Richard Cowell spent six months hunting down the rifle after finding a white piece of paper with the word “Springfield” written in cursive followed by the serial number “3594593” in his father’s desk. Finding a specific service rifle after 73 is like finding a needle in a haystack mind you.
After WWII, the United Stateshanded out M1 Garands like candy to nations all over the world has lend lease, foreign aid, and direct sales. Denmark
, Vietnam, Italy
, and Guatemala are just a few of the countries over the years that have gotten rifles. So the chance that Mr. Cowell’s rifle was still in the US was a slim chance.
But luck shined upon Richard and he found his father’s rifle. He found the rifle on GunBroker.com in New Jersey of all places. A gun collector was selling it, and after Richard outbid a tough competitor, the rifle was his.
In late October, Mr. Cowell’s 11-year-old grandson, Tommy, presented him with the rifle.Information
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