Garand Research

[My(2)Cents]

Hi All,
I am doing research on my M1 Garand and just want to see what if any information any of you out there might have. I completely understand that most records have either been lost or destroyed over time by the military. I am currently in the Marine Corps and I understand how information can be lost by the military.
I know that this is probably going to be a search to no avail and that lots of other people are looking for the same info on their rifles too. Please do not respond with the answer of use the search function as believe me I have done many searches over time and I know how to do that. Please only reply if you have anything to add.
I am intrigued by the history of these weapons. The storys it could tell would probably be amazing. Being that both my grandfathers fought in WWII one in the Navy and one in the Marines that just adds all the more to my interest.
Before I leave let me tell you guys some of the things I have tried already. I have submitted a freedom of information search as detailed here New Page 1 (I am not holding my breath on this). Also I am a subscriber to the Springfield research here U.S.MARTIAL ARMS Springfield Research Newsletter - Home. I also found out quite a bit of good information from the good people of the CMP where I bought the M1 this is their sight M1 Garand Sales and CMP Forums - Powered by vBulletin.
Let me know if I’m missing out on anything.
"...The M1 was the Greatest battle implement ever devised." - General George Patton
Thanks and Semper Fi!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Bob Seijas]

Rifles were often issued in batches, so you can sometimes get a lead on a unit from a rifle that's close to yours. For example, the Fall 2008 GCA Journal did a story on M1 2742717 that turned up in France. It was taken from the body of a GI who was killed on the morning of August 27, 1944 in the town of Plousane'. The French fighter who used it stated that the soldier was a member of 2nd Bn, 175th Inf of the 29th Division.
The current issue features a story of M1's that were recovered in Iceland, two are 393100 and 487394. The unit stationed in Iceland was the 5th Infantry Division. We have featured many rifles with known historical details, including the "Guam Garands" used by the Marines and given to the Guamanian police after the war. Sometimes you can get a lead from something like that.

[Maniac]

If you're looking for a Garand with possible USMC lineage, check out the discussion and links on this page:

M1 Garand USMC Okinawa - Page 3 - CMP Forums

[Bodyman]

Several thoughts;

While working down at the CMP in Anniston in 2002 I think it was, I sorted several rifles and boxes of rifles that had USMC inventory tags hanging on them. These were dated and signed but unnumbered as far as specific rifles go. I asked what was to come of these and was told that they wouild be tossed in the trash along with any other such items (like the plaid muzzle covers we saw on two of the Greek Air Force rifles last fall) and would not stay with the rifles as they went thru clean and repair at the CMP.

SRS does have some information in their data. Looking up a 4 digit receiver that I managed to acquire from somewhere I found that it was one of the first 400 rifles delivered to the Corps. I have actually handled several receivers from this lot. SRS is an excellent source.

As far as any rifles that were 'duffle bagged' home or the much vaunted 'vet bring-back', well let's see - how can I go about this delicately. Not only is a good portion of such information fake anyway, suffice it to say that the more likely that a 'story' is real and accurate, well such information is rarely discussed openly and is seen as verboten by many of the most serious collectors. It is because it is a double edged sword and a real can of worms when you think about it; while provenance is sought and the best will add considerable value to an item, it is a gray area that skirts some rather delicate issues with some extremely serious consequences, namely theft of government property. Compounding this is the fact that the Navy who never releases any of their property or writes anything off as lost, considers itself to actually retain title to everything that is still in inventory, even though it may be stored in Davy Joneses locker currently, and may actually want it back (scuba divers recovered one of the very few remaining examples of a very rare WWII plane from Lake Michigan in order to restore it, and when the wheels met the dock there was a Navy officer there in full dress whites to take posession of the Navy's airplane, which he thanked them for recovering it at their own expense ...). As many understand, the US Navy owns everything with a USMC on the side of it, so if you can actually prove that a given item is a vet bringback from the USMC then ... well, like I said, it is a can of worms that I would rather not open ... but as such it is rarely discussed and most collectors simply discount the 'story' and let the rifle speak for itself. Truly significant items with USMC provenance can be donated to the marine Corps Museum at Quantico (I know Jeremy Cheek went to pick up a still fully functional Jap machine gun that had provenance to a specific battle for the museum - a weapon that would have otherwise had to be destroyed, so ...).

I would also tell you that you are really missing out if you are not a member of the GCA - each issue of the GCA Journal is a treat for any Garand enthusiast whether they are in it just for the history or to actually shoot them in competition still. Any and all are welcome (and highly encouraged) to contribute. 20 years worth of the back issues are now being collated and bound in hard cover so you don't have to try to locate someone selling their collection (only ever seen it once ...).

Beyond that, I would say don't cut out the non-responsive answers. It will ruffle someone's feathers for sure and darned if those 'non-answers' aren't just about the most entertaining part of these strings at times .

Welcome!

AMHO. Best all,...

[My(2)Cents]

a good portion of such information fake anyway

I agree!!

Speaking from personal military experience nobody in their right mind will go through a war alive and then risk getting court marshaled over steeling a rifle. As the old saying goes if it sounds too good to be true it is.

Thanks for the thoughts !

[rice 123]

Why steal a US rifle when after the WW11 you could legaly bring home lugers, p-38s K98s or 7.7s as war trophys

[Bodyman]

Why steal a US rifle when after the WW11 you could legaly bring home lugers, p-38s K98s or 7.7s as war trophys

Ahhhh, back in the day, eh ...

Many of the stories are little more than a reflection of the character of the sellers, or lack thereof, ... I have always found it odd that when you really get into the study of the Garand (or any such thing) you become as much a serious student of human nature and the sometimes massive, sometimes subtle exertions of the lowest common denominator ...

Many Jap rifles exhibit what is called a 'dufflebag cut' thru the stock so they can be mroe easily stowed in a duffle sized bag. Such a thing being common enough to have its own term, to me just further indicates that it was widespread to try to get as many back as possible. I know of one P38 that was mailed home in bits (and is still missing one spring that was lost in shipping ...).

[Bodyman]

For those interested, here is a bit more on the Navy's position at least on the aircraft and such that are scattered around the world. Sorry, I find this to be terribly interesting stuff.

WWII Pilot Trainiing Wrecks

[Maniac]

Why steal a US rifle when after the WW11 you could legaly bring home lugers, p-38s K98s or 7.7s as war trophys

Funny you should mention that. A friend's father shipped home his P-38 war trophy but shortly after disembarking on a troop ship headed home, he and all the others were ordered to throw their Garands overboard. He did manage to get an M1 Carbine back though. Just my opinion, but I think he and many others earned their M1's, especially rather than throw them into the ocean!

[Bodyman]

I think he and many others earned their M1's

No argument here.