Tom's M1

[JaxTom]

Hello, newby here, with the first of many i hope not-too-ignorant questions.

I purchased a Springfield Armory M1 in the late 80's. I finally bought Mr. Duff's Data book to see if i had a reweld. As it turns out so far as I can tell at this point it is not. The receiver was manufactured in December of '42 and has a nice even color similar to the rifles in Mr. Duff's web site, the clip latch is a square front and should be a round front, the bolt was made in '44, the barrel (a darker parkerizing) in '49 and so on. So it is a Springfiled M1, just not all made at the same time. My question is is it possible to find the correct parts, and where is the best place to start looking? Gun shows? I am not a collector but I am extremely detail oriented and would like this thing to be as correct as possible. Is it even necessary to be concerned about the year a part was made in? Does it affect a rifles value? Thanks.

Information

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[Mark in Rochester]

My question is is it possible to find the correct parts - Yes

where is the best place to start looking?

1) Orion 7 Enterprises Inc.
2) M1 Garand gun
3) Scott Duff Publications & Historic Martial Arms: M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, M1903, Krag, M1911A1
4)http://www.fulton-armory.com/

Is it even necessary to be concerned about the year a part was made in? Yes

Does it affect a rifles value? - Yes

It may cost you more than you expect - possible cheeper to buy a restoration off of Duff's web site

[JaxTom]

I was surprised about the cost but I am partial to this M1, the bore is in excellent condition and the rifle operates like a charm, and it is more accurate than i am. So I will cruise the sites you gave me and see if i can start collecting the parts, and maybe if i can get a smith to put them all together before i am too old to pick it up I will have something! Thanks again.

[BottleBaby]

I would not mess with it.

There is history in all the changes that have been made to it.
Someday, people will collect "As-Is" M1s for the evidence of the rebuild programs and service under foreign governments.

[islandhopper]

Rebuilds are collectable now. Those late 40's rebuilds are very collectable. You may just have one. List all the parts you have, markings on the stock, etc... We all like looking at the stuff anyway, so don't think it would be boring to us. Or at least to me it wouldn't be. Pics are nice too. One thing to note is that you may very well collect all the correct numbered parts only to find out that the rifle now doesn't operate or shoot as well. If it were me, and that is what I always have to go on, I'd leave it just as it is. If you want to build a rifle, buy a barreled receiver and start with that. Unless this rifle that you now have is substantially correct (stock, op rod, rear sights, gas system) that's what I'd do. As it is, it sounds like you have a honey!

[JaxTom]

Thanks for the advice guys, i'll send some pics as soon as i can. One thing i did notice is there are no markings on the stock, even with refinishing (which i have done before) there should be some indentations. Oh yes, one thing i will do is find a correct rear sight, there is a National Match sight on it now, somebody wanted to get all his shots in a number 5 washtub.

[islandhopper]

A lot of times during overhaul stocks were sanded and there went all the nice expensive cartouches and proof marks. I've heard several times that guys would sometimes remove them themselves because they wanted to "pretty up" their rifles. I never noticed them in boot camp, where we carried Garand drill rifles for watches and of course drill, or when I got to fleet where we had M14s for security and mine watches and yearly qualifications. It never occured to me then to check out any marking, manufacture or whatnot, or the serial numbers. I think the .45s we had were Remington Rand (I do not remember any Colts) but they could have been Ithicas as well. And I THINK that the rifle assigned to me in boot camp was a Springfield. But I wouldn't bet on the farm on that. Now I wish I could go back, knowing what I know (which ain't much), and check them all out. Oh well, that's that. Anyway, post all the part numbers or discriptions of each part. Here's a pretty good online source that will help.

Battle Rifle: The M1 Garand

[JaxTom]

Hello again', the numbers I have found or can see are:

Reciever Drawing No. D28291 17, heat lot no.R40, there is a WW stamp near the front thru pin
Barrel side marking that I can see S-A-4-49,
Bolt Drawing No. D28287-19Sa, heat lot A-9
Op Rod D35382 SA
Trigger Housing 6528290-SA
Hammer looks like SA3554
Safety SA1
Follower looks like -8
I will send some pics as soon as I can. Many thanks.

[islandhopper]

Seems like it very well could be a nice post war rebuild. The op rod is definitely from that era. My '46 rebuild has it as well as the 65 series trigger housing. Your safety is probably an SA11.

[Calif-Steve]

Several years ago our club got in 5 carbines from the CMP. 1 or 2 had nice wood with original WWII cartouches on the wood. Our resident expert, an older, WWII vet, got himself some sandpaper and was determined to remove all of those pesky cartouches, the way he did it in WWII. I think cartouches were removed by troops as well as overhaul depots.