Late 1944 S.A. Garand (almost original?)

[hurrikane18]

Hi there,

I purchased my M1 Garand roughly 7 years ago, then moved cities, bought a house, and life got busy. My M1 Garand sat in the safe all these years - never disassembled it, never shot it. Well, I finally got around to field stripping it for cleaning and I’ve taken pictures of all the markings I could find (I’m sure there’s more, but would require complete disassembly). I’m “new” to these and would appreciate some help.




As far as I can tell, all the parts seem to be correct! The only thing that seems odd is the barrel is not within 3 months of the receiver as Ive read should be the case. The barrel is actually 8 months older than the receiver, but it’s very clean and rifling is strong. Additionally, I believe the op rod is original, but has been “cut”. I will provide a list of the parts below with pictures. If I don’t include a certain part, it means I didn’t find any markings on it.

Receiver
U.S. RIFLE
CAL. .30M1
SPRINGFIELD
ARMORY
3312975
(December 1944)

A 1 8
D 28291-35
(July 1944 - October 1945)




Barrel
3-S-A-4-44
(April 1944)




Bolt
D28287-19SA O-15
(July 1944 - October 1945)



Follower Assembly
12 (Type 2D)
(October 1943 - March 1945)



Hammer
C46008-7 SA (Type 2E)
(August 1944 - January 1945)



Operating Rod
35382 9 SA (Prefix D is cut-off)
(December 1943 - January 1945)



Safety
SA-11 (Type 3C)
(October 1943 - December 1957)



Trigger Housing
D28290-14-SA (Type 9)
(November 1944 - January 1945)



Stock
Side: S.A. G.A.W. and Crossed Cannons
Under buttplate top: 9
Under buttplate bottom: 6 P
Bottom of grip: Circle P and P
(September 1943 - March 1945)






Let me know if you’d like any more pictures, although they’ll have to wait until I have more time to disassemble it again. Any insight on what I might have here would be appreciated. I’m still learning about these rifles. Hoping to shoot it in the next week or two. Thanks in advance for your expertise.

Cheers!
Tyler

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Yes the op rod has the radius mod but that's OK... So, if this rifle shows a rebuild "P" after the original, have these parts been assembled after the fact? Was this rifle rebuilt and since returned to "Correct"?

Since you're here in Canada then it's hard to say. Likely a Danish return at one point since they came to Canada at about the time you procured it.

[Singer B]

Great pictures of a great looking rifle.

[Tommiep54]

Your rifle has a lot going for it. If you can afford it get the Bruce Canfield or Duff books. There is also a small blue Duff book with serial/drawing number match ups from original rifles. When I get time I can look to see how yours matches up. I don't have the dates memorized, but you have very possibly the original barrel, stock, and maybe some other parts. Yours has WW2 Lock bar rear sights, but I'm not good enough yet to know if they are type 1, 2, or 3. Yours may have only gone through one light rebuild but it's impossible to say for sure. Like the post above someone could have started correcting it. The only major things I saw in a quick glance of the photos was a rebuild p on the stock and the modified op rod. Fortunately during rebuild they didn't sand the GAW off your stock. I'll take a closer look at my book when I get time to help. In the meantime a real expert might chime in.

Best,

Tom

[Bob Seijas]

The modified op rod is NOT OK... that's a late rod and it casts doubt on everything.

[hurrikane18]

The modified op rod is NOT OK... that's a late rod and it casts doubt on everything.

Actually, I believe it’s the correct rod (see serial number - I even posted the dates for you, and they fall within this rifle’s date of manufacture). Seems to me it has been cut or modified later, but is the right op rod.

[browningautorifle]

The modified op rod is NOT OK... that's a late rod and it casts doubt on everything.

His rifle's in Canada Bob, it's not an original, it'll be a parts gun assembled or a Danish return that we got. Many were stripped to the last pin and screw in Vancouver at Lever Arms and assembled again to "Close" and then sold. All were checked to be good shooters.

This gun ain't in the USA...

[musketjon]

Shouldn't the stock be an NFR and not a GAW? Is the -9 op rod a flat or radiused side? Is the safety -11 or _11? There is a huge difference.
There's also a HUGE difference between original and correct. A rifle is only original once--the day it left the armory.
Jon

[browningautorifle]

A rifle is only original once--the day it left the armory.

Agreed...guys settle down, the rifle is in Canada and the way it is likely won't change. It's just how it is.

We don't have a proliferation of stuff here and specially since Apr 1st there'll be even less importation, so this one is nice but as is I think...

[Singer B]

Agreed...guys settle down, the rifle is in Canada and the way it is likely won't change. It's just how it is.

We don't have a proliferation of stuff here and specially since Apr 1st there'll be even less importation, so this one is nice but as is I think...

Any Garand is nice. You could hand me the most beat-up, ugly, non-original M1 and I would be proud and happy to share it with others.