M1 GArand Born on date

[Jason60chev]

Hello Milsurpers,
I would like to know born on for M1 Garand serial 2437830/-32. I have several reference lists that give a Dec
1943 end of month serial of 2420191, which, if accurate, places the above very early Jan 1944. I realize all of these references are estimates.
Oldguns.net, when the s/n is entered gives 1943, but does not provide a reference. Can any of ya'll tell, with certainty, the month made and provide reference for your info?

I really would appreciate it.

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]

Don't know what the -32 is, but this is the site that's in our stickies at the beginning of the M1 forum. U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture

It doesn't give you the month though, how about your barrel under the op rod?

[Jason60chev]

Thank

Don't know what the -32 is, but this is the site that's in our stickies at the beginning of the M1 forum. U.S. Military Dates of Manufacture

It doesn't give you the month though, how about your barrel under the op rod?

It is the Revision of the drawing number found on the forward right leg of the receiver.......D28291-32. It changed to -34 in May 1944. Thank you.

---------- Post added at 02:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:33 PM ----------

This is a stripped receiver. I've been to the URL you provided. It does not give a reference for document why the serial is 1943, when all of the dates of manufacture I have found, list a lower serial number at end of month for Dec 1943. Lower by about 17,000. I understand that those lists are estimates, but with this number being so close to end of month/year, I would really like to know as certain as possible.

[Joe W]

Using Scott Duffs figures SA was delivering about 4000 rifles a day in Jan. 1944. If we subtract the ending serial number for Dec. 1943 (2420191) from your serial number (2437830) that gives 17,639 rifles between the end of Dec. 43 until your serial number. If doing 4000 a day and we divide the 17,639 rifles by the 4000 a day and it would indicate the 5th of Jan. 1944 for 2437830. Like you said these are only very rough estimates. We know this is not how things went. The M1 rifle was not "born" until it was assembled and accepted and as they were not assembled in serial number order you are not going to get an exact day. If someone were to turn up the "polishing room" records for SA such as those for Winchester, that Canfield has in his book, you would, at least, know the date the receiver was serial numbered. I would think early Jan. 1944 is the best you will get.
Not that it matters in regard to your question but I will point out that your SA receiver has a Winchester with the same serial number. 2415850 through 2540982 were assigned to Winchester but duplicated by SA. Now if you had the Winchester # 2437830 you would know, based on the Winchester Polishing room records that the serial number 2437830 was stamped on the receiver on April 17, 1944. When it was assembled ????????

[Bob Seijas]

You really can't say when it was assembled with any precision. There was always a LARGE dispersion of serials in the assembly process at all times, and NO attention was paid to serial order in putting rifles together. In addition, a lot of rifles were recycled for deficiencies and skipped machining operations like no grooves cut for elevation, clip latch cut too narrow, etc., etc. Others were set aside for a contingency reserve and then used much later, like the time the SA steel order was cancelled by mistake and the whole reserve of older receivers was used up. Serial tables will only give you a theoretical date to use as a guide. Barrel date helps, but even that can be three months off. On the other hand (and for the same reasons) nobody can say it WASN'T built on the date shown in the serial tables. Be happy with a good guess.

[Jason60chev]

Thanks for all of your input on this. My whole reaon for asking is that I want to assemble a 1944 rifle for my collection.
Sure....it will still be a "parts" gun, but aren't ALL of them "parts" guns. I could never try to inflate it's value by
saying that it is all original, but it would be worth the sum of it's parts. There is a March 1944 stripped receiver
available, so I might just go with that one, as I have a very good barrel that would be ok for both.

Based on the information available and being in between the serials published, it could be said that it is a 1944
receiver, I suppose.

You really can't say when it was assembled with any precision. There was always a LARGE dispersion of serials in the assembly process at all times, and NO attention was paid to serial order in putting rifles together. In addition, a lot of rifles were recycled for deficiencies and skipped machining operations like no grooves cut for elevation, clip latch cut too narrow, etc., etc. Others were set aside for a contingency reserve and then used much later, like the time the SA steel order was cancelled by mistake and the whole reserve of older receivers was used up. Serial tables will only give you a theoretical date to use as a guide. Barrel date helps, but even that can be three months off. On the other hand (and for the same reasons) nobody can say it WASN'T built on the date shown in the serial tables. Be happy with a good guess.

[browningautorifle]

March 1944

As long as your parts are within the agreed upon drawing numbers and types...then the rifle will be close to what you expect to find. If you want one to fill a spot then this will do it...good luck on that.

[Jason60chev]

The May 1944 receiver that I was going to use is no longer available, but I still have the SA Feb 44 barrel,
a good GAW stamped stock (Said stampeding ok'd by a Milsurp.com member), a correct op rod, bolt, etc. So, yes,
all of my parts are good for Jan- May, 1944. I have an action wrench/barrel vise, chamber gages and experience
etc to to do the assembly. And yes, this rifle will fill the 1944 spot in my wartime collection.

As long as your parts are within the agreed upon drawing numbers and types...then the rifle will be close to what you expect to find. If you want one to fill a spot then this will do it...good luck on that.

[browningautorifle]

this rifle will fill the 1944 spot in my wartime collection.

I'm sure another receiver will come along...love to see it after.

[Bob Seijas]

Here's some data on three rifles that appear largely original. Two were found in France during WWII, the one found here looks a lot like them.

Part 2740171 (France) 2742717 (France) 2743398
Receiver Leg D 28291 32 YO4A <> D 28291 32 YO2A <> D 28291 32 YO4A <>
Barrel 2-S-A-3 44 2-S-A-4 44 2-S-A-3 44
Bolt D28287-12SA S-06 <> D28287-12SA A-5 <> D28287-12SA W10B <>
Rear Sight square lock bar square lock bar square lock bar
Stock SA/GAW SA/GAW SA/GAW
Trigger Housing D28290-12-SA D28290-12-SA D28290-12-SA
Trigger Guard milled stamped milled
Hammer C46008-3SA C46008-7SA C46008-5SA
Follower 12 12 12
Follower Rod milled WRA short fork rivet long fork rivet
Operating Rod D35382 9 SA uncut D35382 9 SA uncut D35382 9 SA uncut