IHC Available, should I?

I found an M1 Garand, serial 465XXXX, IHC gapper for sale locally.

Bolt: IHC marked with numbers and a U
Trigger housing: IHC
Safety: Unknown, no visible markings
Trigger: Unknown, no visible markings
Trigger guard: Milled, no visible marks except an L inside the bow. (I know this is incorrect)
Elevation knob: IHC
Windage knob: DRC
Aperture: NM hooded
Op rod: Unknown, no visible external markings, flat, straight cut. Did not take the action out of the stock so I don't know if it is IHC.
Bullet guide: Stamped '12'
Gas cylinder: Unknown but the stacking swivel screw is staked way off center
Gas plug: IHC
Cylinder lock: beveled edge (I suspect this is wrong)
Barrel: LMR dated 7 53 (my birth month!), chamber in the white, looks to be very good condition, no gages available
Stock looks to be birch as it is very blonde. It has been refinished and has no cartouche except a non-serif circled P. Lock-up is good.
Overall finish is very nice with a dark gray green sheen and all the metal matches in color.

I'm going to go back and look at it again tomorrow and ask to have the action removed from the stock so I can check out the follower rod and op rod. Asking price is $1500. Too much? I know original IHC wood will be terribly expensive if I can find it at all but overall this is very tempting. Thoughts? Opinions? Flames? :lol:
Thanks

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_1493-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...100_1492-1.jpg
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IHC Garand pictures by Green01SprintST - Photobucket

Are other parts marked N.M.? If it's a National Match that could be a good find.

I was under the impression that only Springfields were NM. To be 'correct' I would have to swap out that aperture.

Any M-1 could have been built to NM specs. See if it is glass bedded. That's not a bad price with the original bolt and barrel, LMR's are desireable and one of the most accurate GI barrels made. It's a restorable shooter.

Tom

Buy it!!!

The shop owner allowed me to pull the action out of the stock and what a suprise that was. I already suspected that the stock was not original and of course it isn't. Not only that but the action has been bedded and the handguards unitized; I don't know if that is good or bad, I guess it depends on what you want to do with the gun, but at least they did a nice job. Will it be a shooter or an investment? I'm thinking shooter and yes, I know it isn't legal for all matches. It looked like it had not been apart since being bedded as the internal parts are pretty dirty. Add the following to the part list I posted above:

Receiver RH leg: IHC F 8528291 stamped and electro-pencil SA and some number down low on the leg
Trigger housing: IHC D65XXXX
Hammer: Springfield
Safety: Unable to see any mark but the general appearance of the finish makes me think it is IHC.
Barrel: LMR with punch mark between LMR and the drawing #
The barrel ME looks very good using a 30 cal bullet; no gages available. Crown looks good.
Op rod: D-65XXXX IHC with virtually no wear showing
Follower rod is still a question.
Bullet guide looks correct.
Follower slide assy is marked 12.
All the points that should be lubed showed signs of lithium grease so it makes me think it was well cared for and wear is generally minimal.

I pick it up in 10 days

Exellent, you have a N.M. shooter that will probably drive tacks. Even if you can't use it in all matches it will still perform fine for the others.

was the milled trig guard standard on IHC ? I thought they were all stamped by the 1950's.
I know it doesn't matter (since it's a shooter) but don't what newbies like me to get the wrong idea.

Yes it should have a stamped triggerguard. But they are not to hard to find or expensive. It should a great shooter. Bill

Buy it, then have it looked over and see if the bedding needs to be freshened up,etc...

Tom

Great score on a nice match rifle. Congradulations!:)
Don't forget to post pics when it arrives.
Tom

There's a new division in the Games Matches so you can shoot it there, and it's legal for CMP and NRA service rifle. Shoot it, we need more guys and gals shooting Service guns whatever vintage. Have it checked over by someone knowledgable about service rifles, tune if necessary. 47gr of IMR 4064 under a 168 or 175gr Matchking with CCI#34 primers and LC or Win brass and you're off to the races.

Tom

Bump to the top for pictures!

My current load is 45 grains of 4064 under a 168g A-max using WLR primers. Seems to work OK in my other garands but I haven't chrono'd it. It is good enough out of my recently acquired SG Winnie to shoot a 50 yard 3 shot group off a rest that you can hide behind a dime.