Charlie Foxtrott
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New to me U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1
- Thread starter oysterer
- Start date
If I may, as one who spent years restoring oil finishes on old guitars I think that is excellent work.
dsf
Member
I'm not much into Garands. I like them of course but the finer points re history and fine tuning are lost on me. I picked up a 7.62 converted one in Reno (Willey Bros) a few years ago.
I'm fairly certain the stock is from Wenig.
The front sight is a globe insert type made by Alley, I don't think it's made anymore. Which is too bad. For those of us with good eyes the NM peep rear and "circle in a circle" is an accurate set up.
The left side is stamped with "DGR" evidently stands for "Dean's Gun Restoration" which from what I can tell is a (late) gunsmith who did good work.
It was a bit of a challenge getting the gun store to OK using my C&R but they were eventually OK.
I'm fairly certain the stock is from Wenig.
The front sight is a globe insert type made by Alley, I don't think it's made anymore. Which is too bad. For those of us with good eyes the NM peep rear and "circle in a circle" is an accurate set up.
The left side is stamped with "DGR" evidently stands for "Dean's Gun Restoration" which from what I can tell is a (late) gunsmith who did good work.
It was a bit of a challenge getting the gun store to OK using my C&R but they were eventually OK.
LVSteve
Member
If I may, as one who spent years restoring oil finishes on old guitars I think that is excellent work.
I take my milsurps a bit more gnarly.
Attachments
Got mine while on AD during Desert Storm.
Beat up and had a new barrel change.
Only shoot WW ammo made in Greece in it.
Don't use any of my reloads.
Can't find any pics, but looks like the one they made me carry in
Key West guarding the beach in 1961....
Beat up and had a new barrel change.
Only shoot WW ammo made in Greece in it.
Don't use any of my reloads.
Can't find any pics, but looks like the one they made me carry in
Key West guarding the beach in 1961....
Only complaint I have with the Garand is that they seem to have the unusual ability to gain weight. My American Legion Post changed from Krags to Garands in 1991 when the government finally ran out of 30-40 blank ammo. I swear those Garands seem to get a little heavier every year.
OFT II
US Veteran
walnutred;141452422 I swear those Garands seem to get a little heavier every year.[/QUOTE said:Don't we all?
OP
oysterer
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Don't we all?
All I know is my safe has an eating disorder.
skwchock
US Veteran
I went to CMP and built my M1.... wow!! it is a beaut... I shoots great and feels wonderful to hold and carry. Love it!!
You did an excellent stock restoration.
My wife and I went to the 2013 National M1 Garand match at Camp Perry with our club's M1's. I bought a nice H&R at the north store and a CMP employee brought out a Winchester to show my wife. She bought it, and as we were walking out a guy followed us out and wanted to buy her Winchester for $200.00 more than what she paid.
My wife and I went to the 2013 National M1 Garand match at Camp Perry with our club's M1's. I bought a nice H&R at the north store and a CMP employee brought out a Winchester to show my wife. She bought it, and as we were walking out a guy followed us out and wanted to buy her Winchester for $200.00 more than what she paid.
kbm6893
Member
I've bought 3 M1's from the CMP, 2 Springfield's from 1944 and an HRA from 1955. One of the Springfield's is gone, but the other two won't ever be sold. Also have a 1911 from the CMP. Never selling that one either. The HRA one came with CMP wood, and it was dry as a bone, but several coats of BLO and it looks way better. The HRA rifle looks like it was barely used. ME and TE are both 0, but the barrel is from 1955.
Are they practical? Nope. But when I hold any of those CMP weapons I feel a real connection to a lost generation. Way more class in an M1 than an AR.
Are they practical? Nope. But when I hold any of those CMP weapons I feel a real connection to a lost generation. Way more class in an M1 than an AR.
I recently bought my first Garand, and now I know what the fuss is about. Couldn't believe the joy in shooting that rifle. I shot a 12" gong hanging from chains, having shot it with handguns and .223. I was stunned by the movement when the Garand hit it, nearly swinging it up and over the support bar. Welcome to the club.
