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“The M1 Garand: World War II” Intro
Much has happened in the M1 rifle collecting world since the publication of The M1 Garand of World War II – A Guide for the Collector. Over the course of the past five years a great deal of new information has been complied. The interest of collectors in John Garand’s rifle has increased phenomenally. This is in part due to the overall increase in interest pertaining to World War II. Much attention has been focused on this era as a result of the ongoing tribute to the 50th Anniversary of that war. The Garand Collectors Association (GCA) has grown to levels that those of us involved in 1986 has never…
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The Saga of TRW M14NM S/N 1453711 (Part 3 of 3)
What’s so interesting about a specific M14 rifle that we are writing about it here? The simple answer is that this is the only true M14 rifle that can be transferred on Form 4473 as an ordinary semiautomatic rifle. But wait! Aren’t all true M14 rifles machine guns because of the lug on the receiver for the full auto parts and are therefore National Firearms Act (NFA) articles that require the full NFA transfer protocol of passport photo, fingerprint card, Form 6 completion, a $200 transfer stamp, and a wait of up to a year or more? Yes, they are…well, except this TRW. So, what makes this M14 so special?…
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My M14 (Part 2 of 3)
Martial Arms collectors have a fertile field of historic artifacts to pursue. Martial arms are a unique collectable that allows a person to own an artifact “that was there”. Not many collectors have the means to own a F4U Corsair, No private citizen owns a battleship, but a martial arm is well within the means of a dedicated collector. I own a Charleville Musket that might have been at Yorktown and used in storming Redoubt #10. I have a Civil War Merrill Carbine identified to a trooper in the 8th Indiana Cavalry. My M1 Garand might have been at Elsenborn ridge during the Bulge when we stopped Stepp Detrich’s Panzers…
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My First M14/M1A (Part 1 of 3)
I’ve had a lifelong interest in history in general and US military history in particular. A Spring 1983 visit to Springfield Armory National Historic Site heightened my interest in US military firearms. Two of the rifles I wanted to own were an M1 Garand and a Springfield Armory Inc. M1A, the civilian version of the M14. In February 1984 Springfield was offering dealer direct a service grade M1A with upgraded National Match (NM) barrel and a NM type walnut stock that was heavier than the service grade stock and without the selector cutout. I ordered my first M1A. At that time little did I know that this was the rifle…
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My Favorite Garands (Part 2/2)
By Scott Duff A brief examination of the Springfield Garand quickly reveals it to be a rifle that has been carried and fired. Between the throat erosion reading, wear pattern on the left bolt lug, overall wear patterns of reciprocating parts, and the patina of the wood and the minor dings, it is apparent that this rifle did not spend its service life in a rack in an arms room. The presence of three groups of bullet tip dings on the right side of the stock is also a clue of possible combat use. An examination of the Winchester Garand also quickly reveals service use. The bore is dark and…
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My Favorite Garands (Part 1/2)
My Favorite Garands (Part 1 of 2) If you have followed my writings, you know that I advocate a theme to collecting. As an example, my theme for collecting World War II era Springfield Armory M1 rifles is to have one of each year from 1939 through 1945. I also have a theme with my entire US martial arms collection. I collect by war usage: French and Indian War, American Revolution, Seminole Wars, Mexican War, Civil War, Indian Wars, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, and Korean War. I prefer firearms that were most typical of those used by the average soldier, cavalry man, or paratrooper. Nothing…
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What were the origins of the Garand? “Our New Service Rifle (1938)”
Above: John C. Garand shows off the excellent balance of the M1 rifle. Credit: SANHS Our New Service Rifle JOHN CANTIUS GARAND 1888-1974 “A Quiet Genius Who Gave To His Adopted Country ‘The Greatest Battle Implement Ever Devised’ The M1 Rifle” Above from the inscription on the John C. Garand bust at the Springfield Armory National Historic Site Donated by the Membership of the Garand Collectors Association June 6, 1994 For more than thirty years the Ordnance Department endeavored to obtain a satisfactory semi-automatic or self-loading rifle to replace the bolt action Springfield. These efforts were not confined to development within the Department. Invitations were extended periodically to…
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My Path to Becoming an M1 Garand Collector, Researcher and Author, (Part 4/4)
My Path to Becoming an M1 Garand Collector, Researcher and Author, Part 4 By Scott Duff For most of the 1980s I was employed at the Pittsburgh based headquarters of a major national mechanical contractor that specialized in large industrial and commercial projects. I worked in the law department as a contracts administrator specializing in claims and litigation support. My activities included coordination with outside attorneys, document discovery, claims writing, contract writing, and preparing expert witness testimony. My work experience prepared me for research and writing on the topic of the M1 Garand rifle. Therefore, it seemed logical to me to transfer the results of my research at SANHS and…
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My Path to Becoming an M1 Garand Collector, Researcher and Author (Part 3/4)
In addition to participating in IPSC competition, I began to shoot in Service Rifle matches. I was shooting in four matches a month, practicing with pistol and rifle weekly, and spent my free time cleaning guns and reloading ammo. Great fun! I wish I had kept track of how many rounds I fired in both platforms, but I did not. My best guess is that in the 1980s I was somewhere between 50,000 and 75,000 rounds. It could have been higher. I don’t really know for certain, but that is a good guess of the range. While competing in the shooting sports, I also I had become interested in collecting…
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My Path to Becoming an M1 Garand Collector, Researcher and Author (Part 2/4)
When we last visited this topic, about eight of us were piling into a van and heading to Clairton Sportsmen’s Club to shoot in our first DCM service rifle matches. My part began about six months prior to that, in March 1984 with the purchase of a Springfield Armory Inc. M1A rifle with NM barrel and stock. I befriended my local gun club’s High Power Rifle competitor, former Marine Bill Thomas. Bill had been competing and Camp Perry for many years and was an accomplished rifleman. He began training me in the ways of high power rifle shooting. We shot nearly every Saturday morning. Not knowing what to expect at…
