My New Toy: The Greatest Gift Ever!

[Walter Zoomie]

My uncle, a Vietnam vet, gave me something today I have been wanting for a long time.

I'm as giddy as a school girl!





It's a Springfield, with a serial number of 1009XXX, indicating November-December 1942 year of manufacture according to this website.

M1 Garand Serial Numbers

The furniture is a little beat up and the finish isn't pretty. I haven't field stripped it yet, as I am of the M16A1/A2 generation...and I don't know how...but I'll learn.

I don't know what the barrel or bore looks like yet, but the exterior metal surfaces have a very nice parkerized finish with no rust or pitting.

It seems to function OK so far as I can tell with my limited knowledge. I can work the bolt, and it goes click when I pull the trigger.

I plan on downloading and printing the Garand manual and learning all I can about this battle rifle. I will also take it to a knowledgeable gunsmith to make sure it is in good working order, because I will be shooting it!

I'm so happy I just might crap the bed tonight.

 

[Scutter01]

Outstanding!

 

[infidel]

That's just awesome! I'm glad to hear that you plan on shooting it. Where did / when did your uncle get it?

 

[ISP 5353]

Very cool gift! Shoot and enjoy it!

 

[Walter Zoomie]

That's just awesome! I'm glad to hear that you plan on shooting it. Where did / when did your uncle get it?

He said he bought it 15 years ago from a gun store.

I just pulled the trigger group out. It is numbered D28210-12-SA...I'm assuming an authentic Springfield Armory assembly. It looks like brand new. Very little wear and is very stiff. Had to lube it a little to get the safety to function. Looks good to me!

 

[sloughfoot]

That is a great gift. There is a lot of info for the M1 at the CMP website.

M1 Garand - Nomenclature & Accessories & Maintenance

 

[IndianasFinest]

Awsome !!! That's one hell of an Uncle....

 

[gunrunner0]

Congrats on the new-to-you gun, IMHO guns handed down like that by family members are the best ones to own.

 

[Bigum1969]

Congrats! What an awesome uncle!

 

[mrmarky]

NICEEE tell your Uncle thanks for 2 things,,, one for the rifle,, and two for serving our country. I salute him.

 

[jblomenberg16]

NICEEE tell your Uncle thanks for 2 things,,, one for the rifle,, and two for serving our country. I salute him.

This!! Very awesome indeed.


Also, check the S/N...you might have an extra 0 in your OP.

from: M1 Garand Serial Numbers

Year/Month
Serial # at end of Month​

1942

January
462,737
February
498,216
March
542,494
April
588,879
May
638,679
June
691,401
July
749,779
August
809,016
September
872,343
October
940,250
November
1,008,899
December
1,090,310​

 

[Dawall]

Excellent rifle.

 

[Walter Zoomie]

...check the S/N...you might have an extra 0 in your OP.

Yep. You're right. Stringing too many zeroes together can fool these old eyes.

 

[Walter Zoomie]

BTW...this will be me in few years.

Get off my lawn.

 

[HandK]

Wow!! thats great, Does you uncle want to adopt??? just sayin I'm available!!

 

[Shoots4Fun]

Wow, what an awesome gift! I definitely want to eventually get one. I hope you enjoy it...

 

[Walter Zoomie]

Upon further field stripping and inspection, the barreled receiver group looks just as good. Entire mechanism appears to be US Govt. issue, with no phony foreign/aftermarket parts. Very little wear. I'd say this rifle was gone through and refurbished at least once by a military armorer, and fired very little.

Next chance I get, I will pull the bolt and receiver group apart and inspect the bore and barrel lining. I expect it all to be in good shape as well.

 

[Naptown]

I don't even have an uncle, but I would want yours if I got to pick.

 

[Walter Zoomie]

I researched some proof marks on the Garand stock, and they indicate that the stock was made somewhere from June 1953 to June 1957. During that time frame, Springfield made rifles with serial numbers between 4,320,000 to 6,099,905.

Stamps used to make the proof marks
​

If you remember, my rifle's serial number is 1,009,XXX...indicating that the wood and the upper receiver are not original. This is more common than not, seeing as these rifles were retrofitted and repaired, usually more than once, during their service life.

Even though these facts probably lessen the value of my rifle, it doesn't matter to me, but it would to a snot nosed and snobby elite Garand collector geek...and there are a lot of those types of people out there these days.

 

[kedie]

Congrats on becoming an owner of the greatest battle implement ever devised!