Unused serial numbers for six million SAs?

[Mike in NC]

I have a 6.08 million SA. I have seen 6.08 and 6.09 million SA Garands. I think I have read of 6.01million SAs. I have recently read of 6.1 million SA Garands. I have never seen or read of a 6.02, 6.03, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, or 6.07 million Garand.

Were those serial numbers not used? Were these blocks of serial number produced and never made it into the civilian market due to the selective destruction of this block of serial numbers?

I have talked to a few Garand gurus that seem to confirm the absence of circulating Garands in the 6.02 through 6.07 million serial number range.

Anyone ever heard an explanation for this observance?

Thanks for any ideas.

Mike in NC

Information

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[Ramboueille]

I have a 6.08 million SA. I have seen 6.08 and 6.09 million SA Garands. I think I have read of 6.01million SAs. I have recently read of 6.1 million SA Garands. I have never seen or read of a 6.02, 6.03, 6.04, 6.05, 6.06, or 6.07 million Garand.

Were those serial numbers not used? Were these blocks of serial number produced and never made it into the civilian market due to the selective destruction of this block of serial numbers?

I have talked to a few Garand gurus that seem to confirm the absence of circulating Garands in the 6.02 through 6.07 million serial number range.

Anyone ever heard an explanation for this observance?

Thanks for any ideas.

Mike in NC

Mike,

To date, nothing physically has appeared from ~6,002,000 to 6,079,999 except for a small block of of recycled and recovered / renumbered serial numbers in the 6,034,000 range that includes the overage of 400 HRA receivers (6034330 - 6034729). At this time when Springfield Armory was preparing to shut down the M1 production for the M14, SA was a country club and it's quite evident they didn't know what serial numbers they used or at least had no plans to use them. It's unlikely those gaps were ever made let alone destroyed.

Known SA blocks:

X6,000,000 to X6,001,947 (GCA Journal Spring 2007)
6,080,000 to 6,100,499 appears to be a complete and valid block

On occasion, government lists will show the odd serial number listed in the missing blocks but to date with further physical research they have turned out to be other .30 cal. weapons listed in error (usually M1 carbines).

The same is evident with the block from 5,980,000 to 5,999,999. To date, no valid M1 rifles have appeared here either except the occasional listing error (M1 carbines) until the X6 million rifles appear.

[Mike in NC]

Ramboueille,

Thanks for the history lesson and the reference. That makes sense. I guess there weren't many more than 22,000 six million Garands if that. Glad I snagged one.

[JAS]

Very Interesting,
That puts my 5,979,876 SA right at the last of the 5.9's!