Silly Bubba! That's a Garand!

Oddbawl

Oddbawl

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Well my Bubba'd Garand showed today. Of course after the initial gasp and gag, a tear down immediately followed. Interesting finds indeed. Summer '41 production. Bolt, op rod, hammer, trigger group, gas cylinder and lock bar sight original and complete. Not one part is incorrect except the barrel. It's a '51 SA. I'm starting to wonder if this was an arsenal rebuild. If it was, an armourer paid meticulous attention to replacing stuff with original correct parts... highly unlikely in a time when no one gave a damn. The barrel throws me off, coulda been done anywhere, who knows though.
Now the fun stuff. Bubbs did me the favour of eliminating all the pesky fore end wood, and then smoothing the stock nicely at the nose, exposing the fine operating rod for all to see.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/oddbawl/fullon.jpg

Then, bubba carved a fine pistol grip in the stock, actually doing a fine job of it if it wasn't a travesty of course.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/oddbawl/bubbastock2.jpg

I have to say my absolute favorite part is the rear sight. Only a true virtuoso of the Bubba craft can appreciate this:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/oddbawl/sight1.jpg

Yep, that's some kind of v notch sight crammed in there. My heart skipped a beat at this point, it looks like Bubbs welded that sucker in.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/oddbawl/sight2.jpg
Upon closer prodding, luckily Bubba didn't have a welder in his WMD arsenal, it's solder, and not very good soldering at that. A quick hit with a torch and it popped off, no marks on the base. Whew, dodged that Bubba!

Of course, once you remove that peskily perfect peep sight and install something more craptacular, you musn't leave that fine front sight alone, heavens no! Lop off those front ears and put a blob of brazing brass on the blade! Top 'er off with a fine thick coat of high gloss black paint all over the gas cylinder and you've got "the Finest Battle Implement Ever Devised" only better. Way better! Effing sweet!
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n73/oddbawl/frontsight.jpg

All in all, I'm not dissapointed. I need a new stock, front sight, and a rear sight cover. I'm a big fan of the NM rear aperatures, so I may try to snag one of them. The barrel looks passable, but it needs a good cleaning. The op rods runs freely, no binding issues at all, even though the action was as dry as a popcorn fart. Oh yeah, it mic'd in well within spec too. Just the kind of project I was looking for. Mild surface rust over quite a few bits, no pitting though. A good cleaning is in order.
So, the eternal question... Repark or not to Repark?
 
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One would ask himself why do they even bother to ruin milsurp rifles like that. I mean, bubba, if you want a light rifle to hunt, go buy a hunting rifle you ####!

I'm glad you'll be having a blast getting it back in order, I burst out in laughter when I saw that rear sight. What is it with bubba and v-notches? That is something I'll never understand!

And a big no on that re-park. Just scrub that rust off of her and she'll be good to go. :)

Jolly good find!
Have fun with it!

Cheers,
Hans
 
Holly crap what a bubba masterpiece!

I'm glad she's found a good safe home with you.

Not to hijack your post, but can I ask 2 dumb questions?

1.) what company does NM stand for?
2.) How do you line up the sights on the M1? Do you ~centre the post in the aperture?

Thanks
 
The term NM stood/stands for "National Match". When these rifle were set up for National Match, some parts were marked as such.

Scott
 
Mein gott! When I was tearing it down last night, I forgot to check, so I did just now... the op rod is uncut! I seriously doubt it been ftr'd now, that should've been changed 60 years ago! Now another quandry, do I sell the uncut rod to a restorer, get a correct shooter rod as well as pay for the rest of the resto parts with the $ I make off it, or keep it original?
I'm sure someone's gonna ask so here: http://www.scott-duff.com/oprods.htm
 
Since when can you not legaly hunt with a Milspec (unbubbaded) Garand?

IMHO Milspec rifles are fantastic in the bush...almost like they were made for much worse. :rolleyes:

Good luck with the project Oddbawl. :)
 
I have never seen a bubba garand before.That is almost the worst
looking bubba I have ever seen:eek: .Glad to see you will be able
to return it back to the way it was intended to be.Regards 375rum


PS That was so hideous I actually did'nt know if I should laugh or
cry first.
 
As far as the Op-Rod goes, I'd sell it if you need the cash to restore the gun. You get good coin for it.

As far as restore goes...you have personel question to answer...do I want a wall hanger or a shooter. If I was into a wall hanger..I'd gentley strip the bubba finish off the gas cylinder and other parts and leave it in the rough, get a "new to you" correct stock and hang it on the wall.

I have a WC 1941 and it is in the rough and will forever stay that way while I own it. I also have a Breda, in mint shape and THAT is my shooter...

If you want a fine looking shooter, I'd re-park, new stock and shoot it with pride.

You can make do as a shooter without re-parking, but a refinished one does look "Garand"...:)
 
Funny, I'm in about the same boat as you. I have a mint Breda too. The only thing is, the stock doesn't reflect the mint condition of the metal, so I just got a brand new unfinished '50s era Beretta French walnut stock for it. Then this little SA darling shows up, begging for a stock. I may put it on the SA now, and I have to admit, I'm leaning towards reparking. Basically it would then be a mint, all correct '41 SA (except for the barrel and stock). A correct stock with the proper cartouches doesn't interest me all that much at the prices they fetch, and same with a mint correct barrel. No point in doing a full resto with mint parts and putting cruddy wood on it just becasue it's got a stupid stamp on it. I guess I'm caught in the middle of the collector/purist /shooter triangle of confusion and indecision... If I do have to rebarrel, may go with a .308 anyway. So, I get it done up in to a beautiful shooter, now a what do ya do with the Breda? Bearing in mind of course, I'm on a one for one plan with the wife. One comes in, one has to go out. Kinda keeps me from having doubles in similar models.
 
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Oddbawl said:
Mein gott! When I was tearing it down last night, I forgot to check, so I did just now... the op rod is uncut! I seriously doubt it been ftr'd now, that should've been changed 60 years ago! Now another quandry, do I sell the uncut rod to a restorer, get a correct shooter rod as well as pay for the rest of the resto parts with the $ I make off it, or keep it original?
I'm sure someone's gonna ask so here: http://www.scott-duff.com/oprods.htm
Click to expand...

Ya learn something everyday...I'm gonna go check my op rod right now...

I'm on a one for one plan with the wife. One comes in, one has to go out.
Click to expand...

You too eh?
 
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So, I get it done up in to a beautiful shooter, now a what do ya do with the Breda? Bearing in mind of course, I'm on a one for one plan with the wife. One comes in, one has to go out. Kinda keeps me from having doubles in similar models.
Click to expand...

I love my Breda. Excellent shooter in excellent shape...

As for the one for one....:eek:

I'd agree. If I got a new wife, I'd have to get rid of th eold one. Can't have pairs...:D

Doubles of guns in the clooection are okay, if you can justify them..
 
Oddbawl said:
Mein gott! When I was tearing it down last night, I forgot to check, so I did just now... the op rod is uncut! I seriously doubt it been ftr'd now, that should've been changed 60 years ago! Now another quandry, do I sell the uncut rod to a restorer, get a correct shooter rod as well as pay for the rest of the resto parts with the $ I make off it, or keep it original?
I'm sure someone's gonna ask so here: http://www.scott-duff.com/oprods.htm
Click to expand...

That was interesting...just out of curiousity, what's an uncut rod go for to the right buyer? How much for a later one to replace it? I could see the appeal of having that one part pay for the whole resto...
 
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