Garand Cartouche question

black_adder2

July 06, 2004 23:09

Ok experts, what do the cartouches on this Garand signify (there are two I can make out):

See second pic about the serial # on the buttstock and last pic of the underside near the pistol grip on the stock.

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=20242549

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  nmyers

  July 07, 2004 04:07

  A cartouche is an inspectors mark applied to the stock when the completed rifle was accepted by the military. It will often be the initials of the inspector plus the abbreviation for the manufacturer, in a box; after 1953 it will be a small boxed eagle & 3 stars.
  
  I couldn't see any cartouche on the rifle listed for sale. It looks like there is a rebuild stamp on the side of the replacement stock. The proof P on the handgrip was applied when it was rebuilt by the US military, & the serial # stamped on the stock was applied by the Danish or Greek government. This rifle appears to be a "rack grade" recently bought from the Civilian Marksmanship Program; see their site for a description.
  
  Neal

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  nmyers

  July 07, 2004 05:24

  I knew that the serial # on the stock looked Danish, but the grease description sounds typical of a Greek import. Could the seller have combined the best parts of different rifles? (He wouldn't have combined the worst parts, would he?)
  
  In any case, you can buy all that you want for $350, but you have to figure that the barrel needs replacement on most rack grades.
  
  Neal

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