Fine WWII Springfield M-1 Garand Rifle, c. June 1944
This is a fine condition and correct WWII Springfield Armory M-1 Garand Rifle.
The serial number on this rifle is 2938831, indicating it was manufactured at Springfield in approximately June 1944.
The trigger housing is the correct small pad -12-SA type that retains 85% plus of its gray-green parkerized finish. The trigger guard is the correct and early milled type, and it retains approximately 90% of its original gray-green parkerized finish. The trigger is the correct Springfield Armory second type, and retains approximately 98% of its original parkerized finish. The sear also retains 98% of its original dark green parkerized finish. The Trigger Pin retains most of its original blued finish. The safety is the correct rounded top with the WWII-era “SA-11” stamp on the lower right side. The safety retains approximately 95% of its original parkerized finish. The hammer is the correct -5 SA drawing number with the full drawing number stamped on the face of the hammer. There is expected friction wear and wear on the impact face, but the hammer still retains 90% plus of its original parkerized finish. The Hammer Spring Pin retains considerable original blued finish. The ejector clip spring retains virtually all of its dark blue/black finish. The hammer spring housing is the correct 45-degree bevel cut in the spring window and it retains virtually all of its original parkerized finish with wear noted on the trigger pin legs. The hammer spring remains in the white and is in fine condition with the correct 20 coils and flattened ends. The hammer spring plunger is the correct first type with wings that retains the vast majority of its original dark parkerized finish with very minor wear from the spring noted on the barrel.
The bullet guide is the correct Springfield milled version without the crescent cuts on the sides at the bends. The bullet guide retains 98% of its original parkerized finish. The follower arm is the correct Springfield no-bevel type with rounded shoulders. The follower arm retains 95% of its parkerized finish with wear noted on the shoulders, on the bottom edge of the follower pins and around the follower rod pins.
The operating rod catch is the correct Springfield second type that retains 98% of its original parkerized finish. The accelerator retains 98% of what appears to be its original blued finish. The front edges of the catch remain sharp. The follower is the correct Springfield type with “12” stamp on the bottom tail. The follower retains 98% of its original parkerized finish and the cartridge slide retains 98% of its parkerized finish.
The follower rod is the correct riveted long fork that retains approximately 95% of its parkerized finish with wear noted on the upper arms of the fork and at the bend in the rod where it bisects the operating rod catch. The op rod spring is in excellent condition and remains in the white.
The bolt is the correct Springfield -12SA drawing number with “RE5B” heat lot number. The bolt retains 95% of its parkerized finish. The extractor retains approximately 90% of its original blued finish with wear noted on the friction bearing surfaces. The extractor retains considerable original bluing on the barrel with wear on the plunger head. The ejector is generally in the white except for the extractor pin notch. The bolt face retains considerable original finish.
The gas cylinder is the correct Springfield wide front sight base type in very fine condition. The bottom of the bayonet lug has closed-top “4” stamp. It has the correct top flat of the rear barrel ring with a “1” stamp. The threaded end of the stacking swivel screw is center punch staked in place and the screw itself is in fine condition with an unmarred, single-slot head. The stacking swivel retains most of its parkerized finish. The front site is the correct Springfield type that measures approximately .65 inches at the top of the guard wings. The front site screw correctly does not have the rebated head. The gas cylinder retains 98% of its original dark black finish. The internal chambers of the cylinder are also in fine condition with no pitting or noticeable wear on the top chamber and gas hole as well as the bottom, threaded portion. The internal diameter of the cylinder measures .528” with a cylinder gauge.
The gas cylinder lock is the correct Springfield type with chamfered face and no hump. The gas cylinder lock retains 95% of its original blackened finish. The threaded portion is very clean and exhibits no wear. The gas cylinder lock screw is the correct, and very fine condition, slotted type single slot type with poppet valve for grenade launcher use that retains all of its blacked finish on the face. The piston-facing end is in fine condition showing minimal wear. The threads are in mint condition as well. The face of the lock screw has a sans serif “P” at the 12 o’clock position and a small “o” at the 3 o’clock position, indicating this lock screw was manufactured by the Henry Owens Company in the Boston Ordnance District, which manufactured lock screws for Springfield M1s in this serial number range.
