M1 Garand barrel marked USMC

[Der Jagar]

Was looking at M1 Garands for sale on Gun Broker. There was one for sale that was had a 11-43 receiver, but a barrel that was marked U.S.M.C. S-A 11-46. The gun shop selling the M1 indicated the USMC didn't stand for the Marine Corps, but rather United Shoe Machinery Company. I have Scott Duffs and Collector Books (Joe Poyer/Craig Riesch) books on the M1 Garand and nothing in them refers to USMC barrels, nor can I find anything online. I looked up the US Machinery Company and according to the history of the company they made many things used in armaments for the miitary during WW2, but no M1 barrels. The S-A throws me also, as I assume it stands for Springfield Armory as many things on the Garand does, but couldn't find anything Springfield produced with the USMC marking. Is this an oddity or some con/sham job. The drawing numbers for the major parts other than the receiver are not real close, a lot of post WW2. The barrel has me curious.

Information

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[RCS]

The only barrel manufactured for the M1 rifle during WW2 were: 1) Springfield which were dated 2) Winchester which had the drawing number
3) Buffalo Arms which had the drawing number and reversion number 4) Marlin which had the drawing number (very few)

[Der Jagar]

Curious though, with the S-A 11-46 on the barrel, I would assume that the M1 had gone through a Gov't (possibly Springfield) Arsenal refit and that the barrel was of Springfield manufacturer. The gun shop selling it didn't think the USMC stood for United States Marine Corps, but would there be a possibility that Springfield may have started to replace barrels for the Corps on a limited basis, marking them, but then suspended the program. If so, I would think there would be some mention of it in Duff, Collector Books, and elsewhere. I thought maybe it stood for Untied States Marlin Company or Corporation, but from what I understand Marlin marked their barrels with just 'Marlin'. Beyond my 'pay grade' of M1 knowledge.

[Der Jagar]

WOW! Figured someone on this forum might know something about the USMC on the barrel. It's either a attempt by some one trying to portray it as a Marine Corps special barrel or Springfield did stamp a few as such for the Corps, but not enough of them to make them a common thing. Just curious about it in case I ever see another one stamped like that.

[browningautorifle]

Figured someone on this forum might know something about the USMC on the barrel.

If we'd told you straight off it was an attempt by someone to falsify the barrel's history you might have taken it badly. We've had guys argue that something was correct after several have told him emphatically it was a hoax. If it existed, you'd be able to find it somewhere on forum.

RCS told you the manufacture's history.

[Der Jagar]

If we'd told you straight off it was an attempt by someone to falsify the barrel's history you might have taken it badly. We've had guys argue that something was correct after several have told him emphatically it was a hoax. If it existed, you'd be able to find it somewhere on forum.

RCS told you the manufacture's history.

Nah, I'm a big boy-have a lot of bark on my hide. Won't take the road you indicated a lot of guys you mentioned take. I'm aware most models of firearms have set characteristics, but also know that there is a lot of small variables especially of those manufactured over a period of time and in large quantities. I've seen it with a lot of other MILSURP firearms and certain US manufactured firearms made over the years. I did read maybe in Duff's or Poyers books on the Garand (looked, but couldn't find it right now) or on another history of the rifle that a lot of short term things not resulting in any change in the physical change of a part occurred at times. Mentioning Duffs and Poyers books, one of them mentioned that certain stampings would occur at times that only occurred for a short time and for some of them there is no record as to what they meant, as they were done by certain inspectors and/or fitters. Those guys are no longer living and no records exist as to what they meant.

Aware as to what RCS posted as to the four barrel makers. That's why I was leery of the United Shoe Machine Company story from the get go. I did talk with a gun guy at one of the CMP sites this morning and he advised that while he hasn't seen one himself, he has heard of M1 Garand's going through a Marine arsenal and getting stamped here and there with USMC. Can't say, either it was that possibility or someone got handy with some stamps attempting to add some provenance to the Garand. I posted the question to get information, if a outright hoax, that would be what I'd want to hear. Figured if anyone here on the forum, which is about MILSURP's, had any knowledge of the USMC being stamped on barrels of some Marine rifles they'd advise as so. As I advised before, I'm just curious, not going to lose any sleep over or go into deep depression if I never get a definitive answer.

[twh]

Here you go. It’s a fake. No M-1 barrels were marked with USMC markings. The actual production data on the barrel was set out in an earlier response so I won’t repeat that info. There were 1917 bolts made by United Shoe Machinery Corp and marked as such which, occasionally lead to an attempt at Marine association. The only real Marine markings that I know of on an M-1 are the O-65,66 & 67 markings on the ledge behind the rear sights which are Marine rebuild markings as well as an occasional A stamped on the stock as a firing proof. Hope this helps.

[Der Jagar]

Here you go. It’s a fake. No M-1 barrels were marked with USMC markings. The actual production data on the barrel was set out in an earlier response so I won’t repeat that info. There were 1917 bolts made by United Shoe Machinery Corp and marked as such which, occasionally lead to an attempt at Marine association. The only real Marine markings that I know of on an M-1 are the O-65,66 & 67 markings on the ledge behind the rear sights which are Marine rebuild markings as well as an occasional A stamped on the stock as a firing proof. Hope this helps.

Thanks twh. I posted first post as I was leery of it, but thought ok, a lot done to M1 Garands may not have been recorded or written much about. I went back and searched all of my M1 books, old magazines, and read a lot of internet info on them, but no positive record of USMC stamped on any M1 barrels. I did find several posts on the CMP forum that were around 5-7 years old with someone asking basically the same thing I asked. The responders there (grizzled forum veterans), advised pretty much what you and others posted on this thread about being fakes, ie someone getting stamp happy, also advising they come up once in a while. I read on the United Shoe website of all the items they did manufacture for the military over the years, pretty impressive list, but as you posted, no M1 barrels.

I'm a German K98k rifle collector and shooter and over on the K98k forum, posts come up a lot reference rifles with fake and misleading stampings. Some members have posted ads they've seen advertising for metal stamps for stamping, even ones with German military logo's. The M1 I posted about seeing was a 'humper fake' from the get go. Suppose to have been a early postwar refit, but the majority of the major parts were of Korean War and after drawing numbers. I had it on my watch list so the listing didn't disappear after it was sold. There were pictures of parts showing draw numbers and I compared them with what my books had and they're all over the place, including a NM stamped (National Match) op rod. Probably some one bought a receiver or barreled receiver and built a rifle from parts available from A-Z. JMO!!!! It's a M1 Garand, but kinda like the Cadillac Johnny Cash sang about building it "one piece at a time"!

[Redleg]

2 groove Garand barrels - CMP Forums

Years ago, '03 bbl fronts, were grafted onto garand stubs. Garand bbls were in short supply at that time.

[cplstevennorton]

I research at National Archives locations and specialize in Marine Corps. I've copied tens of thousands of pages of Marine docs on rifles and pistols and have been building databases of Marine weapons for a long time. There aren't a lot of Marine locations left that I haven't hit.

But I'm sorry to say there is about 0 chance that is real. All armorers and docs state they were not marked in any way with USMC as you describe. I remember maybe 20 years ago there was a guy that was famous for stamping USMC in stocks or metal and charging a premium. I'm fuzzy on that story, as it's been a long time ago. But I imagine it's a similar deal as this rifle.

If by some chance it was real. It would a one off and no way to authenticate it. But I really don't think it's real at all by your description.