Tracking rifles history

[summerside sniper]

As I understand it, a person can within some reason track their M1 Garands WWII history, right down to the person in field in some cases. Is this possible with other rifles? Does anyone have a site(s) that I can use to try and track my other rifles histories?

 

[John Sukey]

If you are referring to enfields, unless they have a unit marking disc, NOT A Chance! And even then it will only lead you to the unit that had it last.

Mousers? Yeah suuure, Noisey Maggots? NEVER

I don't think its even possible with Garands. Keep in mind the Garand was issued and reissued and reissued ad nauseum.

the only case I know of was the guy who bought an M1 from the DCM. On removing the buttplate, to clean up the rifle, he discovered his initials pencilled on the wood. It was the same rifle he carried during the Korean War. The chance of that happening again is about as possible as being able to fly by flapping your arms.

 

[sunray]

"...right down to the person in field..." Nope. Those records were unit level records and were not kept by any military service for any issue weapon. Some M1's can be traced, for a fee, to a unit, but not all of 'em. For most military firearms ALL arsenal level records of which unit got what rifle have long since been destroyed. I'd bet the CF has destroyed the records for C1A1's etc, too. No point keeping records for a rifle not issued anymore.
"...the same rifle he carried during..." A miracle! The guy should have run out and bought a lottery ticket.

 

[John Sukey]

The story appeared in the American Rifleman.