Lend Lease Act and Garands/Garand Scabbards

[Pmoore87]

Hey I wondering if there were any Grands sent to our allies with the Jeep scabbards in the year 1941. I have stumbled accross a rather unique Garands Scabbard in the way that it is dated 1941 To be precise the makers mark is
US J.Q.M.D. 1941 J.D.

At the bottom of the scabbard it is stamped with either V.D.C or W.D.C. V.D.C. would be for the Australian Volunteer Defence Corps (I know that is misspelled however that is the Kings English I'm Guessing as that is how it appears on records), and W.D.C. for Western Defense Command. Both could been receiving Garands in 1941. There is also a L-F? (C or O) with 11- underneath that but the rest is covered up by the op rod guard. I am having one hell of a time finding a lot on this item here. Please let me know if you have any information at all about it or where I can find more records of production/distribution etc.
Thanks a Ton

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[RT Ellis]

I have read comments regarding rifles, including the rifle M1, with red bands painted on them for identification to indicate non-standard ammunition, that have returned from the United Kingdom. The implication is that these rifles were Lend-Lease, but I rather doubt the U.S. would have sent the standard rifle that was needed to equip the Army and Marine Corps. I suppose the current C&R writers have documents that show the rifles were provided under the Lend-Lease act, and you might want to research the recently published books available on the subject. Apparently the Remington manufactured rifle M1903s were originally contracted under the Lend-Lease Act.

As to the scabbard, the various embossed markings you describe are probably inspector stamps, which was usually the inspector's initials, and the final inspection was located near the manufacturer's marking that usually included the year of manufacture. I rather doubt that the British would have had any requirement for a rifle scabbard for Home Guard use. However never say never.

[browningautorifle]

The implication is that these rifles were Lend-Lease, but I rather doubt the U.S. would have sent the standard rifle that was needed to equip the Army and Marine Corps.

Don't know where you've come from...this is a fact well documented and known by many. I have one of those rifles, early serial number and all from a time before the US was involved in the war. I think you'd better do a bit of exploration and education in this area before advising people.

[RT Ellis]

Answer the original question and leave me out of it. I have some knowledge of Quartermaster Lend-Lease material, but Ordnance not my expertise, and tried my best to answer a question that went unanswered...where were you? I collected US martials long before the current crop of C&R collectors and writers, I got over the juvenile fantasy of firearms, in fact stopped collecting anything all together 40 years ago mainly because of dealers and long range experts that know everything.

[browningautorifle]

where were you?

I was right here reading about something I have huge vested interest in. And then you made a statement that was incorrect...but now you understand.

[RT Ellis]

When you going to get off my case and answer the original question?

[Pmoore87]

Ok, so for a 1941 stamp and the Initials V.D.C. is it likely that the initials are the inspector or that it was a lend lease piece sent to Australia or at least meant to be sent there before the bombing of Pearl Harbor? In that case I am extremely surprised it ever made it back to the states but that is definitely a very cool little bit of history regarding the item and makes a bit unique.

[Bill Hollinger]

Alright folks. Lets not beat each other up or take any of this out of context. Please stay on track fellas. I'm sure the OP wasn't posting this question to start a internet fight.

[Badger]

Old curmudgeon factor ON ..

I’ve CLOSED this thread as it’s obviously not going to improve in tone and tenure for anyone's benefit. I've also moved it to the Garand forums where the question seems more appropriately suited...

For quick and thorough searches, everyone should check out the Google CSE (Custom Search Engine) which is located at the top right corner of the forums, with the small magnifying glass located to the right of it.

It's a piece of custom code from Google that just searches Milsurps.Com posts and threads, including the archive.

For example, to clean up the controversy here and provide everyone with more information, including perhaps answering the original poster’s question, try typing in any of these phrases.

lend lease
or
lend lease garand
or
lend lease bayonet

Everyone interested might find hundreds of some really interesting old threads with content about this topic, which renders all of the escalating banter mute.

By the way, could I ask of everyone a HUGE favor?

In all of your messaging, if you’re trying to make a point or counterpoint, please try to focus on factual content with associated empirical date referencing, as opposed to leaving comments that might easily be interrupted as vague, or over personalizing the point you’re trying to get across. Another option, particularly if you’re really in a grumpy mood, would be to use the PM (Private Message) capability of the site, just so we potentially avoid acrimonious public exchanges, where people feel compelled to attack or defend their honor, or someone else.

I would personally appreciate it and it would save our moderators a LOT of time playing referee, both publicly and privately. Thank you guys …

Old curmudgeon factor OFF ..