brand new (sort of) M1D **PIC HEAVY**

[FlightRN]

Good Day,
Be cautious about attempting to mount that cheek pad. It appears that the brass and leather have started to react and thr area around the grommets might be soft. If you apply too much tension, you can pull out the grommets and rip the leather.
Nice rifle!
Regards,
Michael

[jjjxlr8]

You are correct. When I used a toothbrush to remove the verdigris, I discovered that the leather around the brass eyelets is in bad condition, with cracks and a couple of small tears. I infused the back side of the leather around the eyelets with cyanocrylate to see if I can salvage it, but I think the damage has been done.

[FlightRN]

Good Day,
i"m not sure that the juice is worth the squeeze. If the cheek pad had already been mounted for years, had time to conform, "settle" into the shape of the stock and the leather laces become as taught as they are likely to become; then I would have said you were fine. however, if you plan on mounting it, there will be some natural shrinkage of the leather. I've seen eyelet's pulled out (even after attempts to stabilize them). If you notice some of rifles, the pads have stretched taught over the years.

Slip the original one in a bag and if needed, mount a repo to 'shoot in' the rifle until a affordable/ period (i.e. GI) cheek piece can be found.

Best of Luck,
Michael

[jjjxlr8]

Thanks, Michael. That looks like a nice line-up you have there!!

I'm looking for another cheek pad for this rifle. I was outbid on one last night. Let me know if you have any to spare...

Jeremy

[Bodyman]

NSA knows I look at these porn sites like this and they will dredge up years of me checking out the gambs in these pictures ...

Seriously, very sweet rifle. Congrats, and thanks for posting the pics.

I think the latest we have seen with TE markings is 7 or 8 of '69, so other than a few trophy rifles after this, these are the end of the very last major rebuild program for the Garand. Sure some people consider them to be 'just' rebuilds, but if you want you can consider these Toelle rebuilt M1D's to be the very end of a lineage that began in the early 30's. The history of these TE rebuilt D's is equally compelling in that it was driven by the unrest in the nation at the time and the fear that the National Guard was going to be needed to counter any widespread rioting, so these were built up and spread out at NG armories all over the country in readiness for such an event!

As for markings, by 1969 much of the useable wood was by that point, ... gone. Here is the wrist of a 5-69 TE rebuilt M1D and if you look closely you can actually see a 4th proof P there, meaning that stock had been on three other rifles before it landed on that M1D. Yes, it is a whittled down toothpick of a stock ... and cool as all getout.



Reproduction cheek pads can be had for 20 or 30 bucks. That's the way I'd go if I was going to assemble it and shoot it.

Personally, if funds allowed, I'd save that one just as you found it. Instead I'd build one out of parts to shoot (or find one that someone else already built), ... and then I'd shoot the snots out of it. But that is just me.

Doesn't matter, either way enjoy it - that is a nice one. Congrats again.

[Bob Seijas]

Oh go ahead and shoot hell out of it. Then use that 1923 Airmail from your uncle's stamp collection to send a letter... after all, stamps were made for mailing, right?

[Bodyman]

I couldn't stop Steven from unplugging that super nice, near new, JLG stocked rifle that he got off the CMP's auction page (back when they first started selling them there) either, ... after all, that was just a rebuild, too ...

Nope. He popped the plugs out, put the bracket on it and scoped it and as far as I know, shot it. Then later broke it all back down to sell separately, including the plugs in a little baggie with the rifle, ...

Truth is that there are lots of rifles to shoot. Shooting it might not be what I would do, but if he, or anyone, is enjoying it and not destroying it, ... well, I'm ok with it.

After all, it isn't one of these ;

[jjjxlr8]

Well, I've already opened the accessories and plan to shoot it. I've ordered a new old stock cheek pad that looks like it is in better shape than mine. We'll see...

Since I've purchased this M1D, and while searching for cheekpads, I've noticed that there are a surprising number of these rifles that have been kept wrapped up in the original packaging (my friend still has 2 more just like this one!). While I have some appreciation for this, I just couldn't stand to not be able to at least put it together. Even if I never fire it, I wanted to at least see it assembled, hold it in my hands, put it up to my cheek and look through the scope.

[Bob Seijas]

I get that. I just hope you photographed everything well before unpacking and assembling.

[WarPig1976]

To me it would've been like putting a bowl FULL of M&Ms on a table with a kid sitting there and asking him to watch and make sure nobody touches your candy and leave the room....