1944 Springfield Armory Garand

[Aragorn243]

To me, one of the really informative things in this issue was the fact that an importer's stamp could deform the barrel and destroy accuracy. I've seen hundreds of them so stamped.

Seven photos up from the bottom is the import stamp. It's stamped so lightly I'm not too concerned with damage. Only the top third of the letters show. They are centered in the exposed barrel section just below the shine.

I spent the last three hours cleaning up the metal. Came out nice. No surprises, got all the major parts separated. Still not going to mess with the trigger assembly but did find another SA marked part in there. No NM star or wording on the barrel, had hopes but figured chances were near zero.

The wood will be my weekend project.

I like the idea of walnut shims, they should blend in nicely and I think I have a piece of it in the basement. Probably won't do anything like that until I shoot it however and see if it needs it.

What type sling should I get for it? Leather was used throughout the war I guess but canvas became more common toward the end?

I have the bayonet.

Information

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[25-5]

There are many videos on YouTube about the M1 Garand. Disassembly, cleaning, and loads of visual info. Peening as mentioned helps accuracy. Tony Ben has a YouTube peening the splines on an M1A that works very well for the Garand.
Privi Partisan has 150gr Garand ammo that works well with reloadable brass. It's Serbian.

[Aragorn243]

Started cleaning the stock. Main stock is much lighter than the fore end and rear hand guard. Fore end is nearly black and doesn't seem to want to get any lighter. Main stock is definitely showing indications of tiger striping but not the normal kind. Not sure what it's going to look like when it's done. The grain is all over the place and has a lot of swirls. Will try steaming it this evening and possibly do some light sanding in two spots that are scratched badly. These two areas don't match the condition of the rest of the wood or I'd let them alone.

[Aragorn243]

Cleaned the stock and put one coating of BLO on it. Handguards are walnut. Main stock may be birch. Definite tiger striping and it really shows depending on the light. Rust all gone. Managed to get it back together with no leftover parts and it appears to be working.

[vintage hunter]

Yep, birch stock. Nice job on the clean up. Looks a whole lot better.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Looks great. I hope it shoots at least as good as it looks.

[Aragorn243]

Sadly, I think I'll start looking for a walnut stock. I really like this one and I didn't do that much to it. I could sand all the dings out of it and it would really look sharp. But, as they weren't made until the late 50's, not really appropriate for WWII displays. I'm not going to get rid of this one though. It can be my range stock or the other one just for my presentations. I may try to locate birch handguards. Always something.

[browningautorifle]

Don't sand it too much though. They can come up smooth and they'll never take a stain again. The stuff is like glass after for turning stain.