Springfield National Match M1 Garand CMP NM .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle C&R

SOLD FOR: $3129.87

LSB#: 211201TF07

Make: Springfield Armory

Model: National Match M1 Garand

Serial Number: 5810559

Year of Manufacture: 1955 to 1957. Barrel Date: April, 1954

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed

Markings: There is no import mark. The bottom rear of the gas tube is marked “NM”. This is a National Match part.
Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / 5810559”.
Trigger Group: “6528290-SA”- A Springfield part (page 90 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition).
Hammer: “SA D5546008”– A Springfield part (page 98).
Safety: “SA” – A Springfield M14 part not listed in our reference material (page 103).
Follower: Unmarked – Used by Springfield and others (page 83).
Receiver Leg: “7 A”, and “F 6528291” – Correct for the Springfield serial number (page 756 of Bruce Canfield’s book, The M1 Garand Rifle).
Op Rod: “NM” and “7790722-RA” – A Springfield National match part (page 71).
Barrel: “NM” on the front left. “NM”, “star”, “SA-F6535448”. “P”, “L”, “4-54 211B”, and with a Defense “Eagle” acceptance stamp – A Springfield National Match barrel (pages 63 – 65).
Bolt:“6528287-SA / Y02”- A Springfield part (page 53).
The stock and sights are described below.

Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches

Sights / Optics: National Match sights are installed. The left front sight wing is marked “NM / 062”. The windage knob is marked “NM”. The left rear sight wing is marked “NM/2”. The face of the aperture’s riser is marked “NM”.
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” in increments of two and “NIC” on the edge.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The left side of the stock (above the trigger) is marked with a Defense “Eagle” acceptance stamp. The face of the grip is marked with a “circled P” proof and a small stamping.
The wood has been built up with a bedding compound to better fit the action and the trigger group. The hardwood stock has a pistol grip, metal nose caps, a stacking loop, two sling loops and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage in the butt. The wood shows scrapes and scratches. Most of the marks are light. The most prominent marks are below the left side of the receiver. These marks have been oiled. The LOP measures 13 ¼  inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine overall condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The grooves near the muzzle are semi bright. The rifling is deep. There is fouling and some light erosion intermittent erosion in the grooves near the muzzle. The fouling should clean up some. The bore shows an M.E. of 1. The throat shows a T.E. of 3.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 96% of its metal finish. The front of the barrel has been refinished, surface erosion shows through the finish. The metal shows scuffs, light scrapes, and handling marks. The right side of the receiver and front of the bolt show thinning consistent with cycling the action. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine 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 a letter from the Civilian Marksmanship program (CMP). The letter states that “the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) did sell an M1 Rifle with the serial number 5810559…The rifle was sold as a National Match Rifle”. A copy of the sales record is also included. The consignors name and address have been cut out of the letter. The letter and copy are in about Very Good condition.
The rifle has a leather sling attached. It shows light scrapes & light discoloration. It is in about Fine condition.

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 National Match M1 Garand was built between 1955 and 1957. It was sold as a National Match M1 Garand back in 1969. It was sold through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) which was the predecessor to the Civilian Marksmanship program (CMP). The rifle comes with a letter from the CMP that details the sale.
This National Match M1 Garand is in Nice shape. It has a National Match barrel, NM sights, NM op rod, and NM gas tube installed. This is a Nice M1 Garand for your collection. Good luck.