Help needed chasing threads Gas cylinder and plug

Hi all, I need help restoring my all original M1, specifically its Gascylinder and plug.

I recently acuired a completely untouched 1944 M1. It was discovered in a shed in the Belgian Ardennes. It turned out very nice after a thorrow cleaning and I replaces the few parts that were missing (Sling, stacking swivel and front hand guard ferrule).

The only thing wrong with her now is the gas cylinder and plug need their threads chased.
The plug, single slotted, has worn threads for the first part and I`m only able to screw it in the cylinder 2 turns.
I then bought another plug, convinced the problem was the damaged plug, and damaged the threads on that one aswell.... I am able to screw this one in about 1 turn.
So my guess is there is something wrong with the cylinders threads and they need chasing.

I`m not able to find any one here with the proper taps for this job and really don`t want to replace these parts. Can anyone recommend me a gunsmith or better yet does anyone have the proper tools and knowledge to restore them?
Any help is MUCH appreciated!
Best regards,
Dan

I'm not sure if you can deal with Brownells web site, they should have what you need. By the way, we need a full story and pics on this one. Please...

Thanks Jim, Browells doesn`t sell anything to chase or rethread the Gascylinder. I haven`t found anybody offering them sofar but a gunsmith who specialises on the M1 would probably have a solution i`d think.
About the story of this M1, it was found in a shed on a farm close to Malmedy, Belgium. After the owner died, last year, the property was cleared. Amongst several US ammo crates, 60 mm mortars and a TNT crate this M1 was recovered.
It has never left Begium after 1944 and has never been altered. When I picked it up it was 99 percent complete. Missing was only the Front Handguard ferrule, the sling, and all cleaning equipment in the stock.
After a thorrow cleaning of the rifle and particularly the stock I`m very happy with this authentic M1.
There is a number carved in the wood on the left side just above the trigger, E16 (it may also be E18) W15L..... I would love to know what that stands for...
I just made a photo album on this site, you can view pics of this M1 by clicking on vieuw photo`s by Daanvdt...
Regards, Dan

Does this ad from a member help at all?

U.S. GI M1 Rifle GAS CYLINDERS - Quartermaster Stores (Member Classifieds)

Regards,
Doug

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Badger

Does this ad from a member help at all?

U.S. GI M1 Rifle GAS CYLINDERS - Quartermaster Stores (Member Classifieds)

Regards,
Doug

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Check Amherst Depot (FLA) they sell a tap fot the M1 rifle gas cylinder item # Garand-088 for $25.00 they ship international. You can use a 9/16X32 tap which will work to clean out the threads but is not the correct ordnance tap

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daanvdt

E16 (it may also be E18) W15L

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Elevation setting, windage setting for the rear sight. Normally written elsewhere on the stock. Thanks for the lowdown. Priceless.

I'm sure if you chase this around here a bit, you'll get the tools or service you require.

Can't seem to get at the photo's though...

https://www.milsurps.com/vbpgimage.p...4&d=1328614749[/IMG]

Thank you all for the sugestions. I`ll have a look this afternoon. I still would prefer to send the parts to someone with some knowledge of the job. Not in a hurry and I`ll make it worth the trouble.

@ Jim, mysterie solved. That gives the rifle a real personal touch to me. Have you seen these corrections carved in the stock before? Try to look at my pics, you can find my album at Photo Gallery (at the top of this site)>photogallery home, album M1 garand from Daanvdt.... I put it there yesterday. Thanks again!
Dan

Normally the sight info is written inside the stock or perhaps inside the butt trap door. The carved part would be frowned upon. I'd love to have a go at cleaning that rifle up a bit just to have hands on the history.

http://www.nicolausassociates.com/PD...ingThreads.pdf

That was why I eluded to Brownells. You need the proper thing for this. The correct taps and dies. Not an "off the shelf"item.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Daanvdt

@ Jim, mysterie solved. That gives the rifle a real personal touch to me. Have you seen these corrections carved in the stock before? Try to look at my pics, you can find my album at Photo Gallery (at the top of this site)>photogallery home, album M1 garand from Daanvdt.... I put it there yesterday. Thanks again!
Dan

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Not necessary to have to go to top of web site. ;)

To view anyone's photo's stored in the member's Photo Gallery, all one has to do is look to the left panel and in this case, you'll see a link titled View photos by Daanvdt. Click on it and it takes you to that particular member's photo gallery. :thup:

Of course, if a member doesn't currently have a photo gallery on the site, then no link appears.

Regards
Doug

I started down this path a while ago myself but it was easier to replace the cylinder for me. The threads are not a common size these days.
Try this.
http://www.nicolausassociates.com/PD...ingThreads.pdf

Standard Eleveation on an M1 Garand is usually 8 to 10 clicks from bottom for 100 yards, usually. So if someone had been shooting with Elevation @ 18 clicks up, and Windage @ 15 clicks Left, he knew he had to do that for a reason. I wonder what the terrain around that barn looked like. I wonder if the Last American Soldier to hold that rifle, was in that barn for a while. Long enough to know what he needed to do with his sights. I sure would like to have been the one that found it, and looked outside around that barn to visualize E18 W15L, and walk to that spot and see what was there. Now that would be real history, that would be a story to tell. Maybe get lucky at E18 W15L and find part of an old rusty helmet just lying there on the ground. Sorry, my immagination got away from me.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by HILLBILLY-06

Standard Eleveation on an M1 Garand is usually 8 to 10 clicks from bottom for 100 yards, usually. So if someone had been shooting with Elevation @ 18 clicks up, and Windage @ 15 clicks Left, he knew he had to do that for a reason. I wonder what the terrain around that barn looked like. I wonder if the Last American Soldier to hold that rifle, was in that barn for a while. Long enough to know what he needed to do with his sights. I sure would like to have been the one that found it, and looked outside around that barn to visualize E18 W15L, and walk to that spot and see what was there. Now that would be real history, that would be a story to tell. Maybe get lucky at E18 W15L and find part of an old rusty helmet just lying there on the ground. Sorry, my immagination got away from me.

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Thank you Hillbilly,
I like your angle. I have been thinking about that barn many, many times. A last hold out? What has happened there? I always have a weak spot for those collectables that have really been there; that obviously have a story to tell.
I stare at the rifle and I wonder what the rifle was staring at in december 1944.
Regards, Dan

---------- Post added at 01:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 PM ----------

Thanks Gulliver, I`m aware of the site you linked. Did you ever find a gunsmith who had the correct tools?

Thanks Badger, I send him a mail!