Nice 5959xxx SA in 762

[M1Jarhead]

Hey,
Had a really nice M1 for over 25 years before it was stolen two years ago. I was distraught to say the least. My loving wife gave me $1500 from our tax return and told me to go buy a Garand with it, so I did. I found a really nice 5959xxx SA in 762 for $1200 on GB and bought it. Now I am looking for some help knowing just what I bought. The only markings I can readily see on what looks like new barrel ( no rub marks from the op rod) is: 762MM where all of the barrel markings should be. There are no cartouches on the nearly pristine stock, and all of the internals look nearly new as well. I will be searching the posts for info, but if you have any ideas, please feel free to Reply or PM me, I would sure appreciate it.

Thanks,

Greg

Information

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[M1Jarhead]

PS: This rifle has a metal spacer, not the white plastic ones found on the Navy mods.

OK, still searching, found the spacer at the FA website:



So maybe the work was done at FA? I will try contacting them to see if they can find this in their records.

Are there any pictures of the chamber of a rifle that has an insert? That would help to ID this but I don't think this is an insert....

Greg

[Neal Myers]

You're not giving us a lot to work with. Photos would be a big help. At the least, field strip it so that you can be sure that there are no other markings on the barrel. And, that gives you a chance to see if some/all of the parts are USGI or commercial.

At this point, it sounds like you have a commercial build on a USGI receiver. Yes, FA does that, but my recollection is that they stamp their own cartouche on the stock. It would be nice to know who built it. Otherwise, you might want to get a technical inspection before you shoot it, because a bolt in the forehead can really spoil your day.

I think it's best for us to post our comments on the forum. That way, everyone gets to give their opinion, & everyone gets to learn something.

Neal

[M1Jarhead]

Neal,
Thanks for the reply. After reading about 50 or so threads, I was so impressed with the level of knowledge here that I guess I figured someone would just answer: "Yeah, that's a such-and-such...."

I have old eyes (presbyopia) and have a real hard time with irons so I had purchased and installed an Ultimak scout scope mount and a Bushnell mini red dot, so I was reluctant to pull them off to see what might be on top of the barrel, but i bit the bullet and did so. Here is the marking on the top of the barrel (*R789*):



Here is the marking on the side of the barrel:



Numbers on the receiver:



The side of the Gas Cyl Lock:



Finally, the front of the receiver and chamber. I have read much about 7.62 inserts, but no one really says how to spot one, nor could I find any pictures, so I took this so you all who have more familiarity with them might be able to tell me if this is a 7.62 barrel or has an insert. Note the metal spacer:



I realize most of you guys are collectors and out looking for the rare finds. I can appreciate this, but I have a wife and 11 kids, so getting just this one rifle was a big deal for me. I'm a shooter, and this rifle will put meat in the freezer this fall and protect me and mine from the zombies if they ever come knocking. That said, I am curious to know what I can about my rifle and will deeply appreciate any help you all can offer.

Thanks,

Greg

[browningautorifle]

Those pics don't really help us much. If you look at the threads about "What do I have here", you can see which pics we're going to need for ID...

[M1Jarhead]

Jim, Thanks for the reply.

I did a search for "What do I have here," and "What do I have," both came up empty. I have read perhaps 100 or more threads on ID'ing M1's on the site, and so I took pics of what everyone else posted in their threads: Barrel markings, receiver markings, and a statement that the stock had no cartouches or stamps. I don't know what else to include?

It is pretty apparent that this is a parts gun probably built by a civilian gunsmith, and therefore, really outside the scope of this site. I was just hoping that maybe someone could tell me about the barrel, and if it has an insert or not, so I would know if it is safe to shoot. I am sorry to have bothered everyone.

Off to the range

Greg

[browningautorifle]

It's not really a bother, but what numbers are under the op rod handle on the right? I've installed the inserts and there's no marking to show it. An insert doesn't make it unsafe to shoot, if it wasn't done correctly it just won't work right. The metal spacer is a nice professional touch, it won't break and come adrift while you're shooting... Just because it may have been a parts gun, it doesn't really mean we can't help. The things I was asking for was a full range of pics, just so we can see everything. That'll give us a better idea of what's been done. Maybe where it came from.

[M1Jarhead]

Jim,
Thanks again for the interest and reply. There are no other markings on the barrel. Under the Op Rod, approximately 2" forward of where the receiver and barrel are joined, it is stamped "762 MM". There are no other markings forward of this marking, like on all of the other barrels I have seen pictures of on the site. On the top of the barrel it is stamped " *789* ". These are the only markings on the barrel. Nothing on the bottom or on the non-op rod side. Nothing forward of the chamber area. The barrel has the standard GI profile, it is not a bull barrel. This is why I posted in the first place, if there were drawing numbers or production numbers like all the other barrels posted, I could have probably figured it out myself from what I had read on the site, or gotten close. I was hoping that the mark on the top of the barrel would be recognized by someone as a makers mark, but given the number of views and lack of responses (except for you and Neal) I am guessing not. I included pics of all of the numbers that are on the gun, I can take others, but they won't show you anything?

When I saw this rifle on GB. I figured it was a Navy re-barrel, or maybe CMP. I bought one of Eric's expanded volume gas plugs and had some intermittent trouble with short stroking, so I wrote him to ask him about it. He asked me about the barrel, which brought me here. The lack of stampings on the barrel is really starting me to think that maybe someone made one up in his shop and installed it. I assume that Krieger, Criterion, etc have marks to identify their barrels, and I assumed that you all would know these, which is why I asked for help. I can tell from the posts I have read that you all really know your stuff. I'm just a shooter, I haven't seen dozens or hundreds of M1's like you guys. This is a very pretty, non-bedded 2" grouping Garand. I guess I will never know it's history, and will have to be content with that. I have told you all I know, and do really appreciate your help. For now I'm going to cast, reload and enjoy my rifle. If you have any thoughts, I would love to know what you think. Again, thanks for your interest in helping me.

Semper Fi

Greg

[browningautorifle]

Don't loose hope yet, there's a few here that do specialize in this sort of thing and may yet surface to help. They don't live here like I do. Yes, my Criterion BBL has other markings. A full range of alph-numeric including the date of manufacture and twist. I'd think this is a specific 7.62 factory BBL not a home made job, just because of the effort in the front end. I'd think it's not been sleeved because of it's markings or lack of. I'd treat it as what it is and commence to shoot the pi** out of it to prove it...no point in letting it sit there and decay...after all...and then get back to us.

[Neal Myers]

I'm surprised that you haven't gotten more responses by now. Maybe late vacation time for forum members?

With no markings other than caliber, the barrel must be commercial. USGI barrels, whether converted with a bushing, or Navy conversions by AMF or H&R, would have standard barrel markings. The GC lock with the M is USGI, but the front sight is commercial. Absence of stock markings indicates either a commercial stock, or a heavily sanded USGI. If you find any more clues when you field strip, clean, inspect, & lube it, get back to us.

Be careful, consult with a professional if you aren't sure it's safe.

Neal