I.H.C garand

[m1a1969]

Does anyone know anything about international harvester garands are they rare .

 

[toyboy]

I have heard that they are more rare than the other makers.
They're called the truck guns or truck garands.

 

[live4therut]

Tractor garands is the most common term, They made roughly 335,223 garands and some variation's are rarer then others.

awaiting purple to chime in

 

[mcpherson284]

If you can afford it, and one is available, get it

 

[mcpherson284]

The IHC produced Garands are the most uncommon of the M-1 variation produced. The IHC M-1 Grand Program was full of problems from start to finish, and while the IHC Garand Contract was signed before H&R signed theirs (almost a year after IHC), delivery of the first IHC and H&R Garands were made with in months of each other (IHC being first to deliver). There are 4 IHC M-1 Variations of the Standard M-1. #1. IHC produced receiver with IHC in the Drawing number prefix (IE. IHC D6528291-A), #2 IHC produced receiver without IHC in the Drawing number prefix (IE. D6528291), #3. Springfield produced receiver with the
________U.S. RIFLE
________CAL. .30 M1
______INTERNATIONAL
________HARVESTER
_________4######
(Sorry about the underscore, the site kept shifting everything to the far left)

(or 5######). The lettering will be of uniform height and width.
#4. Springfield produced receiver with the

U.S. RIFLE
CAL. .30 M1
INTERNATIONAL
H A R V E S TER <- (sorry I can't put a space between "T E R"
4 X X X X X X

(or 5######). The lettering will be of uniform height and width but spaced out to meet the out side letters of "International". This variation is known as "Gap Letter"

IHC Stock have a 4 digit number stamped into the barrel channel. Very few IHC M-1s saw action if any in Korea.

 

[live4therut]

As most of your info is correct, but there is 6 variations of IHC recievers

 

[mcpherson284]

Well, feel free to list the other two then

 

[live4therut]

A little research goes along way

The first batch of IHC M1s produced were probably Arrowheads, followed by SA Postage Stamps. The receivers were bought from SA as an interim measure to meet production schedules while IHC solved the “failure to feed” problem. A number of these will have SA barrels furnished with the receiver. Both the Arrowheads and the SA/IHC Postage stamps were produced in 1953.#

The SA Postage Stamp production seems to be intermingled with the Arrowhead variation and the early generic IHC Postage Stamps with no true pattern. The SA/IHC Postage Stamp is considered to be the rarest variation, with the SA/IHC Arrowhead running a very close second. Except for the very experienced eye, the SA/IHC and the IHC/IHC Postage Stamp must be removed from the stock for positive identification.

Generic IHC Postage Stamp Logos, most common of all IHC variations. Note that the heat-lot of the IHC receivers is a letter following the drawing number. Easily told from the SA receivers due to the lack of the SA style heat-lot number/letter sequence. The earliest of these guns were apparently produced concurrently with SA/IHC Arrowheads and SA/IHC Postage Stamps during the production of the first 5000 to 6000 Rifles. Produced from 1953 to 1955

This is the most common of the “Gap Letter Guns”. Approximately 22,000 guns in this sequence. Note the SA heat lot number. IHC was randomly stamped in front of the 4 million serial number range drawing number. The IHC was dropped for the 5 million Gap Numbered Guns. The 4 M Gap Lettered guns were produced (approximately) between Nov. 1953 and Feb. 1954.

Essentially the same as the 4 million Gap Numbered Guns. The “IHC” was dropped from the Drawing Number of the 5 million Serial Number Range Guns. More rare than the 4 million guns, this range is more clearly defined, and consists of 13,243 rifles. Produced from 1955 to very early 1956.

HRA manufactured receivers purchased by IHC at the end of IHC production. Notice the widely spaced typical HRA marking on the receiver leg, along with the separate heat-lot letter. End of the range is not clearly defined. Produced from 1955 to very early 1956.



Cheers

 

[mcpherson284]

Yes, a little research goes a long way, but I suggest that making comments on things like that my start fights. I at 28 have the odd time pulled a rabbit out on my gunsmith (Who happens to be more than double my age and a wealth of knowledge) and point the odd thing out that he doesn't or didn't know about. I would suggest to you that someone that knows enough about something like this to make mention of 4 variations is probably willing to learn more and is more likely to be thankful of more information than someone making a snide comment to the extent that suggests "well, you really didn't do any research now did you"

 

[WW2GURU]

I like the one with the pictures better. It answers the original posters question moreConcisely.&#55357;&#56396;

 

[live4therut]

Ok take it as you will, my comment was not snide or disrespectful. You wrote misleading information on a forum, It happens, and your response to my correction granted you that comment for 2 minutes on a google search engine and you could of copied and pasted the same info I did.

