1.9 Million Garand

[Bill D]

About a dozen years ago, I purchased an M1 from CMP. Serial number is 1,920,23X which would put it at September 1943. It is a nice clean rifle with lots of original finish on all parts. I hadn't really looked at it closely until fairly recently but find it is an interesting rifle. It seems to be correct on all parts with two exceptions. First, the stock, which is a nice walnut, has no cartouches or proof marks or armory rebuild stamps of any kind on it, and secondly, the barrel is a definite replacement. It is a 1952 SA with new TE and MZ readings.

I have two questions regarding this rifle. First, didn't I read somewhere that a stock without any markings was a replacement from a field maintenance facility? This one is a nice GI walnut stock which is slick. It has no stampings. Secondly, what would be a correct barrel date for this rifle if I could find one?

Thanks for any assistance.

Bill D

[pmclaine]

Just curious. Is there a stamp on the heel, just behind rear sight marked SA-52?

[Bill D]

Just curious. Is there a stamp on the heel, just behind rear sight marked SA-52?

No.

[cplnorton]

I think the usual rule is the barrel date is usually 3 months previous to about 3 months past the manufacture date of the receiver. Since the parts were made and thrown in a bin, and then just picked out and assembled by hand. It's really anyone's guess what the exact date of the barrel would have been. You could have two receivers go down the line at the same time and they might have differenent barrels by several months either way. I personally like 2 months previous, or 1 month past, as that is about what I've seen the most.

On the stock it's anyone's guess. It did seem like field repair sections did not mark the wood. There is more evidence they only marked the barrel. So it could be possible. The Marines did not use rebuild cartouches at all. So that is possible. It is also possible the wood was replaced when it was loaned out to other countries. Or CMP did replace stocks on M1's that were very beat up. And they did have a huge supply of garand stocks on which to do it. Or it could have possibly been a light strike that someone over the years sanded off. From what I read, 100 grit sandpaper was an armorer's best friend. So it could have just been removed as well.

My money would be on, it was replaced by another country, sanded off, or the cmp replaced the stock. I would say the other situations are less likely.

Pics would be a must, to try to help identify it. But I hope this helps you some.