Super clean Garand. What can you tell me about it? Whats it worth?

leelad

leelad

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Afew years ago I stumbled accross this WWII dated M1 Garand all covered in cosmoline. I could tell it was in good shape, but due to the cosmoline I couldn't tell just how good. Over the next few weeks I detail stripped and cleaned it and discovered that it was was much nicer than I'd originaly thought.
Here are some pre-cleaning pics:
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I did a little research and dicovered that all the parts numbers are Springfield and that all the lot mfg dates are either the same as the serial number date(June 1944 I believe) or else older(the bbl is marked 43).
I realize that this rifle went to Denmark after the war, but the complete lack of foreign or post war parts seems exceptional to me. As does the over all contition of the rifle. Its minty. There is ZERO rust and the finish has barely worn off the working parts!
Here are some recent pics:
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After I got it all cleaned up, I couldnt bring myself to shoot it, and its sat in the safe ever since.
So My question to you is, How good is it? What can you tell me about it? I know its above average, I think its exceptional, but I dont know a whole lot about these rifles and perhaps I've just hung out with lots of beat up M1s...
Is it just a clean example of an M1 Garand? or is it realy a collectors piece? And finaly, what would it be worth if I were to sell it?

Thanks for your input.
Lee-lad.
 
Based on the condition of the parts and the finish I would estimate 1400.00 to 1600.00 (maybe a touch higher to the right buyer). Nice unit, clean untouched Garands are rare in Canada. I have restored a bunch of them to get to that condition or better. Guys are always looking for clean examples, priced right it would sell in minutes on EE.

Cheers,

Pocket
 
You have an ex- Danish navy rifle as shown by the distinctive inventory # and anchor engraved on the rear sight cover. The Danish navy rifles often show little signs of use in relation to the army ones. This appears to be the case with your rifle as it is in ex overall condition with a very nice bore.

This rifle is a post-war rebuild done at Raritan Arsenal as shown by the "RA" stamp on the stock and the large "P" firing proof on the grip. It was re-parkerized and fitted with new wood and shows a combination of wartime and post-war parts typical of a US arsenal rebuild. The barrel was obviously salvaged from another rifle due to it's ex condition.

This is an original GI rifle. All parts are US GI as far as can be seen. Arsenal rebuilds are graded just after original, unrebuilt rifles in terms of collectability. PFM is probably close on resale value.
 
8 yrs ago I was fortunate to find an ex-Danish navy Raritan Arsenal rebuild in similar condition. Mine is a June 1942 vintage rifle with it's original barrel, a lockbar rear sight unit, a narrow base gas cylinder, an all correct trigger group and a mixture of other wartime parts except for a post-war gas plug, bullet guide, and the Raritan marked replacement stock and handguards. I've debated changing out the engraved rear sight cover, but it is quite distinctive and may have some collectability of it's own. I shoot my other Garands a lot, but have never fired this one because of it's pristine condition.
 
Some of the Danes were really outstanding.
I wonder what got broken for parts to be sold as kits in the US.
 
Deja Vu or what...a couple of months ago I picked up a Garand similar to the OP's (1941 vintage). It is in fantastic shape. I did have to source a more appropriate sling for it but no biggie. I had thought the rear sight cover was just a mistake that someone had put on and I contemplated changing it. I'm glad I left it as is. Seems those Danes really took care of their Garands.
 
Wow, Thanks for the replys guys!

It sounds like I was pretty well on track in the research I'd done.

I hadn't known that they re-parked the metal as part of the rebuild process. That would explain the finish.

Purple, which parts are you seeing as post war? all the numbers I ran were telling me 44 or earlier. What am I missing?
 
Wow deja vu, I have one just like it. As far as I can tell everything is 43" dated I believe it still wears the original 43 barrel. I couldnt help myself I've shot 2 enblocs through mine, I was getting 2 inch groups at 100m :) also my Dane anchor mark is 7792 that puts yours & mine 75 apart! Small world. I bought mine on the ee for $1600. I'd put pics of mine but I'm boycotting photobucket for a while. If your interested in parting with yours send me a pm I could always use another garand. Btw very nice rifle
:cheers:
 
The REAR SIGHT COVER is Danish-marked.

The entire REAR SIGHT is the third model. First model looked like what you have but jumped ranges when the rifle was fired. SECOND model had the locking cross-bar and was the standard sight during the War. It was a PITA. It was replaced post-War by the THIRD model rear sight assembly, which LOOKED LIKE the first model but WORKED exactly backwards. It didn't jump ranges while you were shooting.

Get a copy of HATCHER'S BOOK OF THE GARAND by Maj.-Gen. Julian S. Hatcher. Hatcher was a personal friend of John Garand and was posted at Springfield during most of the experimental stages leading up to Garand production and through most of the production phase. His book is absolutely essential if you want to really UNDERSTAND your rifle.

Hope this helps.
.
 
leelad said:
Wow, Thanks for the replys guys!

It sounds like I was pretty well on track in the research I'd done.

I hadn't known that they re-parked the metal as part of the rebuild process. That would explain the finish.

Purple, which parts are you seeing as post war? all the numbers I ran were telling me 44 or earlier. What am I missing?
Click to expand...

From what can bee seen in the pics the fol are post-war parts which would have been used at the time of arsenal overhaul.
-windage knob
-elevation pinion
-operating rod
-replacement stock and handguards
-bullet guide( note the scalloped edge which indicates a post-war bullet guide with a higher fulcrum to minimize timing problems)

BTW, my little "tatoo" on the rear sight cover is # 7843, which places it quite close to yours.
 
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