So.....What have I actually got here with this Pre-War Springfield M-1 ??

[6167]

I am aware this M1 was a competition rifle for many years.

It is in the 170,xxx range and that apparently asks questions right away.
The messed up serial number range from December 1940-January 1941 is interesting.

The rifle has been built by an armorer or two....or three over the years who really knew what they were doing!!
The rifle has it's interesting production date serial number as well as a second rifle/rack number assigned that is marked on a number of the parts as " 203 ".

The April 1947 ( S-A- 4-47 ) barrel is stunning....very tight at both points, and super bright.

The bolt is WRA and marked with the "rifle number" and the serial number.
The SA trigger group and the H+R op rod are also numbered.
I am aware the op rod was added at least 40 years ago and the NM front sight was added about 10 years ago.
The rear sight appears to be a stock unit by DRC but is very snug and crisp with a finer aperture opening than a regular stock battle sight.

The stock set is sealed with varnish and the front is unitized to the mid-band. There is bedding present.

Yes....it shoots awesome!!

So....here are the questions.

1/ More than one person suggested that a number of the rifles from this production time period were released to units for "familiarization" with the M1 Garand prior to the general deployment of the rifles and to have these units show the rank and file that the rifles were well made, accurate, easy to use, offered a lot more firepower than the '03, and was not a POS as a number of groups apparently maintained. ( who likes change? )
Is this story for real?

2/ It has also been put forward and I believe this myself from what I have read, that a group of 1947 SA service barrels were likely produced to what we could call match tolerances prior to the actual Factory NM program for the Garand which was 52/53?
I am not sure who they were made for, if in fact some of them were produced for a "program" in 1947?

It would be cool to speculate or confirm that this rifle could have been a quasi "trials" program rifle early in the receivers life.
It could also have been a Match, Competition Rifle for most of it's life?

Why would anyone keep a pre-war Garand in match service until the late '60's or early '70's with all the selection of "seasoned" receivers available post war and later in to the '50's?

Anyway...it's a very cool piece, shoots awesome, and it's a real testament to Mr. Garand!

Any comments are welcome.....positive, or negative!
Cheers Paul

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