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M1 Garand Age

rsnyder55
I have a Springfield M1 Garand S/N 45XXX I got from the DCM around 1980. I'm sure it have been reworked, but is there anyone who can tell me the approximate date of manufacture or a source of the information?

Thanks in advance.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • captkirk3@dslextreme.com
    MAY 1940....SERIAL NUMBERS BEGAN AT 41,679 IN MAY 1940 AND ENDED AT 46,220 FOR THE YEARS PRODUCTION RUN FOR SPRINGFIELD ARMORY.....

    Captain Kirk, Tech Staff
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  • mark christian
    rsneyder, Your Garand was built near the end of June, 1940 (they made around 4,542 that month). This would be a highly sought after "Gas Trap" Garand and I can assure you that it has been reworked- probably several times. If it is all original I will glady write you a five figure check!
    Capt. Kirk, I thought you were fishing in Mexico? The party is over guys, he's back!
    Mark T. Christian
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  • rsnyder55
    I am sure you are probably correct about that. What should I look for to see what is still original and what was redone? Is there another site with this information? What differentiates a gas trap Garand from the rest?

    Thanks again.
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  • nmyers
    For photos of a gas trap rifle, check out this site:
    http://www.scott-duff.com/,
    under M1 RESTORATION PARTS.

    Neal
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  • rsnyder55
    Thank you all for the information. It looks like I have a new hobby to deal with.
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  • mark christian
    I will tell you up front that it will be nearly impossible to restore your Gas Trap M1 to original as the parts to do this are simply not available. I've been at this for 20 years and I would never attempt it because it is doomed to failure from the start. There are reproduction parts for sale but even these will cost huge sums of money- a repro Gas Trap (the trap itself) costs nearly $1000- a real example can never be found at a price anyone short of Bill Gates could afford. A correct stock in your serial number range would easily bring $500 for a miserable hunk of lumber with the correct cartouche and $1000+ for something that would look decent enough to put on a rifle. Then there is the matter of a correct Gas Trap 22" barrel- you'll never locate one for under $1000 and don't expect there to be any light showing through the bore at that "bargan" price.

    There are dozens of other parts that are unique to these early rifles and very expensive: a trigger gaurd alone would sell for $120 to $150 dollars. Just try to locate an early round firing pin. The list goes on and on and into thousands of dollars and the rifle will still never be totally correct. A hard core M1 man will take an early rifle like this one down to the butt plate screws and trigger pin to check for correctness and they'll know the fake from the real- would you know a true part from a fake if you purchased these parts from another collector/dealer? There is a lot of money on the line in a project like this and no book is going to have all of the answers. And there are quite a few crooks out there who'll gladly cheat you out of your money and disappear when the fraud is discovered. I'd just appreciate it for what it is- a very early M1 that has survived well beyond the usual life span of most of its 5.5 million brothers. Out of 5.5 million rifles there are less than 46,000 older than your's- a very impressive find in my opinion.

    Mark T. Christian
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  • rsnyder55
    First of all, thank you for all the information and insight. I have had this for almost 20 years and learned more in two nights than the 20 years previous.

    I understand what you mean. Last night after posting this question I went cruising to as many sites as I could and the prices on the parts are well beyond my meager means. I am impressed by the number of variations. My reference to hobby in this case was to get into the study of Garands and its variations.

    Question: Is it okay to shoot it since it appears it cannot be restore to original. Or is it better to sell it (or store it) and buy another one to shoot. I understand you can now buy another one through the DCM (CMP?).

    Thank you for all the information. As I stated, this has been enlightening.
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  • nmyers
    Early receivers are not common, but they are certainly not rare or valuable.

    Shoot it and enjoy it.

    Neal
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  • spclark
    quote:Originally posted by rsnyder55
    Question: Is it okay to shoot it since it appears it cannot be restore to original.

    If you don't know if it's been shot, have it checked over by a competent 'smith who knows these weapons. There are several firms that will do this for you as well, if you ship them your heirloom for an inspection. Scott Duff is one; Clint McKee at Fulton Armory is another.

    quote:I understand you can now buy another one through the DCM (CMP?).

    True, but you have to "qualify" by participating in a CMP clinic & be a member of a CMP-recognized club. If you bought one before, and still have your qualification documents, I'd believe they'd permit you to purchase another one.
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  • rsnyder55
    I have the papers that came with the Garand in 1980, but I belong to a CMP affiliate club and I think I'll clean this one off and use it to shoot for another. I just noticed the stock is walnut. I always thought it was birch.
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