M1 Garand and Carbine stock question
- Thread starter wayne54
- Start date
Source for this info? I'd think one reason may have been that the Garand was the soldier's basic weapon whereas the Carbine was issued to officers, non-infantry specialists etc., and therefore saw lighter/gentler use.
We do know that Garand barrels were replaced more often due to corrosive priming in .30-06 ammo vs non-corrosive primers in Carbine ammo plus the fact that Garands undoubtedly were fired more often.
Here's an interesting tidbit. Most M1903 Springfields also had barrels replaced, but I recently re-barred a 1918 vintage Rock Island M1903 with a 10-18 dated Rock Island barrel which has a very shiny, un-corroded bore with a muzzle gauging .302!
Many of the "original" garand stocks available have cracks and/or repairs. This is probably due to the heavier 30-06 round compared to the smaller carbine round. It is interesting to note that post WWII stocks are thicker then WWII stocks. Maybe to help prevent this issue?
Garand stocks also went through many additional changes and modifications throughout the war such as long vs short channel, drilled out buttplate, etc.
Many additional explanations would also contribute the stock replacement such as the large number of garands used by drills teams, converted to .308, etc.
All of these factors combined help make original stocks a treasured item. Too bad we shredded so many of them
Garand stocks also went through many additional changes and modifications throughout the war such as long vs short channel, drilled out buttplate, etc.
Many additional explanations would also contribute the stock replacement such as the large number of garands used by drills teams, converted to .308, etc.
All of these factors combined help make original stocks a treasured item. Too bad we shredded so many of them
Right up to the end of Garand production in 1956 Garands were fitted with walnut stocks, although some of the last ones were apparently stocked with birch. Birch stocks were used widely as replacements and you will also see low quality walnut stocks which were used in the late '50s/early '60s. Walnut was specified for national match rifles, although Birch was also used on some. I've got a Birch NM stock with all of the specified mods. A tiger striped birch stock ban be quite pretty.
The Danes used Beechwood for their replacement stocks and the Italians used good quality walnut throughout. Some of the worst stocks I've seen are Greek made, altho the Koreans apparently made some fugly ones too.
The Danes used Beechwood for their replacement stocks and the Italians used good quality walnut throughout. Some of the worst stocks I've seen are Greek made, altho the Koreans apparently made some fugly ones too.
