Mark Christian
Anybody know what happened to him? I haven't seen him post for a good while. He's really knowledgeable.
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Sir, You seem to be the resident expert on the m1 garand. I got a Winchester M1 at an estate sale ser # 1499xx, bolt isD 28287-1WRA, OPRod is D 35382WRA, Hammer is D 45008-1WRA, Trigger housing is
D 28290WRA, rear sight is lockbar type, receiver group is marked D28291-2, the wood is in perfect shape (dark) with a VERY light SA mark on the left side and a P on the bottom. The bbl is SA 6535448
9 66 BU 34, The trigger guard is unmarked. The receiver group, stock group and trigger group fit together very well. Other than the stock and bbl, can you tell how close to original this is? What else do I need to look for? Could be somone started a restoration and lost interest? Thank you for any information you can provide.0 -
gp52555, I am very sorry about the delay in responding to your post but I was in Phoenix for a gun show over the weekend. Your rifle was manufactured around early March, 1942. The drawing number parts which you mention appear to be correct for your serial number. Does the operating rod have the relief cut added to junction of the "handle and gas tube"?. The lock-bar sight is correct for all WWII M1 rifles but Winchester lock-bars were much rounder than the SA types and the edges of the bar followed the curve of the windage knob. So far so good.
Not so good is the wrong barrel and stock. These two parts are VERY pricey and often tough to locate. WWII Winchester barrels were not marked with a date, drawing numbers, or heat lot numbers like the SA barrels. Good condition WWII Winchester barrels are getting harder and harder to find and prices keep going up. Your stock should be marked W.R.A. W.B. and I've seen VERY few of these on the loose for sale. You should also check to see if the gas cylinder is a Winchester unit- the "rear ring" will be nearly round, where the SA is rather flat on its top. There are dozens of other items to look at and inspect but that would require a detailed disassembly and inspection of the rifle.
Here is my opinion. I doubt that the was a restoration, I think that the rifle some how stayed more or less correct for most of its life. At some point its stock was either damaged and replaced or simply switched during reassembly with a SA stock. The barrel could have been changed for the first time in 9-66 or the receiver could have had many other new barrels installed during its life. Corrosive ammo took its toll on WWII barrels and few survived the ravages of of this ammo. During inspection/rebuild, parts which were within specs and not subjected to updates were never replaced unless they were unserviceable so most of your WWII Winchester parts stayed with their rifle for the duration.
This rifle could now be the foundation of a nice restoration project if you can find the needed parts and afford to spend the cash it will take. I hope this information helps you and feel free to e-mail me directly if you have any specific questions. By the way, I am not an M1 "expert" I'm just a guy who knows quite a bit about these fine firearms...REAL M1 experts write books and get paid!
Mark T. Christian0 -
Thank you for the info. The oprod has no relief cut. The gas cylinder is rounded (checked my springfield, it's flat) The oprod catch is marked CM and the follower is marked with an 8. Safety is WRA. Compared trigger guards, the one on the WRA has a large ring on the rear, my springfield does not. Thanks again. 0
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