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I stumbled across a good deal on a couple of SA Garands.
One is from Feb 1941, and the serial number on the other one indicates Jan 1952.
I have been around guns all my life and I have owned many historic weapons, (including several M1 Carbines) but I have never owned a Garand before, so when I saw these I decided to pull the trigger and grab them.
They both have shiny bores with decent rifling, very good metal with no pitting, but fairly beat up stocks. I will try to share pics in a bit.
Love to have a look. I have had several from different times in history, unfortunately now they're all gone. All that remains are the pics.
Buy two new stocks from the CMP, label and box the old ones, and enjoy your Garand's. They are still great battle weapons. They'll shoot through trees and walls which is a plus.
I am a CMP forum moderator and people offer stocks for sale all the time. Question for you is, do you want a period correct with cartouche or just a better looking stock? You can also look at Dupage Trading, Fulton Armory or The Stock Emporium. Sean from stock emporium is on the CMP forum and helped me out with hand-guards. Email both companies with specific questions.
I finally have some pics. A Buddy had a stock, so i replaced the one on the '41 since (from what I have found with Poyer's spread sheet), it seems to have many of the correct parts...
The two pictures outside are from the 1941 and the one on the Pendleton blanket is the 1952
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With the metal going to white, I would leave them as is. They look terrific and "experienced". Maybe just rub in a few coats of RLO to rehydrate the wood and leave as is. I had to replace the stock on my Winchester M1, but only because it had been sanded so heavily it no longer fit the action properly.
I like older weapons and (except for my 1943 NPM Bavarian) they all show bluing and stock wear, and frankly I prefer them that way...they have the sort of character, that, if they could talk, I would like to sit and share a beer with them and just listen to their stories.
What is RLO for the wood, if I may ask?
Jim
Raw linseed oil. The stocks of the M1 Garands and carbines were originally finished using raw linseed oil. You can purchase it on Amazon or at your local arts and crafts store. Your guns will maintain that experienced look while being conserved in original condition.Quote:
Originally Posted by crowtalks
Ahh...of course! Thanks heaps.
Quote:
Originally Posted by crowtalks
Absolutely! I have fit both the CMP replacement stocks (they come from Boyds), and stock sets from Dupage Trading. The dupage stocks also come from Boyds (made on contract for dupage), but come from a different pattern. I believe the dupage stocks are far superior. The CMP stocks are pretty much drop in, but do vary. I've had a couple looser ones and a couple tighter ones. Sure, they will get you to the range with reasonable performance. The advantage of dupage stocks is they have just enough material left in the few critical areas so that you can achieve perfection. The difference in target performance can be significant. Also, a key to preserving the long-term performance of any garand stock is to not store it with the trigger guard in the locked position. You don't need to take the trigger guard assembly off for storage, just unclamp the guard. This gives the wood room to naturally expand. In fact, It's a good rule for any rifle in a wood stock really to preserve its accuracy - loosen the action screws before storing, and tighten to the correct torque before going to the range. Loosen again when you put it away.Quote:
Originally Posted by eb in oregon
Also, a key to preserving the long-term performance of any garand stock is to not store it with the trigger guard in the locked position. You don't need to take the trigger guard assembly off for storage, just unclamp the guard. This gives the wood room to naturally expand. In fact, It's a good rule for any rifle in a wood stock really to preserve its accuracy - loosen the action screws before storing, and tighten to the correct torque before going to the range. Loosen again when you put it away.
I didn't know that...but it makes sense. good advice!
Jim
I used to open mine just enough to take the pressure off the wood and insert a toothpick through the hole in the safety to hold the housing in and the gun together. Worked great.
Thanks!Quote:
Originally Posted by ssgross
Good idea, one of mine is tight, so that would help.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Seijas
I drop the hammer with the trigger guard unlatched it will hold in place with spring force - also if you have a misfire you can recock the hammer with the trigger guard without opening the bolt
That's a great tip!