Questions about an earlier M1 Garand

Since I found this place I'm researching and trying to find out about the guns that i have collected :)

I have a M1 Garand manufactured in sep/oct 41 and it has a January 42 barrel on it. It came from CMP in the mid 80's as I have the box and papers that it was shipped in and with. My question is how exactly would it end up with a barrel in January 42 with a reciever from 41? could it have the correct barrel/receiver? Or is it just luck that when it went to arsenal it got an early barrel? The stock is post war, probably Korea I guess, but it is mostly all WW2 parts from what I've been able to find and mostly Springfield, with a very few winchester parts.

Just curious as to the weapon I have. It's in outstanding shape and I'm glad to have come across it :D

I think that your barrel could well be original to your receiver. Sometimes receivers were set aside to be reworked before final assembly. Years ago I saw SA 544121 with a S-A 10-41 barrel. This 10-41 barrel also had
the area around the gas port chrome plated. The bore gaged just over 1.0 T.E. with an excellent bore. It is believed that this 10-41 barrel had been set aside to be reworked (chrome around the gas port) as this area of
the barrel could have been out of spec. There have been a few other examples of receiver and barrels being "off" by some months too.

You may have a 60's SA rebuild if it has a date etched on the receiver leg and bedding of the inletting for the trigger housing.

I've had it all apart many times and have never found an etched date anywhere, but certainly the stock doesn't match the rest of the gun, as I believe the rest is at least WW2 parts. I'm still working on identifying every piece so I know for sure. I'm still learning..

I thought that possibly the receiver and barrel could be original to each other, that's good to know there's a chance anyway.

Receivers were delayed all the time to correct missing or incorrectly done machining operations. We don't know how long these repairs took. Some were sent elsewhere for varying periods of time, like the one sent to the Stock Shop and returned to Assembly over a year later. Sometimes they dipped into the contingency reserve if the flow of receivers was interrupted for things like machine breakdown, sharpening, etc. These things occasionally distort exact matches of components. I don't mean to excuse all incongruous guns, but we should not be too dogmatic about exact matches, oddball things happened, and SA didn't care a whit about serial numbers.

"The stock is post war, probably Korea I guess, but it is mostly all WW2 parts"

The stock is post Korean war and the rear sights are post WW2.

The trigger guard is too late also, a full set of pics would help us to help you identify all the parts.

I would change the rear sight to the correct locking bar type

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Originally Posted by philb

change the rear sight

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Actually, that could be done pretty easily and not so expensive, I prefer them for looks too.

DCM (like CMP) did screwy things with the rifles. I have a DCM H&R M1 I got years ago from them that is BRAND NEW and Correct in all metal parts (no wear, even on the bolt lugs) - everything - dropped into a crappy, beat up well used stock. Looks like they received a bunch of rifles, started to process them by disassembly, and somebody recognized - "Hey, this one is brand new, no need to rework" - and put it into the first stock he could reach. I would think that lockbars would routinely be replaced, again at DCM. But it is known that both receivers and barrels both sometimes went through rework, which put them way out of sequence. I would bet your barrel and receiver are original to each other - look at the wear and marks. CC

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Originally Posted by bob seijas

like the one sent to the Stock Shop and returned to Assembly over a year later. Sometimes they dipped into the contingency reserve if the flow of receivers was interrupted for things like machine breakdown, sharpening

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Anyone that is familiar with manufacturing knows that as an operator meets his quota the extra parts go in a container and when they change to a different part the extras are set to the side and any parts from past runs of the new part is brought back to the floor. Lost a good job because of that one time. I was building differentials for lawn tractors and we had a model change. My good parts went against the wall and bad parts brought to the line that went into the transmissions which later came apart. I was on the line the day the transmission was built though I didn't build the failed part. That's when I found out my last name was Goat and my first was Scape.

Thanks for the info guys, I'll take some more pictures and see if anyone can help me identify things.

A few more pictures

I know it's not correct, but here's what I have. It does have SA65? etched on one leg, and the op rod is winchester I guess. Let me know what you all think!

