IHC stock question.

[twisejr]

I'm new to this site and have found it to be very informative so far. I got into carbines and garands about a year ago and have gotten the bug for building garands. I have a question regarding IHC stocks. I have seen IHC stocks advertised on GB with the butt repaired with what looks like semi-circular pieces of wood. The other IHC stock traits seem to be there and the seller states that these stocks were repaired by the manufacturer because of mistakes during original production. I have searched the web and really can't find any information on these and was wondering if anybody knows anything about them. I have a gap letter IHC I'm in need of a stock for. Any information would be helpful. Thanks.

Information

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[Rick B]

These were the first stocks made for IHC and they were made to tight. When they put butt plates on them they cracked so they were sent back for repairs. The first stocks then came out with no repairs and a Ordinance wheel on them with the first having the wheel on the right side and a tiny P on the grip bottom. Then the cannons went to the left side and the no serif P in the circle was used. SO these stocks with the repairs will only be found with DAS stamps on them and used through out as repaired. They are real and repairs were sometimes only sides or top and bottoms also but most are all four sides. All will be found with a 2 as the last number usually do not go past 2602 but have been found later.. Rick B

[twisejr]

Thanks Rick. So these were used on different guns from differnet time frames as needed. Is there a way to tell what the letters and numbers inside the barrel channel represent as to date made, etc? Do these stocks get the same kind of premium price as unrepaired stocks would? Thanks, TW.

[Rick B]

Well I was just shown a Right sided cannon with a small P on the grip which meant they transfered the wheel over before the Circle P came about. The Cannoned IHC brings in the most money and the Repaired seem to bring in a few more bucks over the standard DAS marked stocks. Hope this helps. Rick B

[Rick B]

I forgot to answer about the markings. Yes the numbers are considered the Julian dating system and proven. The OR, IHR and a few others have not been proven yet and may be a line that made the stock or a inspector. Wayne Bradford has a book in the works and may have this mystery solved. Rick B

[twisejr]

Thanks for the info Rick, I'll be looking for the book.

[Neal Myers]

Good luck finding that stock. I have seen, maybe, ONE unmessed-with IHC stock over the last 10 years advertised for sale. Most have been sanded, & lack the characteristic spiral milling marks over much of the surface.

Neal

[en bloc]

It came on a 4.2 SA Service Grade rifle I bought from the CMP in 2004.

The stock is a reddish walnut has a green "17" rack number (about 1" in height) on the inner heel of the butt stock. (just below the sling swivel)

It has a light .5 X .5 DAS stamp on the left side. A circle "P" without-serif and a number
"2" on the pistol grip flat.

It aslo has the numbers "1964" in the barrel channel.

Stock is in excellent condition and has a deep patina, unlikely refinished?

What do I have? what is it worth these days.

Thanks,
En Bloc

[Joe W]

Thanks Rick. So these were used on different guns from differnet time frames as needed. Is there a way to tell what the letters and numbers inside the barrel channel represent as to date made, etc? Do these stocks get the same kind of premium price as unrepaired stocks would? Thanks, TW.

You can find two articles regarding repaired IHC stocks in back issues of the GCA Journal.
1.) Vol. 8, Number 3 (Summer 1994) - "Imperfections Allowed" by Dave Kaczmarek and Ed Guss
2.) Vol. 21, Number 3 (Summer 2007) - " IHC Factory Stock Repair" by Charles Brickett

You may still be able to order these Journals from the GCA. Go to the GCA web site at The Garand Collectors Association and click on "supply shack" to see if they are still available. While there you should also consider joining.

[Joe W]

It came on a 4.2 SA Service Grade rifle I bought from the CMP in 2004.

The stock is a reddish walnut has a green "17" rack number (about 1" in height) on the inner heel of the butt stock. (just below the sling swivel)

It has a light .5 X .5 DAS stamp on the left side. A circle "P" without-serif and a number
"2" on the pistol grip flat.

It aslo has the numbers "1964" in the barrel channel.

Stock is in excellent condition and has a deep patina, unlikely refinished?

What do I have? what is it worth these days.

Thanks,
En Bloc

Sounds like you may have a Overton stock manufactured for IHC sometime in July 1954 (196th day of 1954). There are other indicators to determine if the stock is Overton manufactured for IHC, one being an indented area on the right rear of the stock. Looking down on the rifle, looking at the heel, right about where "U.S. RIFLE" is inscribed, you should see the "indent" on the right side, the indent in the stock is quite noticable.