Garand Gas Trap Photo - Life Magazine

Hi All,

Dunno if this one has been seen here before. The date on this photo is 01/01/1950, but seems to be incorrect as this is clearly a gas trap garand. Enjoy.

Mike Doerner

http://www.life.com/image/3361132

Interesting photo since it's dated 1950. Maybe the forum members can comment on the uniform style and era to better date the photo. I have to say that one thought that came to mind was how sweet that rifle looks - and the grain on that wood - wow.

I am going to guess the date on the picture is wrong because from what I can see that is a flat NEW gastrap - everything just looks 'right' and even the gas cylinder still has 100% finish (which is unheard of). I just can't see anything that refines the date further - do we have any uniform afficianados that can date things better from what can be seen.

With nothing more, my guess is that the rifle dates the picture to 1937 to 1939 and the date given is wrong. Either that or someone had a flat new gastrap that they kept in a closet for a dozen years...

Agreed, 37-39

That is an early gas trap rifle with a slant op-rod and a straight-guard sight. As previously mentioned the rifle appears almost new and would have been assembled prior to May 1939.

In addition the rifle has an M1907 sling that looks pretty nice.

the bayonet scabbard looks to me like a 1910 not WW11

I'm guessing 1938. Stock shows no real use or abuse. It's an '03 cartridge belt and 1905 bayonet.

The uniform is early also. Wrong date.

Looking at the receiver, it has the square-cut instead of the rounded-cut directly below the rear sight. I know the square cut is very early production, when was the switchover to the rounded cut? The same time as they changed the gas system?

Mike Doerner

Regarding the 'square cut'. I have a 6/1943 Winchester that has the square cut.

Maybe that guy is a reenactor. The shirtsleeves dont go with the hat it would seem.