Would like info on aging M1 grande.

[rockco222]

I have my M1 garand ,but I really don't know much about it. I would appreciate any help. I got it off my gun dealer shelf on Black Friday ,he had just trade for it.

[TacticalCowboy]

Google could have told you in about two minutes that the receiver appears to have been built in October or November of 1943.

[rockco222]

I got that far, so how would you know if it saw action or was issued?

[RJH1]

I would guess it saw action in WW2 and possibly Korea with that production date, Check CMP forums, there are people there that will have more info, i'm sure

[rockco222]

I would guess it saw action in WW2 and possibly Korea with that production date, Check CMP forums, there are people there that will have more info, i'm sure

Thanks.

[Dave]

No way of telling if it saw action. Many rifles were issued at training bases in the states and never left the USA. All rifles were broken down and rebuilt after the war so they pretty much all mix masters of parts. The only correct rifles, meaning with all original parts, have been rebuilt by buying parts and assembling them later.

Pull the charging handle to the rear and look at the barrel under the handle. There will be a month and year stamped on it, M-YY format. If the barrel is post 54 then the rifle probably saw action in Korea and was rebuilt again follow that war. Barrels were designed as disposable items to be shot up and replaced in less than 6 months. So if you shoot it, no mater the ammo you use, clean the barrel and keep it stored with a light coat of oil. They will rust and pit easily if left with carbon and junk from firing in the barrels.

The oprod springs are also a common area of problem. My best advice would be to buy a new one and even if yours doesn't need to be replaced it will at some point.

Springfield's are the most plentiful produced but also the best all around shooters as parts were made to tighter specs than the other manufacturers.

If you have other questions feel free to ask.

[rockco222]

No way of telling if it saw action. Many rifles were issued at training bases in the states and never left the USA. All rifles were broken down and rebuilt after the war so they pretty much all mix masters of parts. The only correct rifles, meaning with all original parts, have been rebuilt by buying parts and assembling them later.



Pull the charging handle to the rear and look at the barrel under the handle. There will be a month and year stamped on it, M-YY format. If the barrel is post 54 then the rifle probably saw action in Korea and was rebuilt again follow that war. Barrels were designed as disposable items to be shot up and replaced in less than 6 months. So if you shoot it, no mater the ammo you use, clean the barrel and keep it stored with a light coat of oil. They will rust and pit easily if left with carbon and junk from firing in the barrels.



The oprod springs are also a common area of problem. My best advice would be to buy a new one and even if yours doesn't need to be replaced it will at some point.



Springfield's are the most plentiful produced but also the best all around shooters as parts were made to tighter specs than the other manufacturers.



If you have other questions feel free to ask.

Thanks I appreciate it.

[rockco222]

Thanks I appreciate it.

The barrel says RSC 1955 and has what looks like a crown stamp on it.

[Dave]

That's a Danish barrel. The rifle probably was sent to Denmark post war on a loan program the USA had with them. They rebuilt them but to much less extent than the US.
I would bet if you pulled that rifle apart it's much closer to being correct than most M1's kept in the US system. If all the serial numbers inside match the production date of the receiver then what you probably have is a rifle that went to the European theater during WW2 and after the war was handed over to Denmark where it stayed until it was returned to the US Army.

Of course, as with all M1's, that's just an educated guess as it's so easy to get parts and rebuild rifles that you never really know what someone did in there gun shop and put up for sale.

[rockco222]

That's a Danish barrel. The rifle probably was sent to Denmark post war on a loan program the USA had with them. They rebuilt them but to much less extent than the US.
I would bet if you pulled that rifle apart it's much closer to being correct than most M1's kept in the US system. If all the serial numbers inside match the production date of the receiver then what you probably have is a rifle that went to the European theater during WW2 and after the war was handed over to Denmark where it stayed until it was returned to the US Army.

Of course, as with all M1's, that's just an educated guess as it's so easy to get parts and rebuild rifles that you never really know what someone did in there gun shop and put up for sale.

Thanks, I'm doing that next, taking it apart for a look see.