21 Sept 2021 Garand Picture of the Day - Quiz

[Mark in Rochester]

Quiz: What is the serial number range and why try not to use reference books

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[browningautorifle]

Meanwhile...Gilbert Stewart inspecting rifles. I had one of his...

[fjruple]

Photo probably late 1939 or early 1940 or 1941. The Sam Browne belt was phased out in 1941. Of course US Officers had to pay for their own kit.

[Mark in Rochester]

no takers on the Quiz?

Gas Port - June 1940
Flush Nut - Until Feb 42
Op--rod curved side - 22,000 - 3,400,000
milled handguard clip - up to mid-1942
Milled Arched middle band - Fall of 1940 switched to brazed
Gilbert H Stewart - in command of Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, from July 1, 1939, to June 30, 1942.

So June 1940 to Feb 1942 so far

[browningautorifle]

Gilbert H Stewart - in command of Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts, from July 1, 1939, to June 30, 1942.

Didn't he do two tours there? One was during WW1?

[Mark in Rochester]

Didn't he do two tours there? One was during WW1?

Stewart, Gilbert Henry
Brigadier-General

* 12th of November 1878 † 4th of August 1957

(Regular Army)

Promotions
1924-11-26 Lieutenant-Colonel
1934-03-01 Colonel
1940-10-25 Brigadier-General (Army of the United States)
1942-05-31 Termination of rank Brigadier-General (Army of the United States)
1948-10-27 Brigadier-General (Army of the United States)

Service
1923-08-XX – 1926-06-XX Attached to Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois
1926-09-XX – 1928-06-XX Commanding Officer Augusta Arsenal, Georgia
1928-08-24 – 1931-06-27 Ordinance Officer, Hawaiian Department
1928-08-24 – 1931-06-27 Commanding Officer Hawaii Ordnance Depot
1931-08-XX – 1932-06-XX Attending the Army Industrial College
1932-08-01 – 1938-09-11 Commanding Officer Watervliet Arsenal, New York
1938-XX-XX – 1942-XX-XX Commanding General Springfield Armory, Massachusetts
1942-06-XX Retired

Gilbert Henry Stewart

was born in Wichita, Kansas, during a family trip. He was appointed to the Military Academy while in high school and residing in Rochester, New York. He graduated from West Point in June 1902 and was eighth in a class of 54. He was assigned to the 10th Infantry and served in the Philippine Islands and Panama Canal when it opened. He later transferred to the office of the Chief of Ordnance Department. In 1905, he served at Sandy Hook Proving Ground, in 1906 at Rock Island Arsenal and in 1908 at Frankford Arsenal. His other posts included Watertown Arsenal and a detail as Chief Ordnance Officer at the Port of Embarkation, Galveston, Texas. From 1914 to 1918, he was posted to Springfield Armory. After his graduation in 1922 from the Army War College, he became its Executive Officer and was also a faculty member. After World War I, he served as the United States representative on the Imperial Munitions Board in Toronto, Canada, adjudicating claims of Canadians whose contracts with the United States government were terminated war's conclusion. From 1923 to 1926 he was posted to Rock Island Arsenal.
Next, he assumed command at Augusta Arsenal, Georgia, beginning his career as Commandant of several arsenals. He then went on to command the Hawaiian Ordnance Department. Returning to Washington, he was enrolled at the Army Industrial College and following graduation, was placed in command of Watervliet Arsenal in New York from 1932 to 1938. He then became the Commandant of Springfield Armory which he commanded during World War II. He retired from Springfield Armory as Brigadier General of Ordnance.

[Mark in Rochester]

Date of the Photo is 21 May 1941 so the serial number range is 242,677 ± 323 approximately

[cgroc09]

I was curious if anyone was going to try. I'm a bit late in my answer as Mark has posted the results but here goes anyway.

Mark is correct, Gilbert H. Stewart was in command at Springfield from Jy 1939 to June 1942 but the inspection stamp(cartouche) was stamped with a SA SPG (Stanley P. Gibbs) cartouche until approximately October 1940 and these were no trap stocks with solid buttplates. During October/November 1940 the stock design was changed with a trap door buttplate. These stocks were stamped with a SA GHS (Stanley P. Gibbs) cartouche. The one clue given to this quiz is the Arched lower band with no groove. It started use around Oct-Nov 1940 thus more than likely being a trap doir stock with a SA GHS cartouche.

Excellent quiz Mark. Thanks, I look forward to seeing more.

Paul

[RCS]

Paul is correct, the first no trap stocks (SPG) had the large over small hole in the butt area, later changed in the mid 40K serial
number range (May-June 1940) to have two equal sized holes and oval shape pistol grip until Oct 1940. The new stock
had the trap door butt plate. these stocks were cartouched SA over GHS but without the crossed cannon stamp as SA SPG
stocks also were without the crossed cannon stamp. These stocks are quite rare, soon the the crossed cannon stamp was
added to the cartouche