WWII Springfield M1 Garand U.S. US .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle 1943 C&R

SOLD FOR: $1500

LSB#: 220204RT002

Make: Springfield Armory. The rifle’s action uses all Springfield parts.

Model: M1 Garand

Serial Number: 2287917

Year of Manufacture: December, 1943 (page 185 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition). Barrel Date: October, 1966

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed

Markings: The import mark on the right side of the right side of the barrel reads “ARL ORD ARLINGTON VA”.
Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / 2287917”.
Trigger Group: “D28290-12-SA”- A Springfield part (page 90 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition).
Hammer: “C46008-5 SA”– A Springfield part (page 98).
Safety: “C46015-9SA – A Springfield part (page 103).
Follower: unmarked  – Used by Springfield and others (page 83).
Receiver Leg: “AB 9 A diamond”, “TT” and “D 28291-29” – Correct for the Springfield serial number (page 756 of Bruce Canfield’s book, The M1 Garand Rifle).
Op Rod: “7790722 SA” – A Springfield National Match part (page 71).
Barrel: “SA 6535448 10 66 BU31”, “P”, “M” and a Defense “eagle” acceptance stamp – A Springfield part (pages 63 – 65).
Bolt:“6528287-A-10”- 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 “BME”. The elevation knob is marked from “2-12” in increments of two and “TI”.

Stock Configuration & Condition:  The left side of the stock is marked with a Civilian Marksmanship Program stamp “C.M.P. / eagle holding arrows”.
The new production 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 bottom of the forearm shows scrapes & scratches from the sling buckle. The wood shows a few other scrapes and handling marks. The LOP measures 13 5/8 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates are about Very Good Plus to Fine condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is gray. The rifling is well defined; shallow at the muzzle. There is erosion throughout the bore. It is heavier in the grooves and at the muzzle. The bore shows an M.E. of greater than 5. Our gauge tops out at 5. The throat shows a T.E. of 3.5.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% of its metal finish as refinished. The metal shows scrapes, scratches and areas of discoloration from oxidation. The bottom rear of the receiver shows light surface erosion and thinning. The receiver legs show some thinning. The receiver and bolt show operational wear.  The markings are well defined. Some of the markings of the rear of the receiver are slightly faded. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition as refinished.

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 comes with an unmarked green canvas sling.

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 served for a U.S. friendly country and was eventually imported back into the U.S. for sales to the civilian market. It is marked accordingly on the barrel. The rifle has been rebuilt, refinished and dropped into a new production Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) stock. The bore is not the brightest we have seen but the rifle’s action uses all Springfield parts. This is a good looking M1 Garand to add to your WWII collection.