[eclancy]

Gentlemen,
Notice how early Ordnance was working on "Sheet Steel Trigger Guards". Again notice the DATE.

The history book shows what's going on from the early 1920's to the late 1939. As things happen in history Ordnance is moving trying to stay ahead.
If you need a bigger file just email me.
garandm1rifle@rcn.com
http://www.garandm1rifle.com
Thanks again
Clancy

[jerry]

Early ones were stamped, I think.

[Agent006]

WWII vintage rifles in their original state should be found with a milled trigger guard and later models may have the stamped type. The best way to distinguish the two is that the milled type has that hole in the guard being the trigger where it clips into the receiver. The stamped type doesn't have this. The safety on the Garand has a matching hole through it so basically, you see a round hole in the front of the trigger and the back for a milled, and only a hole in the front if it's stamped. Pretty easy to spot.

The document seems to be showing the results of testing some different stamped trigger guards in 1942, anticipating the need for faster production now that we were engaged in war. Apparently, there were some problems with the thinner and more flexible stamped parts coming loose! The way the trigger guard clips to the receiver, it has to be flexible but rigid enough to not break loose when the gun recoils during fire. With the stiff milled trigger guard, that's no problem. I prefer the milled trigger guard and I'm glad they kept it that way for quite some time. Even some post-war rifles had the milled trigger guards so I take it that the change wasn't considered important enough during the war. In my opinion it wasn't needed at all. Even my later Korean War era rifle has a milled trigger guard and CMP's site shows the hole I mentioned in use for mounting a winter trigger mechanism.

http://www.civilianmarksmanship.com/...intertrig.html

I don't believe that's what Garand intended the hole to be used for but it's an interesting idea.

[Gyrene]

jerry - The early trigger guards were milled. I am not positive of the date the stamped springy ones were introduced, but if I remember correctly, it was in 1943, early, like in January or February. 1943 was still fairly early in the production life of the M1 Garand, even though the formal adoption was in 1936.

In March 1941 a contract was signed with Remington (Illion, NY) to produce 1903 Springfields (this was begun, using refurbished Rock Island Armory and Springfield Armory 1903 machinery). There was a period of time when Remington built a "transition 1903", which had some 1903 and some 1903A3 parts (many of which are interchangeable). The stock for the 1903A3 was finalized in March 1942.

Smith-Corona was contracted in March 1942 to manufacture 1903A3 rifles.

It was in late 1942 and early 1943 when the Marine Corps started getting M1 Garands to issue. Prior to that time they used the 1903 Springfields (the 1903A3 was not being produced in large numbers prior to the second half of 1942, into 1943). On Guadalcanal, the Marine Corps never issued M1 Garands, the only Marines that had M1 Garands were Marines that had traded war souvenirs, for, with the fresh Army Troops. Most of the Marines were not convinced the M1 Garand was a satisfactory rifle, and preferred to stick with the 1903 Springfield.


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