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Originally Posted by philb

I would change the rear sight to the correct locking bar type

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Lock bar would not be correct for that rifle. It would need the Flush nut.
As to the "SA65", that indicates that the rifle was inspected and overhauled at SA in 1965 but does not mean that the barrel was installed at that time. If the barrel was serviceable it would not have been removed. The barrel most likely is original to the build. The face of the chamber appears that it might be parkerized. If so, that would indicate that the barrel and receiver were refinished as a unit. Had the original barrel, or the barrel that was on the rifle at time of overhaul, been found to be unserviceable and removed, the receiver would have been refinished and THEN a new barrel installed. In that case the chamber would not have any parkerizing on it. As collectors say, it would be (in the white). Nice rifle. It appears that is how it left SA in 1965 and I would keep it as is. There is no point in putting ALOT of money into a restoration of a rifle that has the rebuild marking on the receiver leg and also these Government Arsenal rebuilds, that have not been messed with, are becoming collectable in there own right.

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Originally Posted by Joe W

Flush nut

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True, I guess I looked at it sideways and thought it was a 3M number. Good luck grabbing one of those to put on. A lock bar could be had. He may not be interested in changing it though... I suspect it'll shoot fine.

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

True, I guess I looked at it sideways and thought it was a 3M number. Good luck grabbing one of those to put on. A lock bar could be had. He may not be interested in changing it though... I suspect it'll shoot fine.

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Looks like it could still be as it left SA in 1965 after overhaul. If so it would be best to keep it as is. It would be "original" to the rebuild and these are becoming collectables as such. Joe

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Originally Posted by Joe W

Looks like it could still be as it left SA in 1965 after overhaul.

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Yes, that's not unreasonable...

I also have a SA 65 Garand with the same terrible handwriting on the receiver leg. Mine is a Winchester with a 11/44 SA barrel. It came from the CMP South Store.

I personally wouldn't change a thing to your rifle. In fact, I would love to have it in my collection. Its a beauty.

The rifle is so nice as it is, I don't believe I'll change a thing. I bought it very reasonably from the guy that got it from CMP in the early 90's and have be box etc that it was shipped in. I think it will be a nice piece in my collection :)

Have you shot it yet? I'll bet it shoots just fine...

Looks alot like my 1945 Springfield march 45 sn, with 3/45 barrel but the stock is a replacment.
I have a Winchester 1943 that has a 1956 sa barrel and overton stock. Most WWII rifles were well used and needed work before stored.

A WWII lock bar for SA are not that much. If you dont want to sink a lot of money into it, you could pick up a replica lockbar to give it that WWII look. A few reenactment guys do that to make it look period correct.
I prefer the functionality of the korean era rear sight, but I like the look of the lock bar.

I have your op rod.. D35382 3 SA want to trade ?
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...and_1127-1.jpg

You can get a full parts list from here
USRifleCAL30M1.com

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Originally Posted by 2k05gt

A WWII lock bar for SA are not that much.

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Originally Posted by 2k05gt

I prefer the functionality of the korean era rear sight,

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His is a 3XX XXX number. It has the original type flush nut sight when original. The lock bar would still be wrong. As pointed out...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

His is a 3XX XXX number. It has the original type flush nut sight when original. The lock bar would still be wrong. As pointed out...

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Your right I was mistaken,

Rear Sight Lock Nut N/A Type 1 January/1936 to March/1942 1 - 530000 Flush nut, short pinion, 6-40NF thread

Elevation Knob N/A Type 1B June/1940 to September/1942 46000 - 850000 No part number, checkered rim with closed arrowheads.

Elevating Pinion N/A Type 1 January/1936 to March/1942 1 - 540000 Short with 6-40NF thread, with flush nut.

I should have checked..

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...t20types-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by 2k05gt

I should have checked..

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No big thing, I missed the number the first time too. I thought it was a 3M number first time... Good illustration by the way, nice and clear for those who haven't seen it.

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Originally Posted by opzM1

Since I found this place I'm researching and trying to find out about the guns that i have collected :)

I have a M1 Garand manufactured in sep/oct 41 and it has a January 42 barrel on it. It came from CMP in the mid 80's as I have the box and papers that it was shipped in and with. My question is how exactly would it end up with a barrel in January 42 with a reciever from 41? could it have the correct barrel/receiver? Or is it just luck that when it went to arsenal it got an early barrel? The stock is post war, probably Korea I guess, but it is mostly all WW2 parts from what I've been able to find and mostly Springfield, with a very few winchester parts.

Just curious as to the weapon I have. It's in outstanding shape and I'm glad to have come across it :D

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Beautiful Garand you have there, Enjoy it