Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Another dumb M1 question

1934ford
Maybe one of the guys like Charlie or Neal will have the answer because I don't have a "Canfield" book yet. I'll get one at one of the shows coming up in Jan. How do you decipher this M1 barrel stamp? (3-S-A-4-44) I think that S-A means Springfield Armory. 4 = the month and 44 = the year. What does the 3 at the beginning of the stamping mean? Thanks in advance for checking this out for me. I'm still learning about the M1 and having a great time doing it and getting to meet some some very smart people .
0

Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • nmyers
    I haven't seen the 1st number interpreted in any of my reference books. It's not always sequential in M1 rifle production. My guess is that it is just the identifier of the roll die used to apply the barrel marking; it would make it easier to know which roll die is worn out & needs replacing. Later in production the dashes were dropped. All WW2 Winchester barrels have the drawing number on the barrel, but SA didn't see the need to stamp that on theirs.

    Another book you might find helpful is "Collecting the Garand II" by JC Harrison.

    Neal
    0
  • mark christian
    The meaning of the number 3 (or any other designator) is unknown but believed to be what Neal has already said; a roll die identifier. Besides the barrel date, other numbers and markings deal with inspectors codes, heat lot numbers and other sundry items which have no real bearing on the barrel so far as the collector is concerned.
    0
  • 1934ford
    WOW!! Those were fast answers. So now I'll put that thought to bed. Looks like I have another M1 book to get at the next gun show.
    It's funny how all of a sudden I'm interested in M1s. During the 50s and 60s I never got one of them because I was interested in other things like military 1911s. Thanks for the answer to M1 barrel numbers. Jay

    When the M1 bug bites it bites hard and you are not the fist (nor will you be the last) to suddenly find yourself obsessed with John Garands masterpiece. Don't be shy with your M1 questions, we love them here.
    0
  • 1934ford
    "When the M1 bug bites,it bites hard". GREAT... Now I have another illness in addition to antique cars and 1911s. After reading the advice that I received to on my first M1 question about my 1943 with the 44 barrel, I decided that I'm going to leave it alone and don't change the barrel. Just think that with the money saved, all I have to put a some more with it and I can get another M1. It is safe to say that two are better than one. RIGHT? What's the cure for this illness?
    Thanks for all the help guys. Jay
    0
  • MIKE WISKEY
    ""When the M1 bug bites,it bites hard".".........just to note THERE IS NO KNOWN ANTIDOTE (you just have to live with it)[:D]
    0
  • Spartacus
    makes my thumb hurt just thinking about it.
    oh, wait, i think we're talking different bites here.....[;)]
    0
  • Ambrose
    I know that "bug bite" feeling! I've been collecting and shooting military rifles for over 50 years. In the late 50's and early 60's, 98 Mausers and US 1903 and A3's were selling for $25 and sometimes less. We bought them with the idea of making sporters out of them. I have several dozen that either I made or bought already made into a sporter. Since you couldn't make a sporter out of a Garand (several people tried in those days but it looked like "a silk purse out of a sow's ear". I think Fajen even made a sporter stock for Garands.) I wasn't interested. But a couple of years ago, a friend decided to get interested in Garands. He had acquired a Winchester he was interested in selling so I have that. But now my racks also hold a Springfield and a Harrington & Richardson and I would not mind owning an International Harvester. I guess my excuse is that being old makes you weird.
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity