January 1940 Gas Trap Conversion......Restoration?

[SRiverrat11]

I know a fair amount about M1's, but I know next to nothing about these. Mr. Canfields book didn't have much, neither did Mr. Duff's so I'm coming here for opinions, Some of the pics are a little blurry, but they weren't before I blew them up, so I apologize in advance. the serial number on this is 26,174 the Gas Trap data sheet in Mr. Duff's red book on a January 1940 is 26,171. Only 3 off, kinda cool. Thank you for any help. Scott

Information

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[Jakeroub]

Are the guide ribs modified?

[SRiverrat11]

I honestly can't tell. I don't know much on that subject.

[browningautorifle]

I honestly can't tell.

You have to strip the action or at least open the bolt and take a picture down inside.

Also the barrel is late, matched the date on my LL, SA-328219. The op rod number also, same. Is this rifle restored then? Is that what you're trying to establish?

[SRiverrat11]

You have to strip the action or at least open the bolt and take a picture down inside.

Also the barrel is late, matched the date on my LL, SA-328219. The op rod number also, same. Is this rifle restored then? Is that what you're trying to establish?

I know they changed gas traps to gas port’s especially the ones that hadn’t left the factory, but what about ones that had? Were they sent back to Springfield or did a regimental or division level armory change the barrel, gas cylinder and front sight. Obviously, the chances a collector with the right parts and knowledge could have easily done this in the decades after but, any chance it was at a unit armory?

[SRiverrat11]

And if it does show the 7th round stoppage repair, why would that mean its a restoration?

[SRiverrat11]

I'm really not sure what I'm looking at.

[browningautorifle]

And if it does show the 7th round stoppage repair, why would that mean its a restoration?

They were built up with weld and a restoration back would mean it would be ground down again. You can see the weld in pic one. Here's an article to show you, scroll down. Marines The M1 Garand: The First 400 | An Official Journal Of The NRA

Some guys would grind the weld back down but not always. The rifle could have been assembled from parts would account for the later op rod and barrel...

Others will be along to confirm or deny these points...

[SRiverrat11]

Someone showed me what it looks like without the repair and that makes the repair easy to recognize.

[SRiverrat11]

The rifle could have been assembled from parts would account for the later op rod and barrel...

Others will be along to confirm or deny these points...

Someone on another site said that after the initial conversions of gas traps at the Armory, the gas traps that were already at the units, the units did the conversions of gas traps that they had, leaving the original parts and just changing the barrels, gas cylinders and front sights making the change with barrels and gas cylinders they had at the time. IDK how true it is, but it seems like a logical solution to rifles that were scattered all over the country. The units would have had replacement parts to repair weapons at their facilities. I'm not trying to be difficult, I'm just trying to understand why an 8-41 barrel and gas cylinder make it a definite restoration, and it very well could be a restoration.