WWII Springfield M1C Garand Sniper .30-06 Semi Auto Rifle M82 Scope C&R

SOLD FOR: $4026

LSB#: 230808SM002

Make: Springfield Armory

Model: M1C Garand Sniper Conversion. An M1 Garand assembled in M1C Garand Sniper configuration.

Serial Number: 3870436

Year of Manufacture: June 1945. Barrel Date: May 1945

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Semi Auto, En Block Clip Fed

Markings: There is no visible import mark.
Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD ARMORY / 3870436”
Trigger Group: “D28290-14-SA”
Hammer: “C46008-5 SA”
Safety: “SA-11”
Follower: unmarked
Receiver Leg: “D528291-35” – Correct for serial number
Op Rod: “D6535382 9 SA”
Bolt: “6528287-12SA / S-06 diamond”
Barrel: “S-A-12-51”
The stock, sights and scope assembly 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.
The lower portion of the scope mount is attached to the left side of the receiver by three screws and two pins. The upper and lower portions of the mount are marked with different numbers that do not correlate to the rifle’s serial number. The upper portion of the mount mates with the dovetail on the top of the lower portion. The upper portion is secured by two compression levers. Two rings hold the scope to the top portion of the mount. The scope and upper portion of the mount slide forward when the compression levers are flipped. The top of the mount is marked “GRIFFIN & HOWE INC. NEW YORK / PAT. # 1,856,549 MAY 3 1932”. The left side of the M82 scope is marked “TELESCOPE M82 / SERIAL NO. 37144”. The rear of the tube is marked “7634670”. The adjustment knob bases are both marked “7634671”.
The 2.5 fixed power scope uses a post reticle reticle. Most of the view is clear. There are small black flecks around the edge of the view and on the post. The scope tube shows scrapes, small scratches, discoloration, and some light surface erosion.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The three piece stock has a pistol grip, metal nose caps, 2 sling loops, a stacking loop, and a metal buttplate with a hinged door for storage in the butt. The buttplate shows scrapes and discoloration. The wood shows numerous scrapes, scratches & compression marks. Several of the marks have damaged small portions of the surface wood. The LOP measures 13 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is dark. The rifling is well defined; shallow at the muzzle. There is erosion throughout the bore. It is heavier in the grooves. The bore shows an M.E. of greater than 5. Our gauge tops out at 5. The throat shows a T.E. of 5.5.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 5.5 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 60% of its metal finish. The barrel and gas tube appear to have been treated with cold blue. Surface erosion shows through the new finish on the barrel and trigger group. The bottom of the receiver and the receiver legs show surface erosion. The receiver has lost most of its original finish. It shows prominent discoloration from oxidation. Some of the discoloration is from oil residue. The metal shows scuffs, small scrapes, and handling marks. Most of the markings are well defined. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good 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 comes with an M82 scope assembly which includes a 2 piece Griffin & Howe mount; see above.

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 made back in 1945. It was eventually assembled in M1C Garand Sniper configuration. A 2 piece Griffin & Howe mount now holds an M82 scope to the rifle. We do not know who converted the rifle to M1C configuration.

…Now go shoot something!