1941 / 1942 M1 Garand Identification....

Canada1812

Canada1812

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
75   0   0
Location
Ottawa
Hey there CGN,

I have an M1 Garand that I am trying to decipher some barrel markings on it, and would like a second opinion on what I have.

It has "Nitro Proved, 30, and NOT ENGLISH MAKE" Stamped on the left side of the chamber / barrel. I believe these to be English / British import or export proof markings but they do not look like London Proof house or Birmingham proof house stamps on other "Lend lease or commercially imported/exported" m1 garands from Britain post war.

The barrel is dated 8-A-12-41 = Dec 1941 production

Pictures: https://imgur.com/a/tpnTt0d

There are no other markings on the barrel besides what is shown in the photos.

Rifle serial # is 467### = Feb 1942 receiver
Bolt is a 2SA with a RE5A heat treat = July ish 1941 manufacture?
Trigger housing is a 12-SA = 1942 - 1943 production
Hammer is a 3 SA = 1942 to 1943 production

I appreciate the help as I have been doing lots of research but just can't find anything to do with these specific barrel proof markings.

Pictures of the rear sight: https://imgur.com/a/raqUOCx

Pictures of all three Garands in the collection.... https://imgur.com/a/4ePjq6E

Top: 1945 receiver / barrel - rest of the parts are a mix of 1943 / 1944 / 1945. Stock has correct marks / cartouches but has the rifle serial number stamped on the bottom of the butt? Looks to be machine stamped / engraved and not by hand.
EDIT: Later found out that this rifle is an ex Danish military rifle donated post 1945. This rifle still retains the 1954 springfield barrel as it wasn't rebarreled with a VAR barrel. Danish rifles had the serial numbers on the stocks and a brass stock disc. These were removed after service with the Danish but I found a fellow in the CM forums that makes replicas. I did edit out some of the serial numbers in paint, that is why there are gaps.

IMG_20240404_171620916.jpg

Middle: 1943 / 1944 all USGI parts selected on this built gun with a 1955 Springfield armory barrel. This is my range gun and will be getting a dupage laminate stock put on it.

Bottom: 1941 / 1942 Receiver / barrel - has possible British proof marks (I will be replacing this broken stock with the stock from the middle rifle which is getting a dupage laminate)

Thank you in advance!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20240404_171620916.jpg
    IMG_20240404_171620916.jpg
    82.1 KB · Views: 1
Last edited:
The Americans weren't fighting the NAZIs until 1942 but their arsenal of democracy was cranking out just about everything necessary to fight and win. Do your research of Lend Lease Garands. There were 'some' sent to UK which have become a known Garand collecting category. The date. the Nitro Proof 30, and the Not English Made markings suggest to me that you have a US made pre-WW2 (err? American version of WW2) Garand from a very narrow time frame. Valuable enough to a Garand collector to not burn it out pi$$ing away ammo at the range. As an early mostly intact Garand it has parts which are desirable all by themselves.
 
Having British proofs is not in of itself indicative of having served as a lend-lease arm - If I'm reading Canfield's remarks correctly.
It may just mean it was proofed prior to being exported from the UK after the war.

What does inspection of the stock reveal; is there any painting of the forestock or handguards?
 
And that is what I was thinking, it was either lend lease or more probably made its way through Britain post war as surplus and subsequently proofed. From my reading all the proofmarks were commercial and not military in nature and done post war when they left Britain.

The stock was a right off/broken, no identifying marks / stamps or cartouches visible, a very faint proof mark on the grip. It probably had been refinished but I do not believe that it was original to the rifle. Most likely an aftermarket stock. No evidence of red paint on the front guard either. (I have a dupage laminate stock on order that will replace another m1 garand stock and I will be putting the removed walnut stock on this rifle)

I was more curious about the markings, as most of the british proofmarks on the garands were either behind the op rod by the barrel manufacture stamps or by the gas cylinder / front sight.
 
I’d also add Ive observed two 474### lead lease rifles with the -2 revision RE5A. Those rifles serials were only 16 apart and identical parts revisions and parkerizing color. One had its original stock and the other had a postwar stock.
 
WW2GURU said:
Is there a number or other symbol stamped into the rear sight cover?
Click to expand...

Hey there WW2GURU,

I appreciate that link! Finding info like that is very helpful.

I took a look and it doesn't appear to have any markings or numbers on the rear sight cover.

I took some pictures as well. https://imgur.com/a/raqUOCx

The rear sight appears to be an early flush nut style with a knurled side and checkered side.

I was using this link as a reference and the cover looks to be a later style with the indentations on it

https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/from-flush-nut-to-t105-the-evolution-of-the-m1-garand-rear-sight-assembly/
 
I had one of the lend lease Garands many years ago, truly regret selling it. It was basically a brand new rifle, and yes it had British Export proofs. You could still see some vestiges of the red paint in the grain of the forward handguard wood. The left side of the Stock had crossed cannon proofs, and the inspector stamp, which was in a round cornered box marked: S.A. G.H.S.
For Brig. General Gilbert H Stewart, who was the commandant of Springfield Armory at that time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom