M1 ID Help

[IcmThrawn]

I have done a ton of research on this rifle and I think I have a fairly good grasp of it's history. I would love to hear any further thoughts and advice on IDing thins rifle.

It is a Springfield Armory, serial number 479XXX. This indicates manufacture in 2/42. The barrel markings are where is gets really cool. The barrel date mark is S-A-1-42 and is stamped upside down. This is where it got really weird for me because the rest looked nothing like I had ever seen on an M1. It goes like this...

X BNP with crown Z .30/06 2.494' 18 TONS PER [] " some strange X marking with something in the left, right, and bottom parts of the X


After doing some crazy Google-Fu this indicates that it was exported from Britain back to the US at some point. Based on the condition and the date of manufacture I am led to believe that this is a Lend-Lease rifle. This rifle did not come with a front handguard as the previous owners father removed it to make it look sporterized /cry The stacking swivel was also remover. I did find a replacement front handguard that matched the stock and am checking online for a stacking swivel. Since it came without the original handguard I have no way of checking for the red paint that is supposed to be there. That said I have been told that many owners removed the paint as it was rather ugly.

The stock seems to be original and has the cartouches [SAGHS], Crossed Cannons, and (P) which are appropriate from that time period. I also found this site Springfield Armory WWII Production that help me identify all my parts as being from the correct time period for this gun.

That's about all I know or have been able to deduce. That said she has a cherry bore and functions great. I can't wait to take her to the range.

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.

[topaz]

Hello, Did you look under m1 Lend/Lease program. Might help

[browningautorifle]

Looks good. I have one of those around here somewhere. Yours has the front sight seal in place and that was the first thing to go. This can be researched and may well be worth your doing. More and detailed pics if you please...

[IcmThrawn]

Hello, Did you look under m1 Lend/Lease program. Might help

Where can I find this?

---------- Post added at 09:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 AM ----------

Looks good. I have one of those around here somewhere. Yours has the front sight seal in place and that was the first thing to go. This can be researched and may well be worth your doing. More and detailed pics if you please...

Still trying to figure out how to do that with my camera. Every time I take a close up of marking it comes out blurry. What pics would you like to see? I'll do my best.

[browningautorifle]

When you do pics the more the better. Dissassemble and macro all the small details. If you read the Garand forum, you may see. If you look into my posts started by me, my rifle is detailed. The pics I took are standard and some take many more. All the small markings matter in this. Check your camera for macro. that's what you need to do the close ups. Just practice and it will come. Use a neutral background and natural lighting if possible. I have a feeling what we will find is yours is like several members here have, and all will be as issued. The piling swivel can be replaced and you were lucky to get a upper handguard that matches. Don't worry about the red band, mine never had it since I owned it (1975 or 76).

[emmagee1917]

Very nice looking rifle . Lots of people will cringe at the thought of taking it out , but I tip my hat to you , sir , it's what they were made for. Just treat her gently , invest in a hard case to transport her , and , for God's sake , don't remove the front sight seal , it adds several hundreds to your rifle's value . By the looks and discription , there is a good chance it was lend/lease .
Chris

[topaz]

Hello, Did you look under m1 Lend/Lease program. Might help

Original example of a 1942 production U.S. Springfield Armory M1 Garand Rifle. This rifle is part of a small number of M1 Rifles supplied to the British Army in 1942 under the Lend Lease Program. Some M1 Rifles were issued to British Commando units and were carried thru the entire war. Most of the rifles remained unissued and were returned to the U.S. and resold commercially in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The British identified at least some of the Lend Lease M1 rifles as 'non-standard caliber' by painting a red band on the handguard. British proofmarks were stamped on the barrels when the rifles were exported from Great Britain. The British Lend Lease M1 Garands are some of the very few pre-war or early WWII production M1 rifles found in original, unaltered condition. The rifle has a gray-green parkerized finish and walnut stock, handguard and forearm. The lower portion of the handguard is painted with a two-inch wide red band (this band was usually removed by early owners and is rarely found on Lend Lease M1 rifles). The rifle has the early production features that include: (1) 'Type 1" rear sights, (2) milled trigger guard, (3) un-cut "SA-3" operating rod, (3) milled, grooved, forearm band and (4) front sight seal. The rear sight screws and buttplate screws are blued. The hammer spring housing, operating rod catch and face of the barrel chamber are bight. The right side of the barrel chamber is marked: "S-A--42" over stamped with British export proofs. The steel lot code "REP 25A" is stamped on the right side of the lower receiver.

[IcmThrawn]

Here are some of the close ups.













---------- Post added at 01:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:07 PM ----------

Very nice looking rifle . Lots of people will cringe at the thought of taking it out , but I tip my hat to you , sir , it's what they were made for. Just treat her gently , invest in a hard case to transport her , and , for God's sake , don't remove the front sight seal , it adds several hundreds to your rifle's value . By the looks and description, there is a good chance it was lend/lease .
Chris

I refuse to own a gun I can't or won't shoot. Granted, she'll only see the range once or twice a year and spend most of the time on the wall but she'll be taken care of.

[Bob Womack]

Those are lovely pictures! You ought to post them in the photo gallery!

[browningautorifle]

Exellent set of photos. That wasn't hard was it? Yes, I shoot mine too. I have a later issue (3340115) that I rebarrelled to 7.62 and it gets most of the work. The early one(328219) just shoots so nicely and hits correctly at 25, 100 or 200 yards. It's perfect at whatever range. Some I had weren't quite as good. I also shot my first deer with it in about 1980.