Win Garand Receiver Weld Question w/pics

[zrunr]

I was looking at a Garand and had some concerns. My concern was based on differences in milling mark patterns, some grinding marks on the latch side and comparing the serial number and brand (Winchester) with the drawing number on stampe on the other half of the receiver near the barrel. A web page stated that my drawing number coincided with a Springfield receiver. I don't know if different companies used the same drawing numbers.

Win 1212xxx drawing number D28291 29

Is this a demilled receiver that was welded together? If so, is it safe to use? If it was welded, the work was very clean. The other parts that I could see on it were SA.

Note the grind marks on the clip side and the apparent change in milling pattens on the op rod side. Is this normal or evidence of the welding?

Information

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[RCS]

Your Winchester receiver should NOT have a revision 29. My 1.2 mil has the drawing number and revsion 2. Some photos of the receiver would help too

[Bob Seijas]

Yes, it's welded. I have never heard of one that blew up because of the welding, but some don't function all that well.

[Rick B]

I,m so proud,,,, no one called it a REWELD,,lol. It is refreshing to see this. My uncle has had a Winchester with a SA front for 20 years with no issues until I told him what he had. He has fired hundreds of rounds through it flawlessly and I see no problems with the rifle. Rick B

[zrunr]

I,m so proud,,,, no one called it a REWELD,,lol. It is refreshing to see this. My uncle has had a Winchester with a SA front for 20 years with no issues until I told him what he had. He has fired hundreds of rounds through it flawlessly and I see no problems with the rifle. Rick B

I did some research on this topic that covered the "reweld" issue so I avoided the term. My concern was based on information from the Fulton Arm. website that stated all welded receivers should be used as wall hangers for safety reasons because of the difficulty correctly welding the two halves together because of metalurgic differences between the halves. The page also showed that other 1903 .30-06 barrels were sometimes attached to Garand receivers.

[Rick B]

Yes avoid the barrels for sure as they were silver soldered and this will break down over time. You cannot miss the weld on the barrel. You photos are blurry,,, is that a cut on the barrel forward of the taper?? Rick B

[zrunr]

Thanks for the comments. I added a link for higher res pictures. I would still like to hear from anyone familiar with these welded receivers. Fulton Armory told me that they have never come across one that they thought was safe and reliable. I also can't find a stamp on all the parts of the barrel not covered by handguards. Is that common or another issue of concern?

[John Wyatt]

If the weld was done correctly, then it should not be a problem, but who really knows if the job was done right on any of these welded receivers. I would not shoot one, as there are plenty of good rifles out there, but each person has to make their own decision.

[garand poobah]

yup, thats a reattached one

[Griff Murphey]

I have an IHC welded repaired receiver gun I bought from Elmer Ballance in 1966 for $80. It came glassed with all NM parts. At the time I used it for a practice rifle, not wanting to use up my DCM NM. There were many welded rifles in use back then and I had no one on the Internet to tell me it might be unsafe. I killed my first deer with it. Later Dwight Ingraham, a M/Sgt armorer at Lackland rebuilt it in 7.62 to AFPG standards. I now have a scope on it (Burris variable handgun on Amega-CMP mount); have shot 3-gun with it and done very well, I thought. It will shoot under 2 MOA. In my hands, I think it has fired about 3K rounds. Someday when I am gone I can picture some "expert" telling my widow what a POS it is. But, I wouldn't take for it.

Now, ON THE OTHER HAND, back in those days I have seen some old welded repair jobs you'd have needed to put a boot into, or a sledgehammer, to open. Quality varies on these. CMP has rules against shooting low number 03's in matches, but there is no CMP reg against firing a welded-repaired M-1 rifle.... Your choice. But... has anyone EVER heard of one of these guns blowing up or injuring the firer???