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M1 Garand "P" Proof on Stock Part II

wmjchastain
I have done a little more research. I was told that if a good stock was used as a replacement during the war, the original cartouche was routinely sanded of & only the "P" proof was left in tact. This is because the replacement stock was not specific to anything on the rifle.
Usually, the armory facility would place their stamp to show it was indeed was a replacement & document the refurbishment. However, if the refurbishments were done at a small post armory, they sanded the cartouche & replaced them with nothing. Only the "P" was left intact.
I have ordered Scott Duff's red book so I can learn more.
All the dwg #'s are posted on my earlier thread. Had to start this one because after 10, I'm locked..
Thanks for all your help
Bill
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • mark christian
    That is the first time I ever heard of guys at the depot taking the time to sand off an old cartouche when they replaced the stock just because it wouldn't match the rest of the rifle. What would happen is that if the rifle were rebuilt at, say Rock Island, RIA would stamp their own rebuild mark over the existing cartouche or on the left side of the stock. I've observed many WWII M1 stocks with the original markings as well as one, or even two, additional markings that represented rebuilds at depots or arsenals.

    On the other hand, you appear to have answered your own questions and that is always a huge time saver.
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  • wmjchastain
    What you say certainly makes sense. I have examined the stock closely & there are no other stamps except for a very distinct "P" & the wood is in great shape. Would post armorers operating near the front have a stamp? And per your point, why would they sand off anything? I guess maybe someone, for some reason removed the original cartouche & just left the "P". Can you think of a reason why that would happen?
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  • mark christian
    There are hundreds of possibilities. I've been collecting M1s for about 30 years, but that does not mean that I know every single thing about them. I think that you have a WWII replacement stock and your rifle was , for some reason, re proven, with at a depot or at a field repair facility. During the period that your rifle was produced, Uncle Sam purchased 531,000 replacement stocks (at about three bucks a piece) just because the stocks broke regularly. I also seem to recall in late 1943 there was a problem with a specific production-lot of -12 bolts. My guess, and it is only a guess, is that your rifle went into a repair facility for a broken stock, the tech spotted the bad bolt lot code number (bulletins were issued) and after replacing and checking the bolt for head space he reproved the rifle and then stamped the stock with the P. Rifles that were re proven and retained their original stocks simply had an additional P stamped next to or over the factory proof mark. Does your rifle have a modified operating rod? By that I mean is there a small radial cut on the rod at the saddle?
    [img][/img]OpRodsCut.jpg

    You have one of those pesky transition rifles where the operating rod could be a -6 or a -9. In either case if the rod is cut that means that it was done at a field repair facility. If the rod is not cut it is worth about double the price of a cut rod. I'd love to see some photos of the rifle.
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  • wmjchastain
    The gun is currently @ the gunsmiths being checked out for a trip to the range. I will definitely inspect the operating rod for modifications & get back to you. It is becoming somewhat apparent to me the rifle was in combat action. I really appreciate all your help.
    Bill
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