Potential win-13 garand purchase question?

**HOOKED ON HISTORY** · 01-28-2025 06:54 PM

I have the opportunity to acquire what appears to be a very nice WIN-13. Very nice overall with minimal throat & muzzle wear and nice cartouche. At first glance all the internals look correct. My only concern is the front sight. At its widest point it measures .761.
I thought the Winchesters were closer to .800 and had a punch mark of which this one has no such mark.
Any fellow GCA icon

members / experts about to verify or deny.

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**Brian Dick** · 01-30-2025 04:07 PM

My original DCM Win 13 front sight is .815 wide. I have an earlier WRA rifle that's partially restored, and the front sight is .802 so it would appear they are .800 or wider. Both have the punch marks.

**HOOKED ON HISTORY** · 01-30-2025 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Brian Dick

My original DCM Win 13 front sight is .815 wide. I have an earlier WRA rifle that's partially restored, and the front sight is .802 so it would appear they are .800 or wider. Both have the punch marks.

That confirms my finding elsewhere. This to is a DCM gun that has an Aniston cartouche in addition to the WRA so that probably explains the mismatched front sight though all other internals seem to be correct for a WIN-13.
Perhaps I can add it to my modest collection.

**RCS** · 01-31-2025 10:39 AM

I have the data sheets from the first Winchester M1 icon

rifle (serial 100,001)

note the front sight is .785 inches wide. The early numbered gas cylinders from Winchester M1 rifles manufactured during the early years (1941 plus) also show the smaller front sight.

Sometime, I would guess, the larger front sight was introduced into production (1942 ?)

With the Win 13 production, it is difficult to set a standard of which parts are correct

**cpc** · 02-03-2025 03:42 PM

Sorry for the poor photos, I do not have the measurements but here is one example from a WRA reference collection WIN13 of what it would have looked like new.. While it appears this sight has a punch mark, as RS says they were all not. You will at least be able to see the approximate width in this sight. regards.

**Mark in Rochester** · 02-04-2025 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by cpc

Sorry for the poor photos, I do not have the measurements but here is one example from a WRA reference collection WIN13 of what it would have looked like new.. While it appears this sight has a punch mark, as RS says they were all not. You will at least be able to see the approximate width in this sight. regards.
Attachment 138451 Attachment 138452 Attachment 138453

Gas Cylinder appears to be painted in the images

**browningautorifle** · 02-05-2025 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester

Gas Cylinder appears to be painted

I HAVE seen some that were done with Oxynate 84 that had this extreme black look. Not done by military sources though...

**cpc** · 02-25-2025 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Mark in Rochester

Gas Cylinder appears to be painted in the images

It’s a well documented win-13 from the Winchester reference collection, it’s dulite.

**Mark in Rochester** · 02-27-2025 12:59 PM

Originally Posted by cpc

It’s a well documented win-13 from the Winchester reference collection, it’s dulite.

If you look carefully it does not compare well with the dulite pictured below also the chip on the back edge of the cylinder under the front sight seems out of place

vs

**jond41403** · 02-27-2025 02:03 PM

I'm certainly no expert but I have to agree with Mark. Looks to be a paint chip on the side. Dilute should not act this way

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