M1 Garand restoration ...

Otokiak

Otokiak

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I purchased an M1 Garand from a fellow CGNer long ago and cannot remember their name ... here's the deal ... It came with a synthetic camo stock and handguards, it was painted or coated in some type of black material. This thing shoots really well, however I really don't like the stock or material on the metal so I'm going to do some form of restoration. I plan to send the rifle to "murdoc" on the board eventually to have the black stuff beadblasted off and then parkerized in greyish/green color like a stock Garand would have. Do I go with a boyds wood stock or try to find a USGI set? DGR gun restorations stock in type 1 or 2 configuration?(1 is shiney, 2 is bland wood) I also got a hooded site from "hungry" on the board I think I'll install ... how does one take apart the rear iron sites? Thank you for any help, suggestions or thoughts,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA

p.s. I wish I owned a dozen of these to tinker with ... :D

Here it is in the camo synthetic stock ...

rightside.jpg


I would love an end product similiar to this ... but I'm sure I won't find wood like it ...

M1Garand30-06.jpg
 
Otokiak, to dissasemble the rear sight, there is a small flathead screw on the windage knob. Hold the elevation knob while loosening it, it wont come out but you will feel the threads clear the center pin. Next unscrew the windage knob counterclockwise until it is free from the sight assembly. Now you can pull the elevation knob and center pin out, then slide up the aperture and remove it. Next you need to free the spring and sight base from the receiver by lifting the sight base and using a flathead screwdriver between the bottom on the sight base and receiver (where your windage hash marks are) push the sight base forward while gently rotating the screwdriver until the spring pops out of its groove. Be sure to wrap a patch or something around the screwdriver to protect the parts from getting marred up. Give everything a cleaning and regrease before reassembly. Place the sight base back into the spring and instal by placing the front of the spring in its groove in the receiver and pop the back of it into the other groove. Next slide the aperture back in and all the way down, then you want to install the elevation knob with the long hash mark under the 200 yd. mark ligned up with the mark on the receiver. Next, slide the sight base over to the left-most windage hash mark from center and slide the windage knob back in, tightening clockwise. The sight base will move back to the right as you do this. Once its back to about the middle hash mark, tighten the flathead screw until it begins to click. You want it to take a bit of force to turn the windage knob, but not excessive, usually just a couple clicks of the screw. That should do it. A guy I work with bought an H&R Garand in a similar stock. Lightweight but very out of place. I like my WW2 vintage wood with all its battle scars. I often wonder how it got each one, where its been and what it has witnessed. I was thinking about trying some VHT Flame proof ceramic spray bomb, its held up amazingly well on my Tri-z's heat shield. Its one tough coating, I tried scratching it with an old bearing race and was barely able to leave a mark with presure that would have gouged aluminum. Supposed to be good to 2000 deg. F. when properly cured. Its a nice flat black that looks good. I would try searching for good USGI wood to see what turns up just to keep it authentic, But the Boyds stock is the route I'll probably take with mine. Good luck and keep the pics and info coming :D
 
I recommend this book.

Book104.jpg

The M1 Garand: Owner's Guide - Disassembly, assembly, inspection, repair, cleaning, zeroing, and more. All copies signed by Scott Duff!

Written specifically for the M1 rifleman. With interest in the Garand at levels not previously experienced, new owners often have questions about their recent acquisition. Most common among them are: "Who made my rifle and when?" "How do I take it apart and put it back together?" "How do I clean, lubricate, and maintain it?" This book will answer those questions.

The civilian owner of an M1 rifle is faced with maintenance activities not encountered by military users. The owner must understand the operation and function of the rifle, and be proficient at dissasembly, assembly, inspection, and replacement of individual components. the purpose of this book is to impart that information to the reader which is necessary to develop the knowledge and ability to perform those tasks. Acquisition of these skills will inspire confidence at the work bench and rifle range!
 
Supernova, thanks for instructions on taking the rear site apart.

Wendell, any book stores near you that sell this book?(I'll check online too).

Somebody sent me a copy of M1 MAGAZINE in the mail from BC ... was it one of you two as I cannot find my PM's and who sent it ... I wish to thank the person!

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
"...greyish/green color like a stock Garand would have..." Black or shades of grey. There is no green parkerizing. The green tinge comes from long term storage in cosmoline.
Go here for a rear sight disassembly how-to with pictures. Isn't difficult.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/garand/rsdisassembly/index.asp
"...sure I won't find wood like it..." It's still possible. A lot of the walnut used was astoundingly nice stuff. Some really dirty milsurp stocks come out looking like that one or close after cleaning. Luck of the draw, of course. Downside is that most places don't sell stock sets. Gunparts does though. Refinished, issue, walnut sets(no metal) run $113.55US.
There are aftermarket stocks too. You shouldn't have much trouble selling the synthetic stock to off-set the cost either.
"...check online..." Net search Scott Duff. Buy a copy of Hatcher's Book of the Garand. History of the rifle and a troubleshooting chapter. Go here for free .pdf U.S. Army TM and FM manuals.(most likely where Duff copied from) Note the need for the provided UN & PW. http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/
 
sunray, thanks for the post and links. I tried getting DGR to send me a complete stock set that was beautiful but they can't/won't ship to CanaDUH ... :(

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
Try Boyd's, they have some nice USGI walnut stuff availiable. I just ordered one for my Norinco M14, but it's being held up in Canadian customs right now:mad:
That camo stock you have now is a hard to find item I would think-I have never seen one like it before!
 
"...DGR..." Dean refinishes and rebuilds M1's. Nice work, but not cheap. Don't think he has the U.S. exporter's licence either.
I'd suggest a gun show, but that's not much use to you, where you are. Epp's sometimes has stock sets. Mind you, the only one they're showing now is black synthetic. You could try Western Gun Parts. Marstar says they have stocks, but want you to call for the price. No sets or either handguard.
 
FN Canaduh ... I want one of those nice DGR stocks/handguards as he has some nice tigerstripped ones ... :(

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
Otokiak, the dream stock in your picture, is birch.
Click to expand...

Yeah I've pmed a few times with the owner from another M14forum. It would be amazing to find something like that in CanaDUH ... :D

Otokiak
Rankin INlet, NU
CANADA

p.s. WHO HAS IMPORTING PERMITS that would buy a stock from DGR for me and bring back into our country??????
 
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Both the exporter and the manufacturer must be registered.

If the manufacturer is not registered, no exporter can export the product.
 
Not entirely true. If you could get Dean to build a gun and then sell it to an US friend, the friend could then export the entire gun through questar to you. A bit of an expensive route though...

Similarly, If someone had a used DGR stock, they could just mail it to you if the sale price to you was $99.99 or less.
 
Claven2, could I purchase one and have it sent to my fathers home in Phoenix and next time he's there just bring it back as a present/gift?

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
How the hell do I get the two front handguards off this rifle? Thank you to all for any help. Cheers,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
how did you get the back one off? unscrew the gas plug and unscrew the lock and tap off the gas cylinder. the handguard should fall off when you take the gas cylinder off. Build your gun in Canada, there are many good guns to start with and parts available to complete. I have done it.
 
can14, the handguard closest to the receiver is like a M14 one and only has a clip holding it on ... however, the front handguard I cannot get off ... I'll try your suggestion. I know I have a M1 Garand manual somewhere.

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
I made a trade for a 1954 IH with a fellow gun nut a couple of years back and it came with a synthetic stock of which I was not to fond with. I checked out several sights looking for a Stock set which was made for the IH rifle. I located and bid on one I liked on EBAY after I was sure it was IH made.

Here is a pic

Garand-04.jpg
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