New "O-66" Garand

[Calfed]

I've been interested in rebuilt marked Garands and glommed one at an auction earlier this month.





The auction pics came with this description...

U.S. Garand M1 semi-automatic rifle by Springfield Armory., .30 cal., SA barrel dated 11-65, military finish, wood stock, serial #4219605, in overall very good condition showing significant original military finish, good bore, crisp action and markings. The smooth wood military stock has the “P” proof on the pistol grip. The butt stock features sling swivels and a checkered metal butt plate with trap.

"O-6x" marked Garands were rebuilt by the Marine Corps in 1965, 1966 or 1967 and were electro-penciled on the top of the receiver, just behind the rear sight, with the letter "O" (assumed to be for "overhaul" and the last two digits of the year. So this was overhauled either at the Marine Corp depot at Barstow, California or Albany, Georgia in 1966.

The O-66 Garand arrived at my FFL today to begin it's 10 day "cooling off" period. I got a chance to look it over and it looks good. There is a boxed "P" cartouche on the pistol grip of the stock. The stock and metal are in excellent shape...literally no dents, dings or scratches on the stock and the same on the metal. There are no rub marks anywhere, even in the op rod groove on the receiver. Stock looks like an Overton replacement with a very dark finish..

The barrel is an 11-65 SA, with a sharp, shiny bore that gauges about .5 on the CMP muzzle gauge.

Could be wrong about this, but almost looks like it has not been used since it was rebuilt.

More and better pics after I've "cooled off" for 10 days...

Information

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[Bob Seijas]

Sweet!

[browningautorifle]

Finally, realism. A man that likes a rebuild, which most of them are...and wants them as is. Nice.

[Calfed]

Thanks, guys!

Would love to get LEAD and RRAD rebuilds also. That could be trickier. As you know, the later Army rebuild had the rebuild indication on the receiver legs and auction houses just don't post pics of the rifle broken down to a point where you can see the receiver legs.

There was no mention of the "O-66" in the description on this one. I happen to notice it in the picture and I'm not sure whether the other bidders noticed it or knew its significance (or cared).

[Bob Seijas]

Don't forget the TE rebuilds, they are featured in the Spring 2016 GCA Journal. The author was able to find the guy who was in charge 1968-1970 and ran the M1D build program. About 30 years ago I bought a perfect 1965 SA rebuild with DCM papers as an example of what happened to most M1s, I love that rifle. In those days, most collectors ignored rebuilds.

[browningautorifle]

Would love to get LEAD and RRAD rebuilds also.

You're going to have to advertise for that one.

[Brian Dick]

That's a lovely M1 Rifle. Just the way I like to find them. I bought two M1's from CMP many years ago and when I got them, one was an Anniston rebuild H&R, reparkerized in light grey zinc. Every part on it was H&R and refinished in zinc which makes me think the Armorers at CMP matched it up by select fitting parts because it would be a miracle for that to happen during normal military rebuild. It still has it's original barrel too. The funny part is that the other rifle was a post WWII rebuild with well worn finish, mixed WWII parts. Low and behold, it had an H&R stock that had obviously been through rework with sanding marks, etc. and the 3/8" DAS still intact. The H&R had a SA/SHM stock that matched the rifle with the '46 date barrel and wear patterns. They must have mixed them up during inspection at CMP and I just swapped the stocks which belonged on each rifle. It was my lucky day for sure and all these years later I still have them. I would't sell or trade them off for the world!

[vintage hunter]

About 30 years ago I bought a perfect 1965 SA rebuild

Not sure it would fit into the perfect category but I picked up this '65 SA rebuild last fall. Wood and metal were was bone dry when I got it and it wasn't even close to being zeroed so I'm inclined to think it was never used after leaving SA and from the looks of the bore it appears to be possibly unfired beyond proofing. Or was.... All marked parts are SA, 11-64 SA barrel with 1-65 electro penciled on receiver leg.
So, where do the SA rebuilds fit into the hierarchy of things, collector interest wise?
Disregard 2nd photo, obviously it don't belong in a Garand related post but I cant figure out how to delete it.

[Calfed]

Don't forget the TE rebuilds, they are featured in the Spring 2016 GCA Journal. The author was able to find the guy who was in charge 1968-1970 and ran the M1D build program. About 30 years ago I bought a perfect 1965 SA rebuild with DCM papers as an example of what happened to most M1s, I love that rifle. In those days, most collectors ignored rebuilds.

That's right...I read the article about the Toole Arsenal rebuilds. Forgot about them.

It was the articles in the GCA Journal that got me interested in the rebuilt marked Garands.

[Calfed]

That's a lovely M1 Rifle. Just the way I like to find them. I bought two M1's from CMP many years ago and when I got them, one was an Anniston rebuild H&R, reparkerized in light grey zinc. Every part on it was H&R and refinished in zinc which makes me think the Armorers at CMP matched it up by select fitting parts because it would be a miracle for that to happen during normal military rebuild. It still has it's original barrel too. The funny part is that the other rifle was a post WWII rebuild with well worn finish, mixed WWII parts. Low and behold, it had an H&R stock that had obviously been through rework with sanding marks, etc. and the 3/8" DAS still intact. The H&R had a SA/SHM stock that matched the rifle with the '46 date barrel and wear patterns. They must have mixed them up during inspection at CMP and I just swapped the stocks which belonged on each rifle. It was my lucky day for sure and all these years later I still have them. I would't sell or trade them off for the world!

Thanks, Brian! Those Garands of yours sound very nice.

I've glommed a number of Garands over the years, almost all of them from the CMP. My favorite is my first Garand...a 2.5 million series Field Grade, made in January, 1944 with a 1-44 dated SA barrel that I believe is the original. It has a number of other WWII parts on it, including the bolt, but I don't know enough about the codes to know whether they are correct for the gun. Amazingly, the barrel is still in great shape, with a CMP gauge reading of just over "1"

---------- Post added at 06:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------

Not sure it would fit into the perfect category but I picked up this '65 SA rebuild last fall. Wood and metal were was bone dry when I got it and it wasn't even close to being zeroed so I'm inclined to think it was never used after leaving SA and from the looks of the bore it appears to be possibly unfired beyond proofing. Or was.... All marked parts are SA, 11-64 SA barrel with 1-65 electro penciled on receiver leg.
So, where do the SA rebuilds fit into the hierarchy of things, collector interest wise?
Disregard 2nd photo, obviously it don't belong in a Garand related post but I cant figure out how to delete it.

Nice, VH. Guess we know why the moniker "Vintage Hunter" .

Your Garand sounds nice. I would think the SA rebuilds would be as collectible as the others.