Springfield Armory M1 18” 30-06 “Tanker Garand” Style Semi Auto Rifle Build

SOLD FOR: $1,526.00

LSB#: LSB250825JP011

Make: Springfield Armory

Model: M1 Garand “TANKER Garand” 

Serial Number: 472188

Year of Manufacture: Receiver February 1942, Barrel is modern. 

Caliber: .30-06

Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed

Markings:

Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / 472188”

Trigger Group: “D28290-12-SA”  

Hammer: “C46008-1 W.R.A.”

Safety: “SA-11”

Follower: “11” 

Receiver bottom: unmarked  

Receiver Leg: “R E P 2 5 A 5 D28291-14”   

Op Rod: “D35382 SA”

Barrel: Unmarked

Bolt: “D28287-12SA S-06” Diamond.

Stock: Marked with 2x “P” acceptance stamps on the front of the grip. 

Barrel Length: 18”

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”.

Stock Configuration & Condition:  The hardwood stock has a traditional semi pistol grip, metal nose caps, a stacking loop, two sling loops and a metal butt plate with hinged door for storage in the butt. The LOP measures 13” from the front of the trigger to the back of the butt plate. The handguard wood was cut down for this build. The wood has been sanded and re-finished. The stock show minor handling marks, with some scattered minor surface level lines and compressions. The bottom edge of the tip of the butt is developing a chip from the butt plate. The rear of the wood shows small chips around the edges. There are no visible cracks in the wood. The handguards show scattered light marks with a notable punch mark on the left about mid length on the wood. The forward section shows a small chip on the lower left edge. The butt plate has worn checkering, rub wear around the edges and has been refinished, yet it retains a strong door spring. Overall the stock set is in Good+ condition.      

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Refinished.   

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no visible pitting or erosion. Our gauges show a muzzle 1+ and a throat erosion of 1+. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 9.85/10.   

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The friction surfaces of the bolt and receiver show minor rub wear. The surface of the finish shows some minor lines. The left side of the stacking loop shows surface rust. The markings are clear and the screw heads are sharp. Overall this rifle is in about Very Good-Very 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: This rifle includes a green canvas sling.     

Our Assessment: This rifle is modeled after an experimental M1 Garand developed towards the end of WWII. The T26 later known as the “Tanker” Garand is a shortened version of the classic M1 Garand rifle, designed to offer a more compact and maneuverable option for troops. Originally designated the T26 by the U.S. Army during WWII, this version was developed in response to the need for a powerful yet portable rifle suitable for particularly jungle environments like the Pacific theater. Although it retains the semi-automatic functionality and the powerful .30-06 Springfield cartridge of the standard M1 Garand, the T26 features a shortened 18-inch barrel (compared to the standard 24-inch), significantly reducing the rifle’s overall length and weight, which made it easier to handle in confined spaces.

Despite being ordered by the Pacific Warboard, the T26 Tanker Garand never saw mass production or widespread use during WWII, as the war concluded before any substantial deployment. Reports from testing revealed mixed results; the shorter barrel created increased recoil and muzzle blast and the accuracy was not up to the standard they hoped for. This unique configuration, while not without drawbacks, has nonetheless captured the interest of firearms collectors and enthusiasts.

In the years since, a number of reproductions and civilian versions have been produced aiming to replicate the T26’s compact design and WWII origins. This rifle is an example of that exact goal. To quote Bruce Canfield “A good rule to follow regarding the “Tanker” Garand is, “If it’s not in the Springfield Armory Museum It’s not a real T26 Garand””. This is good advice, however I would argue that if it looks like a T26 and functions like a T26 would have, had they gone into production, owning a T26 “clone” that you can shoot instead of just look at in a Museum is a much more fun option. To better understand this T26 Garand clone please see our high quality photos via the link and best of luck with your bidding!!!-R.L.