Need help with 2 M1 Garands

kingjohndeere · 01-20-2008, 03:18 PM

I need some help with dates and information about 2 M1 garands that were left to me when my father passed away last month. they are both in good shape but i have not shot either one yet. the serial numbers are 949XX and 9618xx. When were they produced? Are they still safe to shoot? Where can I get more info on them? I have broken them down and cleaned the grease off and oiled them so as not to rust but other than that I have not done anything to them. Can anyone help?

Orlando · 01-20-2008, 05:13 PM

Are they safe to shoot? I would think so but I can't tell for here! Ha May want to have them checked by a gunsmith
Have any pictures, especially close ups of the sides of the reciever?
Need alot more information to help you with what you have,. Need lot numbers and anything else stamped on the barrel, reciever
If you do decide to shoot them do not use anything but surplus ammo. Commercial ammo is no good for the Garand

Ben Hartley · 01-20-2008, 07:19 PM

First, let me congratulate you on acquiring two Garand rifles, and express my condolences for the manner of their acquisition.

Quote:

...information about 2 M1 Garands that were left to me... the serial numbers are 949XX and 9618xx. When were they produced?

Scott Duff indicates that the older of your two rifles was produced in December, 1940 -- assuming Springfield Armory production. (That's US Government Armory, not the present-day commercial corporation.)

added correction; see Orlando's post, below: The "newer" rifle (six-digit SN) was produced in November, 1942.

Quote:

...Are they still safe to shoot? Where can I get more info on them? I have broken them down and cleaned the grease off and oiled them so as not to rust but other than that I have not done anything to them. Can anyone help?

Scott Duff, mentioned above, has written several valuable books about the Garand. Google for his website; I believe he sells his books direct. If you can't find Duff, try this, for "Fulton Armory" --

Fulton Armory: FAR-15 Stuff, Garand Stuff, and More!

There's a ton of stuff there, including Duff's books, so you'll have to do a bit of hunting.

Of course, you can Google "M1 Garand" and track down all sorts of information that way... it's part of the fun.

Definitely have your rifles checked by a competent gunsmith before you attempt to shoot them.

Avoid commerical ammunition; surplus .30-'06 is available for fairly reasonable prices for the Civilian Marksmanship Program

CMP Home

for one, and from

Orion 7 Enterprises Inc.

for another. Orion 7 also carries Duff's books, if I recall correctly.

HTH

Ben Hartley

Orlando · 01-20-2008, 07:42 PM

Ben need to recheck your dates. Second rifle would be at the end of 42

Ben Hartley · 01-20-2008, 07:49 PM

Orlando...

You're right. Misread that second SN as having but 5 digits. Second rifle produced in November, 1942, per Duff.

Thanks for keeping me straight!

Ben Hartley

Dookiebutt · 01-20-2008, 08:22 PM

Pictures are important as there were many receivers that were cut in two. As Garands were harder to get, enterprising people welded the halves together and made rifles out of them. Some were done very well, and others were horrible.

Do you know where and when your father got the two Garands

rfc357 · 01-20-2008, 08:34 PM

The only way to tell if your rifles are safe to shoot is to have them checked by a knowledgeable gunsmith.

Paper · 01-20-2008, 11:03 PM

And DON'T sell them to the gunsmith..
Garands have gathered a great deal of value, so don't just sell them to some jerk who offers you cash for them..

They're tied into your father, and they're part of our US history.. Sell old wool socks before thinking about selling these guns.

And welcome to the site!!

Stock Doc · 01-21-2008, 01:47 PM

Also these or maybe one may be in original configuration still. A gun smith may mess them up or trade out parts. Not all but some will tell you it is unsafe in order to buy it cheap or trade out rare parts so it may be a good idea to talk about the parts here first also. I have had many try to pull the wool over my eyes as there stuff is worth millions and mine is dirt. I hate to say it but 90% of the time this is true from my experiences unless they knew me.

Dates on barrel can tell us allot and do the springs in both rifles look the same or is one flat sides and the other rounded? Two key starting points.

I am also sorry for the loss of your father and hope the Garands can be a keep sake. Rick B

kingjohndeere · 01-21-2008, 05:29 PM

Well what I do know is that my father got both from the CMP program. I don't believe that he ever shot them but can't tell for sure. When I get some time I will put some pics on here to see if what I have is good or bad. He had about 4 cases of surplus ammo and I figured that it would be ok to shoot that. Thanks for the help.

kingjohndeere · 01-21-2008, 06:24 PM

here are some pics of the m1's that I have

Orlando · 01-21-2008, 06:45 PM

If you break them down list the lot numbers on the bolt , Op Rod trigger assembly, etc ,etc. The stock with the light colored flecks is beech. Probably a Danish return rifle from CMP

the rifleman · 01-21-2008, 08:54 PM

m1 are awsome

kingjohndeere · 01-22-2008, 08:43 AM

Thanks for the help, the darker of the two has a paper slip inside the hand guard that is from europe somewhere. Trying to figure that out. will see if I can get some pictures in better light and a picture of the paper slip, looks more like a sticker, and go from there.

Orlando · 01-22-2008, 04:02 PM

If it s in the stock with the lighter color flecks in it , its what the Danish military wrote specs from when the rifle was sighted in

kingjohndeere · 01-22-2008, 06:21 PM

Thanks for the help, Just thought of something else. The top pictured one has the SN stamped in the stock just in front of the back sling point, is this common or not?

Orlando · 01-22-2008, 07:07 PM

Something that the Greek military did to some of their rifles that we loaned to them. They were later returned to the Army then turned over to CMP then sold

M1D-Garand · 01-23-2008, 02:59 AM

Nice looking rifles.
It seems to mee that one was re-parked (a greek one??) because the receiver seems very dark. But this could be due to the pictures.
At least a near sister of my rifle showed up (# 948XX)

Rob

PS: I may be of help with the european writing!

Dookiebutt · 01-23-2008, 06:51 AM

At least one seems to have that Greek blued-park look.

The serial number in the wood and the Kompvisor sticker in the channel are both indicative of the Dane returns CMP sold. The sticker might match your receiver. It would be used to quickly zero your rifle after repair or cleaning.

kingjohndeere · 01-23-2008, 08:35 AM

The sticker came out of the top (darker stock) rifle. When I get a chance to scan it in I will. The bottom (lighter stock) appears to be a repark. On the receiver it shows a date of 10-64 that looks like pencile but won't wipe off. The darker has a stamp of PB on the front sling point and the bolt. I don't know if this means anthing but it is there. When I get some time I will completly break them both down and get all the numbers off of them as well as some better pics. Again thanks for the help from the warriors the know passing the info to a warrior that wants to know.

"Your job is to point that rifle into the other guys face and shoot him dead" Gen Ridgeway instructing his soldiers during the Korean war.

01-20-2008, 03:18 PM	#1
kingjohndeere Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 20	Need help with 2 M1 Garands I need some help with dates and information about 2 M1 garands that were left to me when my father passed away last month. they are both in good shape but i have not shot either one yet. the serial numbers are 949XX and 9618xx. When were they produced? Are they still safe to shoot? Where can I get more info on them? I have broken them down and cleaned the grease off and oiled them so as not to rust but other than that I have not done anything to them. Can anyone help?

01-20-2008, 11:03 PM	#8
Paper Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: IL/WI Border Posts: 1,913	And DON'T sell them to the gunsmith.. Garands have gathered a great deal of value, so don't just sell them to some jerk who offers you cash for them.. They're tied into your father, and they're part of our US history.. Sell old wool socks before thinking about selling these guns. And welcome to the site!! __________________ I'm on vacation!!!

01-21-2008, 01:47 PM	#9
Stock Doc Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: North Middle Ohio I see water Posts: 961	Also these or maybe one may be in original configuration still. A gun smith may mess them up or trade out parts. Not all but some will tell you it is unsafe in order to buy it cheap or trade out rare parts so it may be a good idea to talk about the parts here first also. I have had many try to pull the wool over my eyes as there stuff is worth millions and mine is dirt. I hate to say it but 90% of the time this is true from my experiences unless they knew me. Dates on barrel can tell us allot and do the springs in both rifles look the same or is one flat sides and the other rounded? Two key starting points. I am also sorry for the loss of your father and hope the Garands can be a keep sake. Rick B __________________ If I cant fix it,, It must REALLY be broken!

