International Harvester M1 Garand .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle 1954-56 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2182
LSB#: 210925MZ26
Make: International Harvester
Model: M1 Garand
Serial Number: 5124762
Year of Manufacture: 1954 to 1956. Barre Date: January, 1955
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Semi Auto, Fed by En Bloc Clips
Markings: There is no import mark.
Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / INTERNATIONAL / HARVESTER / 5124762”
Gas Cylinder Screw: “NHC IHC” – An International Harvester part (page 115 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition).
Trigger Group: “IHC 6528290” – An International Harvester part (page 90).
Hammer: “C-5546008 IHC”– An International Harvester part (page 98).
Safety: “IHC” – An International Harvester part (page 104).
Follower: None – Used by International Harvester and others (page 83).
Receiver Leg: “D6528291-W” – Appears correct for an International Harvester M1 Garand. The “W” suffix is not listed in our reference material (page 30).
Op Rod: “D6535382 IHC” – An International Harvester part (page 72).
Bolt: “D-6528287 IHC / U” – An International Harvester part (page 52).
Barrel: “P” twice, “LMR” (Line Material Company of Birmingham, Alabama), “D6535448”, “1 55”, “A 39”, “M” and with a Defense Eagle acceptance stamp – LMR provided barrels for International Harvester (pages 63 – 65).
The stock and sight are described below.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches
Sights / Optics: The front sight is an IHC part with wide sight wings. The front sight is a blade set between two protective wings. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture sight. The windage knob is marked “LEFT arrow” twice and “DRC IHC”. The elevation knob is marked from “2-12” in increments of 2 as well as “IH C” and “W in a hexagon”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The left side of the buttstock is marked with a Defense “Eagle” acceptance stamp above the trigger. The face of the grip is marked with a “circled P” proof.
The three piece hardwood stock has a pistol grip, metal nosecaps, stacking loop, two sling loops, and a metal buttplate with hinged metal door for storage in the butt. Cleaning gear is stored in the butt. The buttplate shows light scrapes. The wood shows several scrapes, scratches & compression marks. Some have damaged small portions of surface wood. Most of the marks have been oiled. The LOP measures 13 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: Refinished
Bore Condition: The muzzle & grooves are light gray and the rifling is deep. There is intermittent erosion at the muzzle and in the grooves. The bore shows an M.E. of 2.6. The throat shows a T.E. of 4.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish as refinished. The bottom rear of the receiver shows thinning and discoloration from oxidation. The metal shows scuffs & scrapes. It also shows areas of discoloration from dried oil residue. The bottom metal has surface erosion showing through the finish. The right side of the receiver shows thinning from cycling. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus 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: Cleaning gear is stored in the butt. The gear includes a combination tool, plastic oiler, grease pot, and a 4 piece cleaning rod & loop. These items show scuffs, scrapes, and soiling. The combo tool is stored on one side of the oiler. The oiler is in Very Good condition. The cleaning rods are stored in a green nylon pouch that shows tears. It is in Poor condition. The other items are in Very Good Plus condition.
The rifle has a green canvas sling attached. It shows light soiling on the canvas as well as scrapes & oxidation on the metal. It is in Vary Good Plus condition.
Our Assessment: The M1 Garand had garnered a well-deserved reputation as the best standardized service rifle of WWII. At the end of WWII large numbers of Garands were in inventory and it was assumed they were sufficient to meet future military needs. That all changed when the Korean War broke out. Springfield Armory ramped up its Garand production line as quickly as possible, but additional sources were needed. On June 15, 1951, the Ordnance Dept. granted a contract to the International Harvester Co (IHC). International Harvester manufactured half-tracks, trucks and tractors during World War II. The firm had never made firearms. One of the major reasons behind the government’s selection of International Harvester was its location. Springfield Armory and Winchester were about 60 miles apart which was no longer desirable in a nuclear age. IHC is over 800 miles from Springfield and could continue production if there were a nuclear strike on the eastern seaboard.
In order to augment Springfield Armory’s and International Harvester’s M1 rifle production, a contract was also granted to the Harrington & Richardson Arms Co. on April 3, 1952.
International Harvester had a number of production issues which led them to subcontract the production of barrels to the Line Material Corp (LMR). It was soon widely acknowledged that the company’s barrels were of the highest quality. The high quality of the LMR barrels and their availability were among the few things to go smoothly with International Harvester’s M1 rifle production program.
IHC received production assistance from both Springfield Armory and H&R during the contract.
The International Harvester M1 Garand has since become one of the more popular M1’s due to the number of receiver variations and their relative scarcity as compared to Springfield Armory Garands of the same era.
This International Harvester M1 Garand was made sometime between 1954 and 1956. It has since been refinished. The rifle looks good and has nice markings on the metal & wood. The action uses International Harvester parts and its original Line Material Corp. (LMR) barrel. This is a good looking International Harvester M1 Garand to add to your Military or M1 Garand collection.