M1 dating

emmab

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
93   0   0
Location
Vancouver B.C.
Hello. I was wondering if some knowledgeable Garand people could help me figure out the approximate year of the parts on my old M1. I’m only now getting around to putting it into shootable condition. I’ve stripped it down and have done some research. From what I gather it is a mid 1950s(‘55?) heel serial #. All the drawing numbers seem to indicate a mid 50s build.

1955 serial




Then I get to the barrel. Well this doesn’t add up



Any info on the parts or parts as a whole would be appreciated.
Cheers
 
Last edited:
Most M1 garands have been rebuilt many times to make them serviceable again! Looks like you have parts from mainly the Springfield armoury and Harrington and Richardson. The barell looks to be a wartime Springfield barell made in 1944. Op rod and trigger group appear to be Springfield as well. The rest of the parts are marked Hra which is Harrington and Richardson which is a post ww2 M1 Garand maker! In my opinion someone built this rifle part by part and made a complete rifle out of it! Still should make a nice shooter!
 
Thanks for the quick replies! I figured it was a war era issue bbl but couldn’t figure why someone would use an older one(barrel)and that threw me off. But the bbl seems quite good. The first problem will be headspace then a loose fitting cylinder on the splines( peen over the bbl grooves?), maybe a new op rod spring. Probably do some stock shimming a la m305 trigger group seating to tighten the fit. Then it’s off to the range. Every thing but the heel rust ,and a little pitting on the receiver, looks fine and serviceable. If there’s anything else besides a vice and 15 feet of string,I’ll be dying to know lol. Thanks again cheers
 
Last edited:
Depending on where and when.
Mine has 9 63 electropencilled on the leg. Proof marks indicate it passed through the UK after being sold off as surplus from heaven knows where.
It is quite unusual to find a Garand that is all original parts, never rebuilt. If parts are all same manufacturer with correct drawing numbers, it is more likely that someone has matched up pieces, rather than it being original assembly.
Many of the ones in this country have been assembled from parts.
 
Thanks. I’ve seen no electopencil anywhere on this one. My next question- is it physically possible to determine if a bolt group actually matches the receiver? I still haven’t figured that out. Mine is H&R bolt and receiver in the same drawing number range(as far as I can tell, has U in number?). So I’d say there is no way to positively say yeah or nay to this question....an informed guess at best. Cheers
 
Back
Top Bottom