Date on M1 Garand

[gerardjohnson]

I can't find a date on my Springfield M1 Garand. I assume there should be one somewhere, where do I look?

 

[student of history]

The M1 rifle was never marked with a date of manufacture. That information can be obtained based on the serial number which is found on the receiver. If you'd like to provide us with pictures it would be very easy to determine the vintage of the rifle. At the very least you could post the serial number range, that would allow us to give you the date of manufacture down to the month.

Here's some general info for SA:

81-78,000 1936- October 1940
78,000- 84,000, October 1940- November 1940
78,000- 588,000 October 1940- April 1942
377,000- 691,000, November 1941 - June 1942
665,000 - 730,000 June 1942 - July 1942
665,000- 2,092,000 June 1942-October 1943
1,978,000-3,627,000 August 1943- March 1945
3,272,000-3,888,081 November 1944- November 1945
4,200,000-4,350,000 July 1950- September 1953
4,320,000-6,099,905 June 1953-June 1957

These are just rough numbers/dates, more in depth info can be found in Scott Duff's red and blue books.

 

[gerardjohnson]

thanks

 

[live4therut]

Your barrel should be dated see if it matches or comes close to the receiver DOB

 

[purple]

I've never dated a barrel, but a couple of them have tried to date me. Then there was the lady with a wooden leg in the No 1 Legion in Calgary during Stampede Week..... Talk about getting a woody, or at least slivers.

Seriously, post your rifle s/n, with an "xx" for the last 2 digits, if you like, as well as the markings that you see on the side of the barrel when the op rod is retracted. That will tell the tale.