WWII Springfield National Match M1 Garand NM .30-06 Semi Auto Rifle C&R

SOLD FOR: $3,475

LSB#: 230930MT048

Make: Springfield Armory

Model: M1 Garand. A standard M1 Garand converted to a National Match M1 Garand. We do not know who converted the rifle.
Serial Number: 2021743
Year of Manufacture: October 1943
Barrel Date: January, 1963
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed
Markings: There is no import mark.
Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / 2021743”.
Gas Tube: “NM” on the bottom rear. -This is a National Match part.
Trigger Group: “6528290-SA”
The inside of the trigger group is marked with the last 4 digits of the serial number “1743” (faded) in white paint. This is a National Match marking (pages 546 & 557 of Bruce Canfield’s book, The M1 Garand Rifle).
Hammer: “SA C5546008”
Safety: “HRA”
Follower: unmarked
Op Rod: “NM” on top and “7790722-RA” – A Springfield National match part.
Barrel: “NM” on the front left and “SA F7791035  1 63” – A Springfield National Match barrel.
Bolt:“6528287-SA / A13”
The stock and sights are described below.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches
Sights / Optics: National Match sights are installed. 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 right front sight wing is marked “NM / 062”. The right rear sight wing is marked “NM/2”. The windage knob is marked “NM”. The face of the aperture’s riser is marked “NM”. The top of the aperture is marked “595”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The left side of the stock (above the trigger) is marked with a faded Defense “Eagle” acceptance stamp. The face of the grip is marked with a “circled P” proof. The last 4 digits of the serial number “1743” are painted in white inside the barrel channel which is a National Match marking. The front handguard is glued to the lower band. The wood has been built slightly up with a bedding compound to better fit the action and the trigger group. These modifications are consistent with a National Match rifle (pages 546 to 557 of Bruce Canfield’s book, The M1 Garand Rifle).
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 buttplate has been refinished. The wood shows small scrapes and compression marks. The most notable marks are below the right side of the receiver. The wood has 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 to Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The muzzle and grooves are light gray. The rifling is deep. There is erosion at the muzzle and in the grooves. The bore shows an M.E. of 2. The throat shows a T.E. of 4.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 7 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish as refinished. The barrel and bottom rear of the receiver have had the finish touched up with paint. Cleaned surface erosion shows through the paint finish. The metal shows scuffs and light scrapes. The rear of the receiver shows discoloration. The barrel has some excess paint residue on it. The action shows operational wear. The metal markings are deep. The stock markings are defined. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus condition as refinished.
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: A combination tool is stored in the butt.

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 started life as a standard issue M1 Garand back in 1943. The rifle was later rebuilt into a National Match M1 Garand. The rifle has since been refinished.
This M1 Garand looks great. It uses a National Match (NM) barrel, NM sights, NM gas tube, and a NM op rod. The handguard is glued to the lower band and the stock’s wood has been slightly built up with a bedding compound to better fit the action and the trigger group.

…Now go shoot something!