My M1 Garand

[browningautorifle]

Is there a way I can look this up my self somewhere though?

Several books are available, I could recommend Scott Duff's book on the Garand, the same one Neal suggests, the red one outlining WW2. There are three and the only one you wouldn't want would be the maintenance book. You can find them on line.

[Joe W]

Ok thank you.

Well they can be deactivated in different ways depending on when it was made unserviceable.

The more desirable guns are the pre - 1995 deactivations as semi-automatics/smg's could still be cocked and dry fired, since then though the laws have changed and these can no longer dry fire, although bolt actions still can.

My M1 is a pre 1995 and can still be cocked and dry fired, will even accept a clip of ammo, what they have done to it are: Welded over the firing pin hole, and slit and blocked the barrel. That is it though. It can still fully field strip it.

I would love to fire one of these, but sadly just got to stick to my little 22.

Thank you for the information.

Sounds like in the U.S. it could be up and running with just a bolt and a barrel change. Well at least for the time being anyway.

[bearrowland]

That op rod should be worth something. It sure looks like an uncut to me....great for value but not really safe to shoot anymore.

[browningautorifle]

but not really safe to shoot anymore.

Uncut op rods are as safe to shoot as any. The chances of them breaking are very slim. If you use it every day with light magnum ammo you can damage it but same goes for a newer model. You'll burr the cam doing that. People seem to preach defeat about this because it's something they heard, usually on a forum like this. If worried about your uncut, then use a vented gas cylinder lock screw and sleep well. On the other hand, you could put it aside for future reference. Under no conditions however are they not "safe" to shoot. You can even get them professionally repaired if you crack one.

[Tom792]

Hello again.

Thanks for all the information you all provided I have learnt a lot about my Garand, nice to know about the uncut op rod as well.

I have another question though, I would like some information on these markings on the barrel near the front sight of the rifle.



Thank you once again!

[Bob Seijas]

Don't recognize "smooth 2" but the rest are typical British proofs required for any export from Britain.

[Tom792]

Ok thanks, could this suggest this rifle was used by the British Military or just exported out of the country at some point ?

[RCS]

Your barrel shows the Birmingham proof marks which could be located near the barrel date or else between the gas cylinder rings.

Photo shows the London proofs on a 1940 barrel, these proofs can also be near the barrel date or between the front gas cylinder rings

They do not indicate military useAttachment 41022

[GUTS]

Tom, at the bottom of this page is a table of what years the private view stamps stand for.

M1 Garand British Lend Lease Question

[Tom792]

Ok thanks, So the ( JB 2 ) mark is a 1983 export? Which is interesting as it was deactivated in 1993 so must of came back into the country quite soon after.