StakeOut
US Veteran
I've owned many M1 Garands including a few Springfield glass bedded National Match made in 1955.
Bought a few Blue Sky imports and rebarreled them with original surplus barrels.
All the gun clubs with range had Garands and free ammo.
I wonder if they were turned in,disappeared or are still at the clubs?
The Garand was what I was issued at MC Recruit Depot Parris Island S.C. in February 1961.It was a Springfield.
Bought a few Blue Sky imports and rebarreled them with original surplus barrels.
All the gun clubs with range had Garands and free ammo.
I wonder if they were turned in,disappeared or are still at the clubs?
The Garand was what I was issued at MC Recruit Depot Parris Island S.C. in February 1961.It was a Springfield.
LVSteve
Member
Funny you should mention gun clubs. Mine has this brass tag nailed to the stock with some kind of ID number. The guys at Gunboards couldn't say where it gained that tag, but one other rifle with a different number had been seen in auction land.
Attachments
I was introduced to the M1 Garand in 1953, when I was a high school freshman in ROTC. Soon got to shoot one, and I fell in love.
In my junior year, the city of Phoenix had an annual ROTC competition that included a contest as to who could put together a disassembled M1 the quickest and fire a blank round to signify completion. Contestants had to run 20 yards from the starting point to the guns and assemble them. All Phoenix high school ROTC units competed.
I won.
In 1961, Phoenix had an annual Washington's Birthday match, open to all comers, and the M1 rifle was specified. There were about 200 men entered, including me. I did not have a personally-owned M1 at that time, so I borrowed a rack gun from Arizona State's ROTC. I took it home to look it over, and discovered that the gas cylinder was loose on the barrel - and of course it was the base for the front sight. I staked the splines on the barrel to eliminate the looseness and went to the range early to get it sighted in at the various ranges - 100, 200 and 300 yards.
To make a long story short, I won 5th place overall with that borrowed old M1.
In 1964, I purchased this one - manufactured at Springfield in 1941, and the markings on the barrel verified it. It also had British proofs on the barrel, so I assume it was a lend-lease job during the war. It shot beautifully, and I still own it.
M1 rifles were wonderful creations. John Garand did a great job and helped win WWII as much as anybody and way more than most. Patton was right.
John
In my junior year, the city of Phoenix had an annual ROTC competition that included a contest as to who could put together a disassembled M1 the quickest and fire a blank round to signify completion. Contestants had to run 20 yards from the starting point to the guns and assemble them. All Phoenix high school ROTC units competed.
I won.
In 1961, Phoenix had an annual Washington's Birthday match, open to all comers, and the M1 rifle was specified. There were about 200 men entered, including me. I did not have a personally-owned M1 at that time, so I borrowed a rack gun from Arizona State's ROTC. I took it home to look it over, and discovered that the gas cylinder was loose on the barrel - and of course it was the base for the front sight. I staked the splines on the barrel to eliminate the looseness and went to the range early to get it sighted in at the various ranges - 100, 200 and 300 yards.
To make a long story short, I won 5th place overall with that borrowed old M1.
In 1964, I purchased this one - manufactured at Springfield in 1941, and the markings on the barrel verified it. It also had British proofs on the barrel, so I assume it was a lend-lease job during the war. It shot beautifully, and I still own it.
M1 rifles were wonderful creations. John Garand did a great job and helped win WWII as much as anybody and way more than most. Patton was right.
John
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My oldest son is holding on to mine right now.
I think it is a totally practical rifle. The only drawback is the clips. You can put a vehicle out of action at 300 yards.
I think it is a totally practical rifle. The only drawback is the clips. You can put a vehicle out of action at 300 yards.
dsf
Member
My complaint, shooting lefty, is where the clip tends to land - on the top of my head.
"Ping" - count 1,2,3 and "ouch".
You did a nice job on that stock, oysterer! My H&R was done by DGR with a birdseye maple stock, but my other M1s are a bit plainer. I'll always have one or more in the collection - they sure are fun, and have history to boot!
