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Best book about M1 Garands.

W

Waldo

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I hope I am posting this in the correct sub-forum. I think I am, but if not, I am truly sorry.
I generally try to have a book or two about every type of gun I own. But I realized today that I do not have any books about M1 Garands. I have an old copy of Small Arms of the World and a couple of U.S. Military field manuals. I am wondering if there is anything that is considered the definative M1 Garand book? Thanks for any advice.
 
I'm sure the best, but there are several goods one out there. I had The M1 Garand: World War II" by Scott Duff. It's generally highly thought of.
 
The encyclopedia on Garands is Poyer and Stoddard's book,"M1 Garand 1936 to 1957", North Cape Publications. It contains everything you would ever possibly want to know about the M1, its development, and its components and accessories over the years. Note that it is not a book about shooting or gunsmithing them.
 
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depends on YOUR Garand in a way

Waldo;

I think it depends on the actual Garand (or Garand's) that you own as to what books are "good" ones.

If you have a pristine, all correct Winchester from WWII then maybe you can learn all you want to from one or two books like Canfield and others posted above.

However, if you are like a LOT of shooters and accumulators (like me)…..your Garand is maybe post WWII, and/or an arsenal overhaul with a bunch of different manufacturer components, different barrels, mixed stocks/handguards, etc.

Don't get me wrong........these are among the finest Garands for fun shooting and collecting. The rebuilds are a entity all their own...and you won't find anything about them in prior publications. However, Canfield and Scott Duff have produced a wealth of good info on these post WWII rebuilds.

I've got several books but the one that fits right in with my IHC postage stamp, 1966 Red River Army Depot overhaul M1, is Scott Duff book "The M1 Garand: Post World War II"...It covers Springfield Armory, International Harvester, Harrington & Richardson, Post WWII rebuild period, Korean War Production, and data sheets to identify original rifles and for use in restorations.

In addition...…….just to get your new "library" kicked off, I'm attaching to reprint articles from American Rifleman...these should get your "juices flowing" on your search for more info on the fabulous M1 Garand!

PS: Cannot include the 2 articles as they exceed to Forum max size for attachments. Just Google "The International Harvester M1 Garand Rifle", Bruce Canfield, American Rifleman reprint Tuesday October 27, 2015 (12 pages)….it's about 6MB, the other one is titled "In the System: M1 Garand Rebuilds" by American Rifleman Staff, Thursday December 10, 2015, originally published December 2003 (15 pages)...it's about 5 MB so have plenty paper in your printer and enjoy!
 

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I ordered the Canfield book. I have several of his other books and like them. I may look at the Poyer book after I see the book I ordered. Thanks to all that replied.
 
Waldo:
You will not be disappointed in the Canfield book. A side benefit is that it weighs just a little bit less than your Garand. You will get a workout reading it and moving it around. That will make it easier to handle your Garand when you take it out and shoot it.
 
Don't overlook "Hatcher's Book of the Garand" by MG Julian Hatcher. It's probably the original book on the Garand are covers the development/history, operation and deployment quite well. The author was actually there and knew John Garand during his service as an ordnance officer and ultimately as a Major General of Ordnace during the Garand's total history and use by the US Military.

The first edition dates to 1948 and is probably worth nearly what a Garand costs, but it has been re-published several times.

Of particular interest to me are the chapters on the Garand's competition during the run up to the adoption of the Garand as well as the Garand's development into what became the rifle we now know
 

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Scott Duff
Joe Poyer
 
Tbe Fighting Garand owners manual by Nolan wilson

I found that the Fighting Garand Owners Manual by Nolan Wilson is a very good reference. Gives you a good practical overview that you can use as a new owner/shooter to get you started using the Garand. Very good guide for Field Stripping, cleaning/reassembly/firing. Then you can get into the Scott Duff books which are more in depth. It was very useful to me. Very easy to handle while you are in the middle of field stripping or reassembly. The Other books are great, but large and ungainly and hard to handle unless you are reading it at a desk Just a thought! Ray
 
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