marines with garands in 1941????

[RCS]

The USMC adopted the M1 Rifle in Nov 1941. The serial number 351735 could also be a low number 1903 USMC rifle too. The 57 Inf Reg and 31st Div plus the 26th Cav (PS) also had the M1 rifle in the Philippines before Dec 7th 1941. Most photos showing Marines at Pearl Harbor during the attack, are with M1903 rifles. It is difficult to find a answer after all these years.

Would be interesting to know more about s/n 153 and 154 plus any available photos

[browningautorifle]

All I have is the basic photo of the receiver tail from the pic they posted. Just the number. 154 (I think) was for sale. A Dane return which had a huge mix of parts was just a shooter. He wanted $2500 Cdn for it. The other was just asking what it was and the others on the forum thought he was mis reading the number. I remembered the other for sale post and put the two together. Ontario and Alberta. Both posters have since dropped out of sight.

[techkya]

M-1 Garand SN 2194 was reinspected on 071439 USMC San Diego...ref... SRS Vol 2 page 135...A second entry for SN 2194 states on 050940 USMC ( 1st M-1 rifles)...regards

[RCS]

There were at last count, 395 gas trap serial numbers found (most four digit) that were in use by the USMC - question did they 1) return them 2) have them converted to gas port 3) use them as gas trap rifles ? A friend has s/n 4302 (USMC number) that was converted to gas trap

[browningautorifle]

I'm betting they were converted. On another forum here they convinced themselves they had a pic of a gas trap going ashore on 6 Jun. I say I can't believe that would be possible. I thought there was an order to convert them. One of these guys will know for sure.

[Ramboueille]

I'm betting they were converted. On another forum here they convinced themselves they had a pic of a gas trap going ashore on 6 Jun. I say I can't believe that would be possible. I thought there was an order to convert them. One of these guys will know for sure.

In the Spring 2011 GCA Journal, page 32, an article by Marty Black shows a no-trap buttplate with the sling swivel and screw still attached and a clip of AP ammo that he personally found allong the Kall Trail, Hurtgen Forset from the Fall, 1944 battles there. You can assume either correctly or incorrectly that the rifle it was attached to was still a gas-trap.

They were ordered to convert them (when and if the found them).

[browningautorifle]

I believe you will find no trap buttplates were used on the Winchester stocks for quite some time. We've discussed that very thing here on a thread a few days ago. Winchester used trapless plates through the summer and into the early fall of '42. It's more than likely this is the rifle that made it to Hurtgen to remain there.

[techkya]

It was reported a few years ago that someone found a no trap buttplate in the first aid station, the germans and americans used during the battle of the Hurgten Forest....regards

[RCS]

Thats the one they are talking about, it was found by Marty Black in the first aid station area.

[Rick B]

A picture I sent to the GCA is on the cover summer 2002 and shows a Gas Trap in Sept 1943 at Vella Levella being used. At that time it was the first photo verified in war. Being the detail person I am I caught the no trap plate and the sight. Below is the picture. Remember the rifles made it as quick as the troops. There was no delay as many want to think. Rick B





---------- Post added at 06:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:26 PM ----------

I have to find this book again so I can get a close up. I took this back when I didn't know how to use a macro around 2000. Rick B



---------- Post added at 06:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 PM ----------

This was published for January 1941 not sure how long they kept them. Rick B