Good Photo study of welded receiver

[Mark in Rochester]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=128826090

Information

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[mparsons]

Is the guy blowing smoke or does he really believe he has something?

[Bill Hollinger]

The drawing number is a post war while the serial number is mid 1942. WOW! Here is what I sent the seller:

"Sir, I think the reason this rifle was not shot is because it is a reweld. Look close at the receiver under the clip latch and on the right side in the slide groove. This rifle would probably be unsafe to shoot. You are taking quite a chance selling it without disclosure. Please understand I am not trying to be a jerk in any way but you should reconsider the sale of this rifle. Do not take my word for it, have a gunsmith look it over.

Also, the serial number for this Garand is a mid 1942, the drawing number on the front right leg is for a later post WWII Garand. This is easy enough to check."

[Griff Murphey]

Mark, very sharp eyes. Usually a welded repaired receiver will have uneven bright spots where the weld is. As well they often have major color variation, which this rifle does NOT have. In the 1960 time frame many of these rifles were built up because "real" M-1s were hard to come by. I own one Elmer Ballance sold through his L.H. Guns, and I still shoot it. The safety issue is open to interpretation but the failure to disclose that this is a restored, scrapped receiver is just not ethical. If you don't know who did the restoration you can't be sure of reliability or safety. With the recent availability of CMP receivers these old welded restored guns have lost a lot of value, to say the least. Certainly it's not worth $1100.

[chriskat]

it's up to $1200 right now. The weld certainly seems fairly obvious. Looks like he may have added a grenade launcher to sweeten the deal.

Has lots of really big pics making the weld easy to see. Looks like they may have been added later though.

I wouldn't pay $1200.

[Chilly]

Trigger guard locking lugs pretty well worn for an unfired rifle.

[Dan Wilson]

Yeah, it is fairly obvious that it has been welded, a pretty poor finish/machining job.
Seeing that it makes me really wonder how much twist is between the front and rear halves of that receiver.

Dan

[Milsurp Collector]

The auction pictures will not be available indefinitely so I have downloaded them and I'm reposting them for future reference.

Click to view the original image

Click to view the original image

Click to view the original image

Click to view the original image

Click to view the original image

[Devil Dog]

This one is interesting. The seller makes no definitive statements. Only says things that he "was told" or facts he "thinks". Surprisingly, he takes TWO pictures clearly showing the welded areas. It seems he is trying to point out the welds. My opinion is that he knows, quite well, that the receiver is welded. Perhaps showing the welded areas makes him feel better while screwing someome. Also surprising is his wllingness to accept a "three day return".

[mack]

Considering the escalation of prices in recent months of anything associated with military rifles ($2K for a correct the other day at a show, $1200 for put-together AR rifle, $600 for a Cetme rifle which sold at that price and more than $400 for a Russian SKS) and particularly semi-autos, the $1200 price tag may not be out of line for a even welded receiver. I can't imagine selling much of anything Garand for less than $1K considering the likelihood that we may never be able to get them again once the new assault weapons ban goes through (and it will pass immediately when presented).