The operating rod is the correct “9 SA” type that has the correct concave side. The operating rod remains in its original configuration and is unmodified or uncut. The operating rod retains the vast majority of its dark parkerized finish with wear noted at the friction points. The piston face is smooth with no pitting or chips and remains within specifications measuring .526 inches in diameter.
The ejector clip is the second type with rounded front end that retains the majority of its original parkerized finish. The ejector clip spring remains in the white. The clip latch pin retains the majority of its original dark parkerized finish. The receiver retains 95% of its parkerized finish. The right side has the drawing number “D 28291 34,” and heat lot number “Y08D. There are various inspection marks on the receiver to include “W” on the right side, “2” on right rear leg. The Springfield, nomenclature and serial number stamps all remain crisp. The breech face remains in the white. There are minimal wear marks along the rails and other friction points.
The rear sight is the correct long pinion, rounded lock bar type with knurled windage and elevation knobs. The correct rounded end lock bar exhibits minimal wear along the outer edges. The staking hole on the end of the long pinion is clearly visible with the lock bar staked to it. The windage knob has the correct closed arrowheads and sharp knurling on the outer edge. The aperture has the correct Springfield narrow neck. The rear face of the aperture has the Springfield-characteristic fine, even checkering with no milling marks below the checkering. The aperture retains 98% of its original finish. The rear site cover has the correct reinforcing ribs with parallel lines on both sides (parallel to barrel) and towards the rear of the face (perpendicular to barrel), and it retains the majority of its original gray-green finish with some minor scratches on the outer surface. The elevation knob is the correct Springfield closed arrowhead type with knurled edge and unmarred single slot screw. The elevation knob cover retains approximately 98% of its original finish. The entire rear site assembly functions crisply and correctly.
The barrel is the original Springfield armory manufactured barrel that is marked “1-S-A 6 44,” on the right side just below the hand guard line. The barrel also has a proof mark P and hardness test punch mark. The pads retain their original parkerized finish and have not been chrome plated. There is slight wear on the pad with the gas hole but it and the other pads still retain 95% plus of the original finish. The top of the barrel has the drawing number “D35448-32-Y-75-B-3.” The barrel retains approximately 98% of its parkerized finish. The barrel has strong rifling and a very shiny bore with evidence of copper fouling in the grooves, and it gauges “0” at the muzzle. There is minor throat erosion with the chamber measuring 3.0. The barrel is in excellent condition and would make a very accurate shooting rifle.
The lower band is the correct flat profile type that retains approximately 95% of its parkerized finish that is exhibiting a plum patina. The upper hand guard has the correct Springfield-characteristic relief cut on the right side. The rear hand guard band is the correct stamped, flat profile type that retains 99% of its original parkerized finish. The upper hand guard is in near mint condition with almost no dings or scratches and there are no cracks or chips noted.
The front hand guard is also in near mint condition and has almost no dings or scratches and no cracks or chips noted. The front hand guard ferrule retains the majority of its original parkerized finish. The front hand guard liner has the correct holes on both ends and the notch at the front.
The stock is the correct Springfield short barrel channel type with correct stamped and brazed stock ferrule with hole in the channel. The upper sling swivel is secured by an unmarred, single-slot screw. The butt plate is the correct WWII Springfield type with six squares on the top line, four squares on the bottom line and partial squares along the sides and around the screw hole recesses. The trap door has the correct Springfield checkering that extends 1 1/2 diamonds onto the hinge bar. The plunger is correctly flat. The butt plate retains the majority of its parkerized finish with wear noted on the outer edges and at the hinge portion of the plate. The left side stock flat has the correct boxed “S.A./G.A.W.” cartouche of Colonel George A. Woody, who was Superintendent at Springfield Armory from August 1943 - August 1944. To the right of the cartouche is the small Ordinance Escutcheon. Both the cartouche and Ordnance Escutcheon are still crisply stamped. The bottom of the stock wrist has the correct and still crisply stamped, circle, serif “P” firing proof stamp. There are no other marks on the stock. The stock also has almost no dings and scratches from use and no cracks or chips noted and it is in fine condition along with the hand guards, all of which have never been sanded and all of which retain their original oil finish.
The rifle comes with a fine condition and original WWII Model 1907 leather sling. The hooks are the early but still correct brass types. There are no discernible makers marks on the sling. The leather is till supple along its entire length.
This rifle functions perfectly and headspaces correctly using both Clymer GO and NO GO gauges.