 

[Winchester-1897]

I'll have to have a look at my IHC and this info will no doubt be useful. Mine is a 54 with most major parts IHC.

 

[purple]

There is a definitive book on the IHC Garands pending release this spring. It is 480 pages, 81/2x11, crammed with photos and tables on all variations of the IHC rifles. Price is $89.98.

 

[live4therut]

Thanks purple, I am on the waiting list for when it's published

 

[Winchester-1897]

A little research goes along way

The first batch of IHC M1s produced were probably Arrowheads, followed by SA Postage Stamps. The receivers were bought from SA as an interim measure to meet production schedules while IHC solved the “failure to feed” problem. A number of these will have SA barrels furnished with the receiver. Both the Arrowheads and the SA/IHC Postage stamps were produced in 1953.#

The SA Postage Stamp production seems to be intermingled with the Arrowhead variation and the early generic IHC Postage Stamps with no true pattern. The SA/IHC Postage Stamp is considered to be the rarest variation, with the SA/IHC Arrowhead running a very close second. Except for the very experienced eye, the SA/IHC and the IHC/IHC Postage Stamp must be removed from the stock for positive identification.

Generic IHC Postage Stamp Logos, most common of all IHC variations. Note that the heat-lot of the IHC receivers is a letter following the drawing number. Easily told from the SA receivers due to the lack of the SA style heat-lot number/letter sequence. The earliest of these guns were apparently produced concurrently with SA/IHC Arrowheads and SA/IHC Postage Stamps during the production of the first 5000 to 6000 Rifles. Produced from 1953 to 1955

This is the most common of the “Gap Letter Guns”. Approximately 22,000 guns in this sequence. Note the SA heat lot number. IHC was randomly stamped in front of the 4 million serial number range drawing number. The IHC was dropped for the 5 million Gap Numbered Guns. The 4 M Gap Lettered guns were produced (approximately) between Nov. 1953 and Feb. 1954.

Essentially the same as the 4 million Gap Numbered Guns. The “IHC” was dropped from the Drawing Number of the 5 million Serial Number Range Guns. More rare than the 4 million guns, this range is more clearly defined, and consists of 13,243 rifles. Produced from 1955 to very early 1956.

HRA manufactured receivers purchased by IHC at the end of IHC production. Notice the widely spaced typical HRA marking on the receiver leg, along with the separate heat-lot letter. End of the range is not clearly defined. Produced from 1955 to very early 1956.



Cheers

The IHC stamp on mine is pretty crudely stamped.

 

[y2k]

I always wanted a IHC Garand.

 

[A&Shuntr]

"well, you really didn't do any research now did you"

It would appear to be accurate though............

 

[purple]

The HRA receivers used by IHC to complete their contracts are interesting in addition to being quite rare. Unlike the other Garand makers, HRA finished their receivers with a rounded contour to the edges on the heel and the left forward side. These contours are also evident on the receivers which HRA produced for IHC.

Every make of Garand has it's devotees, but the fact is that they all passed military acceptance checks. Many believe that HRA made rifles were tops for fit and finish.

 

[jpboivin]

The HRA receivers used by IHC to complete their contracts are interesting in addition to being quite rare. Unlike the other Garand makers, HRA finished their receivers with a rounded contour to the edges on the heel and the left forward side. These contours are also evident on the receivers which HRA produced for IHC.

Every make of Garand has it's devotees, but the fact is that they all passed military acceptance checks. Many believe that HRA made rifles were tops for fit and finish.

 

[purple]

Interestingly the most crudely made Garands were produced by Winchester during WW2. You see evidence of this on receiver forgings and milling and tool marks on most components. This was surprising in view of Winchester's history as a long time maker of quality firearms, but perhaps understandable because of the low profit margins which were allowed by government contracts. That said, finish is largely a matter of cosmetics, especially under the press of wartime production. Winchester produced M1 Carbines tend to exhibit a higher level of finish than do their Garands.

Some folks are distainful of the Italian Beretta and Breda Garands which were made in the 1950s, but these may well have been produced to the highest quality line of all of the six Garand manufacturers.