SA 9/42 Gunshop Find

Well, I found a nearly correct SA 9/42 at the local gun shop. The only discrepancies with Duff's data sheets are a GHS stock, which probably predates the receiver 4-5 months, and a knurled elevation knob.

The last time I was in the shop, they had a mix master M1 with a shot out barrel that they wanted $1500 for, so when I saw the Garand they had in there, I assumed it was the same one. Being me though, I checked it out anyway. First thing I noticed? SA/GHS stock cartouche. It's faint, but it's there. Interesting. I now ask if they mind if I open the rifle up, and they say go for it. To the extent that I was able to check parts with a standard field-stripping, the rifle is all correct for September of 1942 (serial number is 860,151), the front sight screw still has the seal on it that they put in place to keep GIs from messing with the front sights. Well, I couldn't pass this by, so I brought it home, broke it down, and took a bunch of photos for your viewing pleasure.

The "big" picture:
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Bright bore, no frosting/pitting. Muzzle wear: 1.5, throat erosion: 3
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GHS cartouche. Very faint, but visible. Proof "P" no longer visible.
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Short barrel channel, with "O" stamped inside the channel.
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-17 Receiver, short fork riveted op rod guide, "Type 2" op rod catch in the bright.
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-3 uncut operating rod.
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-12 Bolt, with "E" stamped on underside. Polished/bright bolt face?
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Rear sight pinion: I'm not sure if it was previously cut and then re-peened like a lot of restorations, but the lock bar does not come off.
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According to the books, the knurled elevation knob did not come out until a couple of months after this receiver was serialized. It is interesting to note, however, that the elevation knob is close to calibrated for respective ranges. The 600 yard setting is 18 minutes/clicks up from the full down position of the rear sight. As a service rifle shooter, I would expect the 600 yard setting to occur at about 21 clicks up from the full down position of the rear sight. Perhaps this elevation knob is original to the rifle's service, perhaps a previous collector/restorer zeroed the rifle, or perhaps the knurled knob was present earlier than thought (not counting on it)? I do have a -32 receiver that is a serialized about 125,000 rifles BEFORE the books say the -32 receiver came about.
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Front sight seal in place:
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Bright-ish single slot gas cylinder lock screw:
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S-A-9-42 Stamped upside down, proof punch just forward of the barrel profile change:
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In any event, this rifle set me back a little bit less than $1500. She joins an 11/43 SA, and 11/44 SA that I own as well as an 11/53 H&R, and a May/June '44 Winchester in need of a GHD stock that I'm babysitting but hope to own in about a month. I'm happy to answer any questions about it, or take more photos if there is any interest.

Well, That's interesting, the embedded photos have crashed for the third time, and now I can't edit the original post to try and fix them. Any thoughts, folks?

Here's a link to the gallery:

http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/gtxc01/slideshow/

Photos 1 through 41 pertain to this rifle.

Hey Chris, I got the pics in the PM you sent me, now I don't see anything but an X. No ideas from me. Ok, I just looked at the slide show, and I think you did well. Everything looks fairly uniform(maybe the handguards aren't). I'm certainly no expert, but I'm sure one will look soon. If you're wife didn't choke you for buying it, I say you're ahead. Regards, Scott

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I'm certainly no expert on cartouches but, If you're wife didn't choke you for buying it, I say you're ahead.

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Well, she's out of the state right now, so I've got at least 4 days left to live. No guarantees after that, though. I told her about it, but she doesn't seem to think that this find was as cool as I think it is.....

Great find. The GHS stock could be worth close to half of what you paid for the whole rifle. You say " According to the books, the knurled elevation knob did not come out until a couple of months after this receiver was serialized. It is interesting to note, however, that the elevation knob is close to calibrated for respective ranges. "
I believe that in Sept. 1942 the Type 1 lock bar with short pinion was in use. As Duff states on page 157 of the "Red Book", "A Field Service Modification Work Order was issued on 21 Jan. 1943 instructing that all rifles currently in service were to be changed to the new configuration." ( the long pinion Type 2) This would seem explain the "knurled elevation knob".

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"A Field Service Modification Work Order was issued on 21 Jan. 1943 instructing that all rifles currently in service were to be changed to the new configuration." ( the long pinion Type 2) This would seem explain the "knurled elevation knob".

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That's great information, thank you. I guess if I read the book, rather than just looking at the pictures, it might help with my overall understanding. I'll have to see if I can access the pinion without goobering anything up and check for a long or short pinion. I've done it on an M1A, but never on a lock bar rear sight.

You can tell by looking at the length of the thread exposed that it is a long pinion. No need to take it apart. I would think that the vast majority of rifles that originally had the short pinion would have had the change made ASAP.

Knurled elevation knobs have been observed on rifles made well before Sept. 1942. Some of the early 1942 Lend Lease rifles have them.

Tom is correct in regard to the "knurled" elevation cap. As Scott Duff states in his "Featured Rifle" article in the winter 2005 GCA Journal, in discussing a March 42 rifle. " While the short pinion was still in use, the Type 1 lock bar had been adopted and appears to have been used for many months simultaneously with the earlier flush nut. In addition, the design change from a checkered to a knurled elevation cap HAD taken place. Both checkered and knurled elevation caps were used for quite a few months."
Sorry if I misled you, I was thinking more of the short pinion and didn't give enough though to the Knurled cap.

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Originally Posted by Joe W

Tom is correct in regard to the "knurled" elevation cap. As Scott Duff states in his "Featured Rifle" article in the winter 2005 GCA Journal, in discussing a March 42 rifle. " While the short pinion was still in use, the Type 1 lock bar had been adopted and appears to have been used for many months simultaneously with the earlier flush nut. In addition, the design change from a checkered to a knurled elevation cap HAD taken place. Both checkered and knurled elevation caps were used for quite a few months."

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This is very interesting. My reading of the red book led me to believe that the knurled knob wasn't produced until the fall of 42 and wouldn't have been seen on rifles until October or November. I guess that's one of the fascinating aspects of collecting the M1. It seams as though the GCA is continuously discovering new things about the rifle, which I think keeps collecting interesting, as there is still more to learn and discover. I have GCA newsletters from the beginning until Winter 2001, but none after that. The gentleman I purchased my second Garand from gave them to me, and I haven't had much time to look through them.

I purchased my first M1 in February of this year, and now I've got 3 with number 4 and 5 already lined up. The number of variations keeps collecting them interesting. No wonder my wife wants to kill me.....

The GCA sells a series of books each containing the best of the back issues of the GCA Journals. The current book, Number 4, ends with the Fall 1999 edition. Each volume contains "the best" of 12 issues. Keep your eye opened for Book 5 and future volumes. Book 5 should contain Winter 1999 (Vol. 13, # 1) through Fall 2002 (Vol. 15, # 4)
See Best of the GCA Journal

Joe I have the first four and they are full of knowledge. Great to hear about a fifth volume. My advice anyone who loves the Garand is join the GCA (Garand Collectors Association) get the books $30 each and the magazine is worth the $25 yearly membership. And you formally join the brotherhood and organization that solely exist to promote and educate and even entertain its members on our Garand rifles.