International Harvester M1 Garand .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle MFD 1953 C&R

SOLD FOR: $2400

LSB#: 210925MZ17

Make: International Harvester. The rifle’s action uses International Harvester Parts. The LMR barrel is the original barrel supplied to International Harvester for the production of this M1 Garand.

Model: M1 Garand

Serial Number: 4555339

Year of Manufacture: 1953. Barre Date: December, 1953

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 / 4555339”
Gas Cylinder Screw: “NHC” – An International Harvester subcontractor part made by the New Haven Clock Co. (page 790 of Bruce Canfield’s book, The M1 Garand Rifle).
Trigger Group: “IHC D6528290” – An International Harvester part (page 90 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition).
Hammer: “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-H” – Correct for a 1953 dated International Harvester M1 Garand (page 30).
Op Rod: “D-6535382 IHC” – An International Harvester part (page 72).
Bolt: “D6528287 IHC / A” – An International Harvester part (page 52).
Barrel: “P” twice, “LMR” (Line Material Company of Birmingham, Alabama), “D6535448”, “12 53”, “A28”, “M” and with a faded 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 a blade set between two protective wings. The rear of the blade has been painted white. 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 faded Defense “Eagle” acceptance stamp above the trigger. The face of the grip is marked with a “boxed P” proof. The top of the grip is marked “8”.
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. The buttplate shows scrapes & small scratches. 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 bore is bright; semi bright at the muzzle. The rifling is deep. There is a small amount of light erosion at the muzzle. The bore shows an M.E. of 0.8. The throat shows a T.E. of 2.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish as refinished. The metal shows scuffs and light scarpes. The right rear of the receiver has tool marks showing through the new finish. The bottom rear of the receiver shows thinning and discoloration from oxidation. The receiver legs show some thinning. The barrel & gas tube show scrapes. The gas tube also shows scratches. The right side of the receiver and front of the bolt show light thinning from cycling. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus 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 has a green canvas sling attached.  It shows soiling & light discoloration on the canvas as well as scrapes & oxidation on the metal. It is in about Very 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 back in 1953. At some point the rifle was refinished. Luckily the rifle still has great markings on the metal. The rifle’s action uses International Harvester parts. The LMR barrel is the original barrel supplied to International Harvester for the production of this M1 Garand. This rifle looks good and has a strong bright bore. This International Harvester M1 Garand will add to your collection and should be a ton of fun at the range. Good luck.