Brought my first Garand home today

I brought this Garand home today. When I field stripped it, everything looked to be in good working order, but I do have a question or two and I did find one "surprise" I'll need your help with.

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The stock, in the area on either side of the trigger housing plate (?) has had some nicely done woodwork. About 3/16" of wood on one side and 1/8" on the other being replaced. The repair is very well done - the joint is tight and the wood match is pretty good. Is work on this area of a stock common? I would also point out that the entire stock has been sanded and refinished at some point.

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My "surprise" came on seeing what was in the inside of the lower hand
guard. It seems this rifle has had 'owners' I didn't expect, but I have no idea who or how, but I suspect some of you may help clear that up.

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I didn't see any other obvious proof or import marks, but I did take pictures of all parts that had any other markings that I saw. The marking on the follower arm looks different than other markings I've seen, and I'm not sure about the Op Rod marking.

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Are there no import marks? Usually a serial number on the stock like that isn't a typical thing the US military did. As you can see, I suspect this was imported from somewhere?

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Originally Posted by Snowman1510

Are there no import marks? Usually a serial number on the stock like that isn't a typical thing the US military did. As you can see, I suspect this was imported from somewhere?

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Nope, no import marks that I can see. I didn't pull the rear hand guard, but it shouldn't be there anyway. Were any of these brought back before 64? I think that's when the import stamp regulation was put in place.

Looks like it might be a CMP Danish return.

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Originally Posted by AFJon

Looks like it might be a CMP Danish return.

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Thank You. I do believe you are correct.


I just found an older thread (http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=31865) that ID's the HMAK on the label as Danish (HMAK - Haerens Materiel Kommando (Army Materiel Command) as well as other good info.

It's interesting that the CMP didn't remove that label as part of their process - but I'm glad they didn't.

Yes, a Danish return. All the paper tags were left there by importers and the Italian op rod...all the parts show an honest gun that's been maintained by the Danish. The walnut patches are because the trigger group was loose in the stock, things wouldn't lock tight.

Is that a type 11 or 111 lockbar sight?

They truly are like peanuts: you can't eat just one.


Bob

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Originally Posted by Detroit-1

Is that a type 11 or 111 lockbar sight?

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Good question. I don't know enough to do anything other than compare to photos. Scott Duff's book 'The M1 Garand: World War II' has a photo (page 157) that shows a style of long pinion paired with a type II lockbar, and a different style long pinion paired with a type III lockbar. I don't know if the specific lockbars have to be paired with the pinion he has them pictured with. The best I can tell, I have the pinion he has paired with lock bar type III, but the lockbar I have is shaped like his image of lockbar type II.

"...the wood match is pretty good..." That is just luck. It was totally irrelevant to the weapons tech who did it.
A CMP Danish return wouldn't have import or the Brit 'BNP' stamps. They came directly from the Danish government to the U.S. government.
Any 'VAR' stamped on the barrel? Be a really good thing if there is. Those barrels are match grade barrels.

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Originally Posted by Sunray

"... Any 'VAR' stamped on the barrel? Be a really good thing if there is. Those barrels are match grade barrels.

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No. It's got a Springfield barrel in it (4-49) that I assume was in it when it went to Denmark.

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Originally Posted by boomer656

It's got a Springfield barrel in it (4-49) that I assume was in it when it went to Denmark

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If they were serviceable they passed inspection. If they needed replacement, they got it. You'll find Danish returns with WW2 inspected stocks...rare wood.

I had one box of Garand specific ammo (PPU) and a beautiful morning to take the rifle for my first trip with it to the range. My main objective was to get it sighted in, which I believe is pretty much done.

Now to the question(s). When I first brought the rifle home and checked it out, I noticed the gas plug was loose. When I put everything back together, I snugged it up ... tighter than finger tight but not too much torque. Today I checked it after 12 shots and found it to be loose again. How much torque should be used when tightening the plug? Is this a common problem? Recommended fix?

Oh by the way - very pleased with the way it shot.

I believe they are supposed to be pretty tight to seal in the gas. There are more knowledgeable people here that can give you the specifics.

It is a Danish return and I love that sight tag. If I reading it right you would need to come down 6 clicks to be on at 300. Must be sighted in real high. All the parts I could see indicate a rebuild post war. I love 6 digit Springfields and you have a beauty. Send a check to the CMP for $25 to the Serial number clerk and she will mail you the CMP provenance letter. It will add at least a 10% value to your Garand or more!

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Originally Posted by sakorick

It is a Danish return and I love that sight tag. If I reading it right you would need to come down 6 clicks to be on at 300. Must be sighted in real high. All the parts I could see indicate a rebuild post war. I love 6 digit Springfields and you have a beauty. Send a check to the CMP for $25 to the Serial number clerk and she will mail you the CMP provenance letter. It will add at least a 10% value to your Garand or more!

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That's the way I read the tag too.

Thanks for the info about the CMP serial # check. I wasn't aware they offered that service. I will definitely pursue that.

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Originally Posted by boomer656

That's the way I read the tag too.

Thanks for the info about the CMP serial # check. I wasn't aware they offered that service. I will definitely pursue that.

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Well there's one way to find out......do you have a range around close by. Please keep this in mind if and when you shoot it. These Garands should not be hot rodded. You will need to find some tame loads for it. Everyone all of a sudden wants to get the latest hot loads for their deer rifle and I can add, the dead deer doesn't know the difference between 2750 and 2950'/sec but that old Garand does. Hot loads are a no no.


Added. No reason to over tighten the gas plug. I have a big phillips I use on mine. You can snug it down pretty tight if you clean it after shooting.

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Originally Posted by sakorick

Well there's one way to find out......do you have a range around close by. Please keep this in mind if and when you shoot it. These Garands should not be hot rodded. You will need to find some tame loads for it. Everyone all of a sudden wants to get the latest hot loads for their deer rifle and I can add, the dead deer doesn't know the difference between 2750 and 2950'/sec but that old Garand does. Hot loads are a no no.

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I had it out today to start zeroing it in - the elevating knob indexing was way out. Only had one box of shells - a box of PPU optimized for the Garand. I probably won't get it out again until next week. Anyway, I'm at 11 clicks from the bottom at 25 yards. Took a few shots at 50 and 75 yards and the setting seemed to be good. I'll work my way up to 300 yards, but I don't think it's going to be 6 clicks from the highest setting. It's possible a sight has been changed since that label was put in.

Spent the rest of the morning giving my 1903 a work out - using up some of those hunting loads I don't use anymore :D

Be sure to not molest that index....it's very cool!

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Originally Posted by sakorick

Be sure to not molest that index....it's very cool!

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Don't worry about that - it won't be coming off as long as the rifle is in my stewardship.