Springfield M1 Garand Greek Issue CMP .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $1600
LSB#: 220115DS017
Make: Springfield Armory. The rifle’s action uses all Springfield parts.
This M1 Garand was issued to the Greek Military.
Model: M1 Garand.
Serial Number: 3809321
Year of Manufacture: June, 1945 (page 185 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition). Barrel Date: May, 1947
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed
Markings: There is no import mark.
Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / 3809321”.
Trigger Group: “D28290-14-SA”- A Springfield part (page 90 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition).
Hammer: “C46008-7 SA”– A Springfield part (page 98).
Safety: “C46015-9 SA” –A Springfield part (page 103).
Follower: “11” – A Springfield part also used by Winchester (page 83).
Receiver Leg: “0 9 0 A”, and “D 28291-35” – Correct for the Springfield serial number (page 29).
Op Rod: “D35382 SA” – A Springfield part (page 71).
Barrel:“S-A-5-47” – A Springfield part (pages 63 – 65).
Bolt:“D28287-12SA / S-A1 diamond”- A Springfield part (page 53).
The stock and sights are described below.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set between two protective wings. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture sight set between two protective wings. The windage knob is marked “LEFT arrow” twice and “DRC”. The elevation knob is marked from “2-12” in increments of two and “NIC”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The top of the grip is marked with a small “9” and the bottom is marked with a “circled P” proof.
The hardwood stock has a pistol grip, metal nose caps, a stacking loop, two sling loops, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage in the butt. The buttplate shows scrapes, scratches and thinning. The wood shows several scrapes, scratches and compression marks. Several have damaged small portions of the surface wood. The main body of the stock shows thin vertical sanding marks. The LOP measures 13 1/8 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition as refurbished.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original to Military Rebuild
Bore Condition: The muzzle and grooves are grey. The rifling is deep. There is fouling and erosion at the muzzle in the grooves. The fouling should clean up some. The bore shows an M.E. of 1.3. The throat shows a T.E. of 3.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 94% of its metal finish. The metal shows scrapes, thin scratches and light thinning on the leading edges of the metal. The most prominent marks are on the gas tube. The clip latch shows a spot of thinning. The right side of the receiver and front of the bolt shows some thinning consistent with cycling. Most of the markings are deep. The markings at the rear of the receiver are well defined. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle has a green canvas sling attached. It shows light discoloration on the canvas as well as scrapes, thinning and oxidation on the metal. It is in Very Good Plus to Fine condition.
The rifle comes with a Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) certificate and an owners manual. The certificate lists the rifle’s serial number and “M1 Garand Greek Issue”. The manual and certificate are in Fine condition.
Our Assessment: The U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 is known affectionately as “the Garand” after its inventor, John Garand. The rifle would become the first standard-issue semi-automatic infantry rifle in the world. While some countries entered the war with limited issued semi-automatic rifles or developed such rifles during the war, America was the only nation to enter with its Army issuing autoloading rifles on a large scale. General Patton famously referred to the rifle as “the greatest battle implement ever devised”. Millions were produced during WWII and hundreds of thousands afterward, seeing use through the Korean War and into the Vietnam War. Interestingly, while many other weapons and military items would see production contracts sent out to otherwise non-related companies, during WWII production remained with Springfield Armory and Winchester. It was only after the war that production would be contracted out to another gunmaker, Harrington & Richardson, as well as the agricultural equipment maker, International Harvester.
This Springfield Armory M1 Garand was built back in 1943. After WWII it was provided to the Greek government who were fighting a civil war at the time. The rifle has been rebuilt; most likely by the Greeks. The rifle’s action uses all Springfield parts. This M1 Garand was eventually returned to the U.S. and offered for sale through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). It was purchased through the CMP back in 2005 and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity that lists it as a Greek Issue M1 Garand. This is a scarce M1 Garand to add to your Collection.
For more on Greek Issue M1 Garands see pages 606 & 607 of Bruce Canfield’s book, The M1 Garand Rifle.
Good luck.