This M1 Garand was built by Springfield Armory and carries serial 26115xx, which places the receiver at about February 1944 on Springfield’s published production figures. The receiver is marked U.S. RIFLE CAL. .30 M1 SPRINGFIELD ARMORY. The barrel is a Springfield barrel dated 9-43, the bolt is D28287-12SA in heat lot RE6B, the operating rod is D35382-6-SA, the trigger housing is D28290-8-SA and the hammer is C46008-3-SA. The walnut stock carries no cartouche. The bore is mirror bright and gauges 0 at the muzzle, and the rifle is mechanically excellent. It comes as a rig: a cut down M1 bayonet dated 1942, made by Utica Cutlery and shortened from an M1905, with its M7 scabbard, an M1923 cartridge belt with ten pockets, and an early US leather scabbard for the .30 rifle, fitted with a brass relief panel that clears the operating rod handle.
The M1 Garand was adopted in 1936, the first semi automatic rifle issued as standard to any army. John Garand designed it at Springfield Armory, and it fires the .30-06 cartridge from an eight round en bloc clip that ejects with the distinctive ping when the last round is fired. Springfield Armory and Winchester built the rifle through the Second World War, Springfield making the large majority, and output reached roughly four million rifles by 1945. The bayonet changed partway through: the 16 inch M1905 was recalled from 1943, shortened to a 10 inch blade and redesignated M1, which is why wartime cut down blades still carry the earlier date they were originally made. The M1923 cartridge belt carried ten pockets, each holding two en bloc clips, for eighty rounds on the waist.
Specifications
Manufacturer: Springfield Armory
Country of origin: United States
Model: U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 (Garand)
Action: Gas-operated semi-automatic
Caliber: .30-06
Serial: 26115xx
Year: Receiver about February 1944
Barrel: Springfield, dated 9-43
Bolt: D28287-12SA, heat lot RE6B
Operating rod: D35382-6-SA
Trigger housing: D28290-8-SA
Hammer: C46008-3-SA
Stock: Walnut, no cartouche
Bore: Mirror bright, gauges 0 at the muzzle
Mechanical condition: Excellent
Bayonet: Cut down M1, dated 1942, Utica Cutlery, with M7 scabbard
Cartridge belt: M1923, ten pockets
Rifle scabbard: Early US leather scabbard for the .30 rifle, with a brass relief panel for the operating rod handle
Included: Bayonet with M7 scabbard, M1923 cartridge belt, leather rifle scabbard
