M-1 Garand

[andy52]

My M-1 Garand has the Korean War vintage trigger guard, like yours. Mine has a Springfield receiver and IIRC a Harrington & Richardson trigger group. Mine has a cartouche in the stock which indicates that it was rebuilt in San Antonio.

I'm pretty sure the style of trigger guard you are referring to is the stamped type vs the milled type. The stamped guard started being used on the Garand in late 1943 or early 44 and predates the Korean conflict.

 

[vonn]

M1 is still an awesome rifle that delivers a punch!

 

[Frank46]

Mine is 1943 dated according to the serial number. Was a Blue Sky bring back from South Korea. I also did put a Boyds stock set on it and just stuck the Korean stock in the closet. Seems yo be made of either Birch or beech.Stripped it down to bare wood. Used an oil stain and it looked like ****. Resanded and this time I used an alcohol stain. Brought out all the grain patterns both the highlights. 1st time I shot that M1 Garand you should have heard all the ooo's and ahhhh's thats how good it looks. The only problem is someone sanded the flats on the stock where the flats on the triggerguard sit and so I made somebrass shims to take the place of the missing wood. Mine also came with remington National match op od. Barrel is getting a little worn in the tooth so I may send it out to get a new barrel.One of the few rifles I can still shoot with the iron sights. I'm 72 so I need all the help I can get. Frank

 

[stansdds]

Mine started out as a WW II rifle, but was evidently sent to South Korea as part of a military aid program. Re-imported in the late 1980's by Blue Sky. Mine has a very light re-import stamp, but the stock lacked any markings, some of the internals and the barrel had been replaced, so not an original piece.


I recrowned the barrel and that improved accuracy a bit, then glass bedded and refinished the stock, replaced the rear aperture with a national match aperture and trued the front sight. I did not shoot it a whole lot, but with premium ammo it is capable of excellent accuracy.

 

[BE Mike]

I'm pretty sure the style of trigger guard you are referring to is the stamped type vs the milled type. The stamped guard started being used on the Garand in late 1943 or early 44 and predates the Korean conflict.

Thanks for the info. Looks like my receiver was produced in 1944. Looks like the H&R trigger group was produced 1953-56.

 

[Patrick L]

Not to hijack this thread, but I was just wondering, has anyone here ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED the infamous "M1 Thumb"?

I've been shooting Garands since the late 80s and never have. In my experience, after shoving the full enbloc in with my thumb, I then have to then give the op rod a gentle nudge with the palm of my hand to chamber the first round.

Granted there were millions of M1s made, and my experience is limited to less than a half dozen specimens. I'm sure some rifles are tighter/looser than others. I just find it odd that everyone seems to talk about it, but I've never experienced or even seen it.

 

[andy52]

All my experience with Garand's come from post military they were rarely used when I enlisted in 1970. I'm sure the M-1 thumb happened in the stress of combat a time or two. I've never had it happen to me because when I load a clip I use two hands to do it.

 

[LVSteve]

I have seen the M1 Thumb happen. Friend of mine had it happen. He was hurting.
Don't do it.
Bill@Yuma

If you think M1 thumb is bad, you should read the accounts of getting the reload sequence wrong with an Egyptian Hakim.

Hakim hand?

 

[andy52]

Thanks for the info. Looks like my receiver was produced in 1944. Looks like the H&R trigger group was produced 1953-56.

It's certainly not uncommon for M-1s to have a mix of parts, one can only imagine how many times they were in a armorers hands and parts got switched.

I'm pleased that this one I just got it has most of it's original parts
with the exception of the stock which doesn't have the cartouche just a rack number. As mentioned in a post here it could have been restocked for ceremonial purposes because it's a good looking piece for a general service rifle.

 

[Sistema1927]

I have experienced "M1 Thumb" several times over the years. That is why my current Garand has the Holbrook Device installed.

 

[Patrick L]

Ok thanks guys. I guess it just depends on the tolerances of each individual rifle.

Love em anyway, along with my 03s and my carbine!

 

[jack the toad]

I'm currently at 2 M1's. One is late wartime (1945) and the other is late pre-war (1940). The prewar is SA receiver but mismatch parts. The 1945 appears all SA throughout but unknown if original???
Regardless, they are lotsa fun... shooting, looking, buying, tinkering, etc.

 

[Frank46]

One of my shipmates was in the Marine Landing Party and all were armed with Garands. When he came back from manoveres his thumb was wrapped like a mummy. Course the Marines were all armed with the M14. Watched our Gunnery sargent give a weapons training course out on the fantail to a bunch of pilots. for some of them the M14 terrified them. He grabs me and asks what is your shooting experience with the M14., None I replied. They used to save the 5 gallon foam cans cause they were already painted red. hands me a M14 loaded with ten rounds and says hit the can. First couple shots were misses and was trying to get the range. The other 8 shots sunk the can. Then he goes on to say ,this sailor has no experience with the M14 yet he sunk the can. Gotta bunch of dirty looks from those officers. Still had fun. Frank

 

[STCM(SW)]

My M1 was from 1944.
Petty beat up but had a new barrel replacement.
Shoots up good with all the ammo I got that was made in Greece in the
1950's.

 

[spad124]

My M1 is a service grade 1954 HRA with what I think is its original barrel. The barrel is dated to 1954 and so does the receiver. A friend bought it from the CMP then decided he didn't want such a late one. He knew I was looking for one and offered it to me. While my Garand was probably never fired in anger, the benefit is that the throat wear is 1 and muzzle wear is 0. Yes, it's an accurate rifle. Other than the HRA receiver and barrel the rest is CMP service grade mixmaster, mostly Springfield.

I believe my M1 was lend-leased To Greece. When my friend bought it the CMP was also selling HXP M2 Ball.

 

[Valmet]

Very nice OP- I'm a sucker for military rifles with nice wood.

 

[KEN L]

That's entirely possible, it's very hard to trace the lineage of these rifles beyond the year of manufacture. Here are a few more Photos of the entire rifle as requested, please ignore my messy shop. The previous owner was a collector/reenactor and the rifle is wearing one of those high dollar BFD I think there called "pops" type. I have the parts to take it back to live fire I just haven't installed them yet.

Obviously, you've never seen a MESSY shop!
Nice looking Garand

 

[andy52]

Obviously, you've never seen a MESSY shop!
Nice looking Garand

Maybe a better word would be cluttered....
The shop is 12x20 and just flat running out of space for all my goodies.

 

[JayFramer]

The M1 is reliable and with 8 rounds of .30-06 stopping power, is a great fighting rifle even to this day!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

IIRC "M-1 Thumb" happens after the inspecting officer returns the rifle after completing "Inspection Arms". I had a couple of NCOs who had trained with the M-1 show me how to do it, takes practice-and alertness.
I have 2, September 1941 and May 1942. Neither is all original but they look like they have some stories to tell.