M1 Garand Experts Needed - Review My Garand Please

[Rylan]

Hey guys,

This is my M1 Garand, I have had it for a couple years now and I would to know some info about it if possible. I was told the "drawing numbers" marked on parts can give additional info to whether it is a parts guns or if it is a military re-build. I think it could be a danish lend lease type gun because of a sticker on the inside of the stock. Also, on the butt end of the stock there is the serial number marked into the bottom, is this often seen on Garands?

The serial number is 434768 meaning it was made January '42, that is about all I know. Here is some technical data:

Barrel: S-A-4-50
Receiver: REP 21A D 28291-14 SA

Trigger Housing: D28290-12-SA
Hammer: C46008-3 SA

Safety and I think the bullet guide were both marked PB for P. Beretta. If anyone can tell me more info about this M1 that would be appreciated.

 

[Sgt Striker]

The ser # on the stock is a Danish thingy, as for the rest of your parts, you basiclly have what we tend to call a "mix master" The barrel was made in 1950, so what you have is a nice shooter, with little collecors value, IMHO.

 

[tiriaq]

The likelihood of finding an M-1 rifle that has not been rebuilt is remote. Well over 90% of those which remained in US service were rebuilt one or more times. Those that were supplied under assistance programs had often been rebuilt prior transfer. Yours was rebuilt at least twice, once when it was rebarrelled, and again in Denmark. Note that the stock is beech, which was not used in US manufacture.
I disagree that M-1s which have been rebuilt have little collectors' value. If that were the case, there would only be a handful of M-1s to collect. IIRC, there has only been one never rebuilt M-1 featured in a photo spread on CGN. It was one of the ones supplied to the UK, and subsequently sold surplus by the Brits. Bruce Canfield, a major US authority on US service arms, suggests caution if buying a M-1 rifle with all correct parts (all parts of the same manufacture, with drawing numbers correct for the date of the receiver) because of the industry which has developed swapping parts until the rifle is all "correct". He feels that it is not worth paying a premium for an all matching rifle, unless the provenance of the rifle is known. In all probability the all matching rifle will be a recent assemblage of parts, and not even an arsenal rebuild.