Message for Mark Christian
I have been told you are one of the resident experts on the M1 Garand. I have a topic posted on the "Want Ads" forum that I need your opinion and advice on. The title is "Looking for My Father's M1 Garand and M1 Carbine". Most of the detail is on the Carbine but I am also looking for his WW2 Springfield M1. Any advice you would give would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance SG
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Squirtgun,
Glad you took my advice.
Mark will respond! He is an honorable man and knows M-1's.
Steve0 -
Mr. Christian, thank you so much for the quite comprehensive overview, it really shows me what a daunting task it may be, not totally futile but close. Kind of like the Lottery! I will continue the search, within the limited numbers that are left in this country. If I read it correctly less than 50% of the surviving M1's are here in the US, well I may get lucky as you said. You certainly have put this in perspective for me and thanks, it is much appreciated. "101Airborne" was correct, you are the man to ask. Thank you and "101" for all the help... the search goes on and I'll keep posting the serial numbers every so often for those who may have never seen the early posts. Best Regards, SG 0 -
Squirtgun, actaully it is even less than 50%. My 2.5 million Garands only counts those given away during MAP and other military aid programs. It does not take into account the tens of thousands of M1's that were lost in combat during WWII and Korea or captured by enemy forces- we'll never know how many for sure. I can assure you that here are NOT 2.5 million M1 Rilfes still here in the United States. Your Dad's rifle is known to have returned but where it went after your father handed it in may never be determined.
Records were kept but such information was spotty at best and if the rifle was shipped overseas as military assistance, Uncle Sam lost all interest in it once the ship docked. A government who received it would have a record of the rifle but try getting that information out of Iran or Viet Nam! Those records were long since lost or destroyed. Even friendly countries like Turkey, who received nearly 200,000 M1's, will not be able to provide any kind of help- it was too long ago. Feel free to e-mail me at any time if I can ever be of help to you or answer any specific M1 Garand questions. Good luck to you sir.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Mark interesting stuff. I don't have a Garand but always had great respect for them. If it makes your day, back in the 1970's I had an employee relate to me a GREAT Garand story. His father served in the Pacific as a Marine and got one of the first M-1 Garands. Like many he had to remember the serial number. In about 1976 or so his father was in an area north of San Francisco and an avid hunter and shooter. He went into a small pawn shop and looked over the inventory and saw some M-1 Garands in a rack. He passed by but decided to have a fond memory. He picked up one and was shocked to see HIS serial number. Of course he bought it. Cost him a whopping
$150 and it was in the same condition he turned it in. He showed his son a mark on the stock. " That is from my two front teeth when a shell went off and blew me against a palm tree and the gun smacked me in the face." I can't imagine the odds of that happening to anyone.
Back in the 1960's a surplus Springfield bolt action was obtained from the NRA by a friend of mine. On the stock was carved the name,
"HARVEY RING OHIO" as I recall. He made a few checks and found the man was still alive and called and asked him about the gun. He had carved the name on it on the way to France and had some great stories. Again a gun and soldier were united.
I have a few military surplus guns and as we all say, " I wish they could talk." What stories they could tell, what history they have seen.0 -
Mark, many thanks for your kind remarks. As for your advice,I take umbrage at your recommendation not to take my advice too seriously. Unless I've misread questions, if I reply you can pretty much take my replies to the bank. I believe posters to the board who have applied my advice to their problems will bear this out.
Circumlocutors and prigs have no place on a technical advice board where every word needs to be direct and objective.
But pedants have always had a problem with empiricists. Typically lacking talent, they resent judgement borne of knowledge and experience.0 -
Mark, The old Mauser came right apart as soon as I had all the right buttons pushed!!! Thanks for your help. C182Q 0 -
WOW!! I am going to play "interloper" (like that english?). I LOVE these forums! Why? Because without being face-to-face, and despite some short-lived 'torts' between members[:(!]..one can receive EXPERT advice when taken as a whole [:o)].
I commend you... brothers (Mark C and v35)!!
SEMPER FI0 -
Man- I do love it when the pot calls the kettle black.......[}:)][:o)]
Most everyone here has their heart in the right place and some fellas have a better grip of technical knowledge than others- IMHO everyone has at least one subject they are an expert on, and about 1,000 other's they know quite a bit about. I don't care who wishes to offer advice, it should be taken just as that, ADVICE. (OK, I'll admit it, some sources for advice should be taken a little more seriously than others.)
Reserving my Right to Arm Bears!!!!
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I'm not exatly sure what that means Matt, but you can still have the pound of free mica that I offered you on your reloading post. E-mail me your address if you want some of this stuff- I'll even spring for the postage.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Mark-
What it means is we shouldn't sweat each other over missed t's or un-dotted "I's". Both of you fellas( Mr. Christian, v35) give great advice, but, I've got to go with v35's reply-
quote:As for your advice,I take umbrage at your recommendation not to take my advice too seriously.
And thank-you very much for the offer! I'm not sure what I'd do with it either!? Mebbe someone here does...
Reserving my Right to Arm Bears!!!!
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