SA parts on a HRA Garand?

[slamfire1]

Al in MN: Good info. Any way to distinguish a Greek Rtn. from U.S issue.?

I will attempt to reply.

The answer is no. Absolute no. Perhaps if you knew the end of the US inventory and when the CMP began shipping Greeks, and you had the CMP paperwork. Maybe you could figure the inventory change.

The o3's and A3's, they were refinished. The Garands that I have seen, and it is has been hundreds, are absolutely the way they left US inventory.

That includes the arsenal rebuilds. No funny Greek stampings, no Italian parts (Dannish), no nothing.

And in my opinion, these are American rifles just like the rifles that came direct from US inventory.

I do not recall any US inventory rifles having aftermarket wood.

The Greek rifles had more excellent condition late production SA's and HRA's than what came out of US inventory.

[rider]

The CMP sold out of USGI M1s a few years ago. The Greek M1s are a mixed blessing. The Rack and most of the Field Grades look rattier than anything that was in the US inventory. Unissued Arsenal rebuilds are very rare BUT there is a treasure trove of unissued or barely used post-war SAs and HRAs.
From what I've seen, most of the greek ISSUED M1s will have the serial # stamped on the stock. Also, the Greeks used what appears to be a black oxide metal finish. The "look" varies from black spray paint to blueing. My only problem with the Greek returned M1s is that the issued M1s were not maintained to the standard as USGI M1s. I got this impression from what I've seen at the North Store over the years. I wouldn't hesitate to order a Service Grade M1.

[TSimonetti]

Your stock appears to be a WW2 Vintage SA from 1944-45. The 3/16" ordinance wheel is thought to have been a stock acceptance mark from that time period.

[dinki dow]

The 466XXXX series could have WWII parts, op rod,op rod catch,clip latch, hammer. Could have been SA or WRA.

[five 0]

If the H&R has DCM papers that would distinguish it as not being a Greek return as I believe the DCM was replaced by CMP before the Greeks returned any M1s

[kikokat]

Papers are CMP dated 12-03, and make no mention of Greek origin.

[Mike in NC]

kikokat,

I couple of things suggest your rifle is not of Greek origin. I don't think the rifles returned from from Greece came back to the CMP before 12-03. Second, I think I have heard the observation that no HRAs as late as the 5.7 million range went to Greece. It is not uncommon for original 5.7 million HRAs to have 1952 dated HRA barrels as other posters have previously mentioned. You can also see SA barrels on a few original HRAs in this serial number range. The few I have seen have been 1953 SA barrels, late 1953 barrels if I remember correctly. I doubt any other SA part could be original in this fairly late HRA.

[kikokat]

Mike,

Thanks for your observations regading my HRA. As you noted, consensus would indicate it's probably not a Greek return. Also that the barrel is likely original.
I have no doubt the SA stock was probably added at CMP, or perhaps prior, but is not original to the rifle. I had been told previously that it was possible the SA trigger group may have been original as HRA did run short of some parts on the later rifles and got some parts from SA. Not too likely apparently.
I have no plans to change anything in any event. It's a beatiful looking and shooting rifle as it came, and I'm quite happy with it.
I want to thank you and all the other gentlemen who were kind enough to offer their knowledge and experience.
Best regards,
John

[comm pogue]

i ordered a greek HRA as soon as they where listed for sale and got it in a week, my data sheet shows 6/14/04. that doesnt mean greeks may have shipped out sooner.also i worked at the NS 1 day.i helped rebox about 200 HRA's and many had only 1 item from being correct.HTH Semper Fi Al

[Rhino6]

kikokat,

I couple of things suggest your rifle is not of Greek origin. I don't think the rifles returned from from Greece came back to the CMP before 12-03. Second, I think I have heard the observation that no HRAs as late as the 5.7 million range went to Greece. It is not uncommon for original 5.7 million HRAs to have 1952 dated HRA barrels as other posters have previously mentioned. You can also see SA barrels on a few original HRAs in this serial number range. The few I have seen have been 1953 SA barrels, late 1953 barrels if I remember correctly. I doubt any other SA part could be original in this fairly late HRA.

In reference to the SA barrel use on late HRA:








I had never fired old 157 until recently, took it out to the range and fired 5 clips. The old girl will shoot, LC69 grouped very well and my match load of 168SMK even better, much better. The old timers here will remember this from the old forum, thought it was worth bringing up again since we were on the subject.

An interesting side note, look at the bolt, somebody nervous stamped the drawing number, look closely.

Bob Seijas did the data sheet for the article, I took the pics.