01-21-2008, 06:24 PM	#11
kingjohndeere Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 20	got some pictures here are some pics of the m1's that I have Attached Thumbnails

01-22-2008, 08:43 AM	#14
kingjohndeere Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 20	Thanks for the help, the darker of the two has a paper slip inside the hand guard that is from europe somewhere. Trying to figure that out. will see if I can get some pictures in better light and a picture of the paper slip, looks more like a sticker, and go from there. Last edited by kingjohndeere; 01-22-2008 at 08:46 AM.

01-20-2008, 05:13 PM	#2
Orlando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,176	Are they safe to shoot? I would think so but I can't tell for here! Ha May want to have them checked by a gunsmith Have any pictures, especially close ups of the sides of the reciever? Need alot more information to help you with what you have,. Need lot numbers and anything else stamped on the barrel, reciever If you do decide to shoot them do not use anything but surplus ammo. Commercial ammo is no good for the Garand

01-20-2008, 07:42 PM	#4
Orlando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,176	Ben need to recheck your dates. Second rifle would be at the end of 42

01-20-2008, 07:49 PM	#5
Ben Hartley Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Jaffrey, New Hampshire Posts: 181	Orlando... You're right. Misread that second SN as having but 5 digits. Second rifle produced in November, 1942, per Duff. Thanks for keeping me straight! Ben Hartley

01-20-2008, 08:22 PM	#6
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 2,042	Pictures are important as there were many receivers that were cut in two. As Garands were harder to get, enterprising people welded the halves together and made rifles out of them. Some were done very well, and others were horrible. Do you know where and when your father got the two Garands

01-20-2008, 08:34 PM	#7
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	The only way to tell if your rifles are safe to shoot is to have them checked by a knowledgeable gunsmith.

01-21-2008, 05:29 PM	#10
kingjohndeere Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 20	Well what I do know is that my father got both from the CMP program. I don't believe that he ever shot them but can't tell for sure. When I get some time I will put some pics on here to see if what I have is good or bad. He had about 4 cases of surplus ammo and I figured that it would be ok to shoot that. Thanks for the help.

01-21-2008, 06:45 PM	#12
Orlando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,176	If you break them down list the lot numbers on the bolt , Op Rod trigger assembly, etc ,etc. The stock with the light colored flecks is beech. Probably a Danish return rifle from CMP

01-21-2008, 08:54 PM	#13
the rifleman Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: indiana Posts: 7	m1 are awsome

01-22-2008, 04:02 PM	#15
Orlando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,176	If it s in the stock with the lighter color flecks in it , its what the Danish military wrote specs from when the rifle was sighted in

01-22-2008, 06:21 PM	#16
kingjohndeere Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 20	Thanks for the help, Just thought of something else. The top pictured one has the SN stamped in the stock just in front of the back sling point, is this common or not?

01-22-2008, 07:07 PM	#17
Orlando Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,176	Something that the Greek military did to some of their rifles that we loaned to them. They were later returned to the Army then turned over to CMP then sold

01-23-2008, 02:59 AM	#18
M1D-Garand Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Europe Posts: 394	Nice looking rifles. It seems to mee that one was re-parked (a greek one??) because the receiver seems very dark. But this could be due to the pictures. At least a near sister of my rifle showed up (# 948XX) Rob PS: I may be of help with the european writing! __________________ Time Will Not Dim The Glory Of Their Deeds Gen. John J. Pershing

01-23-2008, 06:51 AM	#19
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 2,042	At least one seems to have that Greek blued-park look. The serial number in the wood and the Kompvisor sticker in the channel are both indicative of the Dane returns CMP sold. The sticker might match your receiver. It would be used to quickly zero your rifle after repair or cleaning.

01-23-2008, 08:35 AM	#20
kingjohndeere Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Keller, TX Posts: 20	The sticker came out of the top (darker stock) rifle. When I get a chance to scan it in I will. The bottom (lighter stock) appears to be a repark. On the receiver it shows a date of 10-64 that looks like pencile but won't wipe off. The darker has a stamp of PB on the front sling point and the bolt. I don't know if this means anthing but it is there. When I get some time I will completly break them both down and get all the numbers off of them as well as some better pics. Again thanks for the help from the warriors the know passing the info to a warrior that wants to know. "Your job is to point that rifle into the other guys face and shoot him dead" Gen Ridgeway instructing his soldiers during the Korean war.