Does This Sound Like a Lend Lease?

[Littledog]

Just when I thought I was over my Garand addiction, I happened to stumble into, what appears to be a 327K s/n lend lease. The rifle appears to be all original except for the barrel, which according to the owner was replaced because the original had a bad bore.

The rifle has all the correct features of a Garand in that serial number range except the stock is a small wheel GHS and the trigger guard is an early milled without the rev number. The receiver ring has the crown proof stamp, (which looks like a heavy dimple), as well as the bolt on the right hand lug. Also, the bolt, (an RE1), has a 1/4" circular spot where the park has been removed. I did a search and see that this has been seen on other bolts as well. I'll post some pics as soon as I get my camera back.

I don't think I got took too badly on the price as the guy wanted $1200. Overall, the rifle is in excellent condition and I'm debating whether to part it out, leave it as is or try to find a barrel and restore it. Actually, I'm curious if the rifle has any collector value in its current condition.

What would you do? Thanks.

[EdG]

Please post pics as soon as you can.
From your info, the rifle sounds to possibly be a Lend Lease proofed at Birmingham.
The stock could be correct. Check the length of the throat (the first few inches behind the stock ferrule). It should be longer than 2 inches.
Also, the stock ferrule should have a small dimple that does not pierce the metal.

What barrel does it have?

I myself always stand against parting out a rifle or restoring one but the barrel does raise issues. I'm sure most guys will suggest parting it out for economic reasons. Occasionally a proper LL barrel does come along. However, I don't think I've seen an 8-41 or 9-41 Birmingham barrel yet. Most of the loose LL barrels I've seen have been 11-41 for some reason.

Thanks for posting.

[Littledog]

Thanks EdG. It's a short channel GHS and the stock ferrule does have the small dimple. I didn't pop the handguards off but from what I can see, there are no markings on the barrel so I'm guessing it's commercial.

[Larry McLarty]

I have a like new 11-41 loose LL barrel. But I don't think that's right for your rifle.

[2111]

In order for a Short channel small wheel to be "correct" final assembly of your 3.27 would have had to have been held up, at least until late Nov. 1941. With that in mind a 11-41 barrel might work for you. The price seems OK if you also have the flush nut. But before buying a barrel determine if the receiver is London or Birmingham proofed. As per Scott Duff " Birmingham used its BNP proof to mark the top of the receiver ring directly above the chamber; London used a crown over an intertwined GP to mark the right side of the receiver under the hump of the operating rod."

[Littledog]

Here's a couple of pics. You can see that funny spot on the bolt where the park is gone. I wonder what's that about? I've seen pics of other bolts that have the same mark.






[IMG][/IMG]