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Picked up my first M1 Garand yesterday. All of the metal that I could see looked to be in really good shape. The stock was OK with some minor dings and scratches. But that's no big deal seeing how easy and cheap it is to replace the stock. Here's a few pics. The last one shows a Hornady 30 cal 168 gr Amax bullet inserted into the muzzle for a rough check on muzzle erosion.
Bayou - I don't believe I would replace that stock. Looked pretty good to me. Overall, very good looking piece. Gary
1+ on the stock.
Stock gives it character. Welcome to the club! You can't just stop at one you know. Now you will need a Winchester, a H&R, and an IHC and then you can branch out into M1D and M1C. Maybe try a foreign flair pick up a BMR and a Beretta. I find spending your money easy. Have fun shooting your new garand
Bayou, nice rifle! i'd leave the stock, too; maybe just clean and oil it. Well done; hope you have a grand time with her.
I really pity you - you do realize that there will always be "your first garand" - but there will NEVER BE your "last garand" - - - there will only be "your latest" - - - - it's all downhill from here - - - -
Steve:beerchug:
Very nice!!! A low serial number, too. Carl
Nice find,cool pre WW2 serial number too. Don't see very many in the 100K range,you done well.
Yeah, I just checked out the serial number at fulton-armory.com. It was made in January 1941 and it looks like it has the original barrel as there is a "SA 12-40" stamp on it which I assume must mean "Springfield Armory December 1940". Can't wait to see how she shoots.Quote:
Originally Posted by M1Riflenut
You hit the jackpot with an original barrel! The other parts to "make it correct" like the flushnut sight and such will not be fun to hunt down if that is the route you take. If you are happy the way it is then have a great time with her! Very nice looking M1
What is the cartouche I see on the side of the stock?????
Nice rifle but why in the world would the thought of replacing that stock enter your mind?
Bill is right on the money, you hit a homerun on the 12/40 barrel, been looking for the past two years for that date for a project. Oh, and leave the stock alone!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curt
It's obvious that this stock had had a refurbish job. There are several cracks that have been filled in with something like plastic wood and then sanded over and stained. Because of the refurbishing the cartouches are very hard to make out. That and the filled cracks, various dings and assorted gouges is the reason I was thinking of replacing the stock (see attached pics).Quote:
Originally Posted by reddogge
As far as what the cartouches are it's difficult to say. I took a couple pics but they are not as easy to read in the pics as in person and they are very difficult to read in person. It looks like the one on the right has SA on top and something with an H in the bottom. To the right of this there is a circular cartouch but I can't make out what it is.
By the way this rifle has an International Harvester bolt. The cover plate that closes when you move the bolt forward has the following stamp:
D6528287 IHC and then a single "U" under this character string.
I brought the rifle to my gunsmith today to get throat and muzzle erosion and headspace measurements performed to make sure it was safe to bring to the range. He didn't have the proper gauges for the erosion but it headspaces correctly and the bore is bright and the rifling looks to be in fine shape. So she probably hasn't seen a whole lotta rounds.
I'm not the expert in stock stamps but it appears you have a period Springfield Armory stock. The bottom could be GHS for Gilbert H. Stewart and the cirlcular thing is the Ordnance wheel which would in all probablility be the original stock. You'd be hard pressed to find another with those stamps.
But replace it if you like and you'll have a pretty stock like every other Tom, Dick, and Harry has. Yours has some history and LOTS of character most would covet.
Not saying for sure but my sag is it looks like SA/JLG to me.
Try this link and what you think. JLG donw near the bottom.
http://www.trfindley.com/pgsnstmpsm1.html
Personally I would keep that stock on (it actually looks real good) but its your rifle and your call.
However you might be able to sell it here for more than your new stock will cost, I am not real big into the inspector stamps but depending on which one is has some guys will pay "nuts" money for them.
Oh, there is no "cover" for when the bolt is closed, that IS the bolt your seeing.
Dan
Like a virgin Yo
Thanks! You are correct. Once I saw the stamp in the link you posted which shows the spatial relationship between the SA on top and the three lower letters I can now easily see the JLG when viewing from the right angle. There is a horizontal scratch that was stained over in between the two vertical segments of the J & L that I mistook for an H.Quote:
Originally Posted by GPlourde