Winchester M1 Garand **PICS**

[jmoore]

We worry when all parts have the same finish, not when they vary.

My concern was the variation between the barrel and front sight, not the gas cylinder bits.

[browningautorifle]

I saw that, but I can't tell if the barrel is a replacement or not. It could be done by anyone after issue to current date. Not Winchester perhaps. There IS a great difference between the sight and the barrel finish. I just thought the gas cylinder lock had been altered.

[Bob Seijas]

"gas cylinder is actually stainless steel painted black"

FWIW, Winchester cylinders are unique, they were plated with Dulite and appear blue-ish when mint. It's a major identifier of WRA originality.

[jjjxlr8]

OK... I was told that one way to determine if the barrel is original or not is by whether the 'pad' where the gas port is is chromed or not. Apparently this area was later chromed during refurb or maybe this was a later feature of barrels or both?

Here is what I found which leads me to believe that this is the original barrel!

[jjjxlr8]

My co-worker just loaned me a book called "collecting the Garand" by Harrison. I suppose you guys probably have this one, but this is the first I've seen it and it appears to be a great reference! I love the simple one page list of features.

I think this is an all original and complete WWII era Garand!! All of the pieces I inspected so far seem to be right, with the possible exception of the rear sight bar. I think this serial number is supposed to have square ends on the lock bar. ?

I managed to remove the rear handguard and it looks like it has the correct barrel number...

[GUTS]

Seems as though you have grown tired of it already.
NICE! Winchester M1 Garand WWII, 1943 : Semi Auto Rifles at GunBroker.com

[browningautorifle]

I don't recall anyone saying it was the ORIGINAL barrel on this rifle. I believe it's the CORRECT barrel...but it's finish was the thing we questioned. It may have been replaced in the more recent past...not like that's ever happened before...but anyway, I guess we outlived our usefulness in this case.

[jmoore]

but anyway, I guess we outlived our usefulness in this case.

Just remember for next time.

[jjjxlr8]

I'm not tired of it, but I'm not a Garand collector and just can't afford to keep it for myself!

My friend is thinning out his rather large collection of military rifles and i've offered to help by listing some on Gunbroker for him.

I enjoy learning about the details on these rifles and really appreciate the valuable information you guys have shared. I also thought some of you would enjoy seeing photos of rifles like this, which is really all I can contribute when it comes to these.

I purposely did NOT include any links to my auctions or even state that it was for sale. I intended this thread to be about the rifle and it's details, not as an advertisement. It would be nice if GUTS could remove the auction link as I don't think that it is allowed in these threads.

Thank you for the clarification on the original barrel vs. correct barrel, browningautorifle. I misunderstood.

Why do you say that "I guess we outlived our usefulness in this case?" I know that I am still very interested in the hsitory and details of this rifle and I suspect others are, too!

---------- Post added at 12:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:14 PM ----------

I don't recall anyone saying it was the ORIGINAL barrel on this rifle. I believe it's the CORRECT barrel...but it's finish was the thing we questioned. It may have been replaced in the more recent past...not like that's ever happened before...but anyway, I guess we outlived our usefulness in this case.

The finish on the barrel looks very nice. Almost no wear at all. In fact, in the grooves of the bore, it looks like you can still see the original tooling marks! I don't think this one has been fired very much. Someone mentioned before that it was unlikely that this rifle would have received a new Winchester replacement barrel. Would it have just been the "luck of the draw" or were Winchester barrels just not used as replacements? When did Winchester stop producing barrels for the M1 Garand?

[browningautorifle]

I suspect the barrel was put on sometime shortly before you got this one. The original was probably clapped out and changing them is done regularly. This is an original Winchester barrel, just not the one that came on this gun originally. Or so I suspect. That's why the wear doesn't match...so I suspect.