Madness? Garand with serial number under 2000

[jmoore]

Just what purpose is there really in buying a mixmaster M1 with fairly wretched wood just to have an early serial numbered receiver. Price is about what you would expect of a "normal" M1 outside of direct CMP sales. Barrel's a nice 1950 vintage, nothing bad about any of the other metal bits.

Receiver itself looks to be in very good shape. Low round count in all likelihood. Has had the seventh round stoppage weld repair. Elevation serrations aren't worn down.

I've bought Garands before just for the parts, but there's no real hope of a total restoration/correct parts accumulation in this case, so why the temptation to get what would be just another shooter with a low number?

So far, my only excuse is that the receiver machining details are a little different from what I've seen on later rifles. I think the only other matching/"correct" parts in the parts bin are a trigger housing and a hammer. The other gas trap parts I have are later production.

Normally, I don't sweat this kind of purchase too much, but somehow this seems a bit looney...or am I just getting old?

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[gsimmons]

I think you're just getting old. I'd buy it too, for the same reason. If it not at a premium why not? We need pictures by the way.

[RCS]

You have a better chance of finding out some data on the early receivers then say something in the 1943-44 serial number range, SRS has alot of four digit data. Clean receivers even with the 7th round modification are up in value, without the modification even more. Most of the nice three digits start around $2500 for a receiver and restoration of these three and four digits is never really contemplated by most collectors. Even when built-up as an occasional shooter or target rifle, I think you are more comfortable with a four digit M1 rifle receiver than a M1903 in the four digit serial range

[Bob Seijas]

If you want to take on a life-long task to restore it, you will find perfect data for it in the Fall 2009 GCA Journal. We compared 1630 and 1684, both original. Yours could be from the first production order for 1500 guns that was started July 1937 and completed April 1938. Because of rejections and recycles, serials went to the 2000 area. But get out your wallet!

[RCS]

SRS records show that serial number 1607 was sent to Winchester on Sept 19, 1938, the receipt was signed by Col Robert Sears and Winchester Vice Pres Edwin Pugsley. The receipt indicated the rifle was on loan to Winchester and they would properly safeguard said material at all times; we use said material only in connection with procurement planning as authorized by the Chief of Ordnance.

[browningautorifle]

I don't think the purchase is madness. I have knowledge of the whereabouts of 153 and 154 here in Canada and if they were available for a reasonable price, I'd buy them without any hope of rebuild to original spec. Just for the numbers.

[RCS]

I did find, after looking for a number of years, an original DuLite finish Winchester three digit receiver on the CMP auction site last year (and without anneal color too). This resulted in an excellent restoration

[Bob Seijas]

"1607 was sent to Winchester on Sept 19, 1938"

Yes, it's very interesting to me that serial numbers got so far ahead of the number of rifles completed in the first two years. They had so many recycles as they learned how to build them that MANY rifles were built on receivers with much higher numbers than you would expect. Then, of course, those recycles came back into the assembly process, so many guns had serials much LOWER than you would guess for the time period (maybe 1607?). It's a real education on SA's almost complete disinterest in the receiver serial... the order said 1500 RIFLES, and that's all that mattered. It's a far cry from the earliest days when they had to scrap a receiver and actually reused the number!

[langss]

All of the M1's I have bought I bought just to have M1's. Just wanting to own a piece of history. I had no idea there was so much involved in owning them regarding serial numbers and originality.

[jmoore]

Thanks for input, y'all!

My hesitation comes from having a bit much going on from several fronts, in all likelihood.

Have already made some photos without doing a detail strip. Further disassembly will have to wait until it's paid for.

Replacing the the wood will make it much more visually appealing. Fortunately Bubba did not abuse the metal.

I still want to build a "replica" gas trap rifle one of these days. But this receiver just seems awefully nice for such a fantasy project.

All of the M1's I have bought I bought just to have M1's. Just wanting to own a piece of history. I had no idea there was so much involved in owning them regarding serial numbers and originality.

I became an M1 "parts collector" long ago after realizing that "original and 'as left the assembly line'" rifles from WWII were extremely scarce. Far scarcer than Axis Powers rifles. Those who do manage to obtain "reference grade" historically correct rifles typically have do do LOTS of research and put in large amounts of time and money. Especially now that there is a small industry dedicated to "improving" rifles for profit.