My little collection has been lacking a decent WWII Winchester Garandfor quite some time now. I have looked at quite a few and almost bought one many times but they never were quite right, you know, not enough Winchester and too much other stuff. I feel now as though I waited because I just knew the right one would come along(same reason I didn't get married untill I was 55), and I think it worked. I think this rifle is real close to as it left the Winchester factory. Of course pictures are fine but having it in your hands gives you a lot better view point. The wear on most of the metal looks to have the same patina and I don't think this rifle has been shot much in it's life time and it doesn't appear to have been apart for a long while either, I could not get the gas cylinder off and I could not get the op rod off(and I have dissassembled and reassembled many, many Garands)or even get it to wiggle, it still fits the bolt and the rail tight. I am not going to force anything apart because I won't be shooting this one, it can stay together. There are still traces of blue on the gas cylinder, and the blue(or Dulite)looks new on the part of the gas plug that fits inside the cylinder. There looks to be traces of blue on the follower arm, the op rod catch, and the bullet guide. All of the parts look(I hate to say original because I don't like to be yelled at)lets just say like they have been together on this rifle for a long time. The one thing that bothers me is the front sight seal, I haven't seen another Winchester built this late that still has one. I didn't take the rear sight apart to see if the insides are right and I'm not going to' but the outside looks okay. They more I handle the rifle the better the chances I ding it up in some way. The stock is outstanding, it has very few handling marks. The stock's color looks a little funny under the flourecent light so if anyone wants I'll take a few photos outside so you can see the real color. The light in here also makes the stock look shinier in some photos than it is. The sling is an M1907 with steel hardware, I don't know if this rifle would have had this type of sling in the fall of 1944. I was also pleasantly surprised when I opened the butt trap and saw the goodies in there. I feel lucky to have come across this rifle, it was put in an auction from an esate.
Here are some pictures taken outside to see the real color.
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