Questions about my Garand

[DC]

I got it about 3 years ago from the CMP. It's a May 1945 Springfield but that's all I know about it. Suffice it to say I know almost nothing about Garands, so I found the Garand rebuilds article in the most recent American Rifleman informative. Or at least I think so because my rifle doesn't seem to have had much, if any, rebuilding.

I stripped it this weekend to check. Everything that has a serial number on it or a marking, which is just about every part in it, says SA. Unlike the one in the picture in the American Rifleman, the operating rod has not been cut; it matches the unmodified one. It has the old type sights too. The stock also has the SA cartouche. There is AAN stamped on the pistol grip which should mean it went through Ansiton Arsenal. There is also an R or P stamped on the grip. Bore is very good and it shoots great.

So what do I have? Did rifles go through an armory and not have much done to them or did mine just happen to have everything replaced with Springfiled Armory parts? Why didn't they update the sights and operating rod?

Thanks for your help.

[Blood of Tyrants]

If you got it from the CMP it most likely fits their definition of "Service Grade". The folks there are very knowledgeable about what parts it takes to make a collector grade and don't let them slip through. If they were in the collector grade business, they have over 100,000 rifles and countless bins of parts to make them correct.

IIRC, a 1945 rifle should have an op rod with a cut relief.

But it sounds like you have a great rifle that didn't get put through the "Great Post-War Rebuild" where literally hundreds of thousands (millions?) were sent through SA, stripped completely into parts that were spec'd and then reassebled from a huge pile of parts.

Most likely your rifle went through one or more smaller arsenal rebuilds where ther rifles were inspected and rebuilt one at a time.

[Swampy]

DC,

BOT covered it pretty well...

For us to be able to tell you what you have you have to give us some info to work with..... i.e the rifles serial number, and the drawing numbers & makers initials on all the parts you can find.

Best,
Swampy

[BoarValley]

Originally posted by Blood of Tyrants
If you got it from the CMP it most likely fits their definition of "Service Grade". The folks there are very knowledgeable about what parts it takes to make a collector grade and don't let them slip through. If they were in the collector grade business, they have over 100,000 rifles and countless bins of parts to make them correct.

IIRC, a 1945 rifle should have an op rod with a cut relief.

But it sounds like you have a great rifle that didn't get put through the "Great Post-War Rebuild" where literally hundreds of thousands (millions?) were sent through SA, stripped completely into parts that were spec'd and then reassebled from a huge pile of parts.

Most likely your rifle went through one or more smaller arsenal rebuilds where ther rifles were inspected and rebuilt one at a time.

SA 9 flat side uncut would be correct
Bolt SA 19
Stock SA NFR
Trigger housing 18 SA
Trigger guard stamped
Hammer 7 or 9 SA
Safety 11 SA
Rear sight type 3 lock bar with square ends

[DC]

I will get as many numbers as I can tonight - after I paint the breakfast room :(

Thanks for the info guys.

[DC]

here is what I found:

barrel: 1-S-A-4-45

op rod: SA 9 uncut

bolt: SA 19

stock: SA with a P on the pistol grip

trigger housing: 14 SA

safety: WRA-1

hammer: here is the whole number: C480008-3 SA

rear sight: type 3 lock bar

trigger guard is machined, I think. It has the hole behind the trigger and isn't the obviously stamped ones shown in American Rifleman

IIRC from looking up the serial number, the receiver was made in April or May 1945. May I think. I forgot to write down the number last night. Hopefully this will give you guys some more to go on.

[twodog]

www.jouster.com

Link to the Culver Shooting Page, go to the M1/M14 forum for all the info you would ever need about Garands. CSP also has links to restoring, trouble shooting and serial numbers on the Garand.

[Trebor]

Actually, it was quite common in the past for original or near original rifles to ship out as "Service Grade" guns. Remember, they didn't even have a "Collector Grade" option for quite awhile and that grade didn't last very long before they discontinued it. Nowdays they tend to put those guns up on the CMP auction, but some still go out here and there.

I don't have Duff's book to check for sure, but based on what you posted it sounds like you likely have an original receiver/barrel combination with some of the other parts (Op Rod, Rear Sight) possibly being original to that gun as well.

Get a copy of Duff's book and run down the drawing numbers.