Springfield Armory M1C Garand Sniper, M82 Scope, Griffin & Howe Mount, Parkerized 24” RARE Semi Automatic Rifle, MFD 1945 C&R

SOLD FOR:$3,771.65
LSB#: 160330AA01

Make: Springfield Armory

Model: M1C Garand Sniper

Serial Number: 3637982

Year of Manufacture: April, 1945 (page 185 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition). Barrel Date: February, 1953

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Semi Auto, En Block Clip Fed

Markings: There is no visible import mark.
Flash Hider: There are machining marks where metal was taken away to allow for the gas tube screw to be installed. This is consistent with an original part. Reproduction parts are investment cast and do not have these machining marks. See http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=5792&highlight=flash+hider for a photo of an investment cast reproduction.
Gas Tube Nut: “NHC”- An International Harvester mark (page 115)
Receiver: “SA-52” (this is a 1952 rebuild mark) and “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD ARMORY / 3637982”
Trigger Group: “6628290-SA – A Springfield part (page 89 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th edition).
Hammer: “SA D5546008”– A Springfield part (page 97).
Safety: “SA-11” – A Springfield part (page 104).
Follower: unmarked – Used by Springfield and others (page 83).
Receiver Leg: “0 8 5 C”, “O” and “D528291-35” – Correct for serial number (page 29).
Op Rod: “635382 SA” – A Springfield part (page 72).
Bolt: “6528287 – SA / US1”- A Springfield part (page 52).
Barrel: “SA”, “D6535448 “2 53”, “A185”, “P” and with partial stampings. – A Springfield part (page 64).
The stock 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 windage knob is marked “LEFT arrow” twice and “DRC”. The elevation knob is marked from “2-12” in increments of 2 and “NI C”.
The lower portion of the scope mount is attached to the left side of the receiver by three screws and two pins. The bottom is marked “3290471”. Some of the digits on the bottom are stamped over smaller digits. The lower portion is parkerized. It shows scrapes and thinning on the rail from mounting the upper half. It is in about Very Good Plus condition. 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. The right side of the mount is marked “3615714”. Two rings hold the scope to the top portion of the mount. The upper portion and the two scope rings have been refinished (blue). Some imperfections on the metal, such as frosting, show through the new finish. The upper portion & rings show scrapes and a few small scratches. They are in about Very Good Plus condition, as refinished. The scope and upper portion of the mount slide forward when the compression levers are flipped to the left. The top of the mount is marked “GRIFFIN & HOWE INC. NEW YORK / PAT. # 1,856,549 MAY 3 1932”. The left side of the scope is marked “TELESCOPE M82 / SERIAL NO. 44220 / STOCK NO. F001-0084688”. The adjustment knob mounts are each marked “7634671”. The caps are marked “7575180” and “A7575180”. The rear eyepiece is marked “7634670”. These markings are consistent with the original markings listed on pages 203 to 204 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition. The parkerized scope has been refinished. Imperfections on the metal, such as small areas of surface erosion, show through the new finish. The scope shows light scrapes and a few scratches. It is missing its rear rubber eyepiece. The field of view appears clear. There are three small black flecks on the top right edge of the lens; they do not interfere with the view. The fixed 2.5 power scope uses a post reticle. The adjustment knobs turn. The scope is in about Very Good to Fine condition as refinished.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The bottom of the pistol grip is marked with a “circled P” firing proof. The left side of the buttstock is marked with a Springfield Armory “boxed SA” (the bottom of the box is open) stamping and a Raritan Arsenal rebuild stamping “RA” (see page 135 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th edition)..
The three piece stock has a pistol grip, metal nose caps, a sling loops, a stacking loop and a metal buttplate with a hinged door for storage in the butt. A leather cheek piece is secured to the butt with leather lacing. The bottom of the cheek piece and the bottom of the butt each have two screw holes. The holes do not line up and there are no screws. The left side of the stock, above the trigger, has small compression marks on it that appear to be from the face of a framing hammer. The left sides of the hand guards show small scrapes that have removed the finish of the wood. There are various other scrapes and handling marks on the wood. The LOP measures 13 1/4 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good Plus overall condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Arsenal Refinished

Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright; semi bright near the muzzle. The rifling is crisp. There is frosting near the muzzle. The bore shows an M.E. of 2.5. The throat shows a T.E. of 5.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 96% of its metal finish, as refinished. The bolt and right side of the receiver show thinning consistent with cycling. The balance of the finish shows thinning on the edges, small scrapes and other light marks. The screw heads show light use. The markings are well defined. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good to Fine condition, as refinished.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with an original M82 scope, rings and correct Griffin & Howe mount; see above. The rifle has a T37 flash hider installed. It shows light scrapes and is in about Very Good to Fine condition. The rifle also comes with a leather padded cheek piece. It shows discoloration, scrapes and wear on the leather lacing. It is unmarked and is in about Good to Very Good Condition. The rifle has a green canvas sling that is marked “MRT 5-55” on the interior. It shows some discoloration and oxidation on the metal tabs. It is in about Very Good Condition.
The rifle comes with paper work that indicates purchase history from the CMP, authenticity as an M1C Sniper and work done by Griffin & Howe. The paperwork is in about Fine condition and listed below in “Our Assessment”.

Our Assessment: This is a Springfield Armory M1C Garand; a Garand Sniper. It is in nice shape and comes with an M82 scope, Griffin & Howe mount and T-37 flash hider. The rifle has been Arsenal Rebuilt and has a 1953 dated barrel. All of the major components are Springfield Armory parts. The rifle has an interesting history that is documented by its markings and the paperwork provided.
This rifle started out life in April, 1945 as an M1C Garand Sniper. It was eventually placed in to storage as: “Very, very few M1Cs reached combat troops in either the European or Pacific theaters” (page 185 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition). During the Korean War the need for small arms was deemed critical and the Ordnance Department was under pressure to supply the needed arms. “To accelerate this effort total of 1,500 M1C sniper rifles were withdrawn from storage, disassembled by removing the Griffin & Howe mounting bracket from the left side of the receiver, and plugging the screw and pin holes…The work was performed by Springfield Armory during November-December 1952…The receiver was then marked “SA-52” on the apron behind the rear sight…The receivers were re-Parkerized and placed into the production cycle to be re-assembled as standard service rifles. Several of these M1C rifles converted to service rifles were released to shooters and collectors through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Some collectors have reconverted their rifles into M1C sniper configuration…a historically correct and important service rifle that may have served in the Korean War or in other later conflicts in which the United States may have been involved “(page198).
This M1C Garand falls within the proper serial number range for an M1C and is marked “SA-52”. As stated above the “SA-52” marking indicates that this rifle was initially configured as an M1C sniper and converted to a standard M1 during the Korean War. Paperwork form the CMP is included with the rifle. It is marked with the rifle’s serial number and lists an “M1C PLUG” referring to the plugged receiver (scope mount holes). Paperwork from Griffin & Howe is included that lists the rifle’s serial number, “SIDEMOUNT INSALLATION” and “FIT TOP HALF TO BASE”. The correct mount was installed. The individual who purchased the rifle from the CMP also sent the rifle to Griffin & Howe. The consignor has a receipt for the purchase of the rifle. The receipt has the rifles serial number on it. The consignor also has a letter from David H. McClain, of the M1C Verification Service, that lists the serial number of the rifle and authenticates the receiver as an M1C receiver. Mr. McClain was the chairman of the Garand Collectors Association (see https://www.thegca.org/pdfs/2-05_all.pdf) but we are not familiar with his services.
The following information on the M1C Sniper Rifle is from http://www.scott-duff.com/M1C.htm: “Two telescope-mounted versions of the M1 rifle were developed at Springfield Armory for use by snipers. They were designated the M1C and M1D. The M1C was adopted as standard on 27 July 1944. A Lyman produced M81 or M82 telescope was mounted with a two-piece system consisting of a mount bracket and Griffin & Howe telescope mount. The mount bracket was aligned to the left side of the receiver by two taper pins and attached with three socket head cap screws. Therefore, all M1C rifles had five holes in the left side of the receiver, three were tapped, and two were not. The mount, with attached rings to secure the scope, locked onto the bracket utilizing two clamp-locking screws. Receivers, which had yet to be heat-treated, were sent to the Griffin & Howe Company in New York for installation of the bracket. The receiver/bracket assembly was then returned to the Armory for heat treatment and assembly of the rifle. This procedure precluded production of M1Cs anywhere other than at Springfield Armory.…All legitimate Springfield Armory produced M1Cs are of SA manufacture with serial numbers in very specific blocks in the 3 million serial number range. The small production quantity of M1Cs has caused it to be highly sought after by collectors. As a result, M1Cs are relatively expensive.”
Good Luck.