines and 1911 .45s or "grease Guns".45's at he end of a shift we turned them into an armory and about once a month all the weapons were broken down and put into barrels of solvent cleaned and reassembled...you rarely had the same weapon twice.....same thing when we went to the range.
Back in the mid 1950's Marine Corps, you were issued an M1 in boot camp. When you left boot camp that rifle went with you. If you did not go overseas and went to the 2nd Div. in N.C. that rifle you were issued in boot camp stayed with you. If you spent 3 or 4 years with the 2nd. Div. you would have the same rifle the whole time. As hard is it may be to believe now, that rifle was kept right in your wall locker along with your uniforms and everything else. They did have wooden rifle racks in the barracks but they had no locks on them. Even is you went home on a 10 day leave the rifle stayed in your wall locker. In the 3 years I spent in the Marine Corps I never heard of a rifle being stolen. I still remember the M1 Rifle I was issued, 4380578. Bayonets were also kept attached to your pack which hung on the end of your rack. I never even heard of a bayonet being stolen.
You were responsible for keeping your rifle in top shape. If at one of the "page 20" inspections I spoke of, your rifle was found to be pitted :yikes: you could end up paying for it or worse.
thanks for the answers guys
It would be like hitting the lottery but here is one for you
SN 2506819
94th Infantry Division WW2
302nd Regiment
G Compny