Description
This particular M1 Garand was a CMP (Civilian Marksmanship Program) rifle, none of the parts (serial numbers) on this weapon are matching. This M1 is also built on a Winchester receiver and this rifle is going for $1,400 U.S. Dollars, which is typical cost in today's market. Photograph by me, ask for permission to use.
The M1 Garand is a .30 caliber semi-automatic rifle that was the standard U.S. service rifle during World War II and the Korean War and also saw limited service during the Vietnam War . Most M1 rifles were issued to U.S. forces, though many hundreds of thousands were also provided as foreign aid to American allies. The Garand is still used by drill teams and military honor guards. It is also widely used by civilians for hunting, target shooting, and as a military collectible.
The M1 rifle was named after its Canadian-American designer, John Garand . It was the first standard-issue semi-automatic military rifle. By all accounts the M1 rifle served with distinction. General George S. Patton called it "the greatest battle implement ever devised". The M1 replaced the bolt action M1903 Springfield as the standard U.S. service rifle in the mid 1930s, and was itself replaced by the selective fire M14 rifle in the late 1950s.
Although the name "Garand" is frequently pronounced / ɡəˈrænd/, the preferred pronunciation is / ˈɡærənd/ (to rhyme with errand), according to experts and people who knew John Garand, the weapon's designer.Frequently referred to as the "Garand" or "M1 Garand" by civilians, its official designation when it was the issue rifle in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps was "U.S. Rifle, Caliber 30, M1" or just "M1" and Garand was not mentioned.
Service History:
The M1 Garand was made in large numbers during World War II; approximately 5.4 million were made. They were used by every branch of the United States military. By all accounts the M1 rifle served with distinction. General George S. Patton called it "the greatest implement of battle ever devised." The impact of faster-firing infantry small arms in general soon stimulated both Allied and Axis forces to greatly increase their issue of semi- and fully automatic firearms then in production, as well as to develop new types of infantry firearms.
Much of the M1 inventory in the post-World War II period underwent arsenal repair or rebuilding. While U.S. forces were still engaged in the Korean War, the Department of Defense determined a need for additional production of the Garand. Springfield Armory ramped up production, but two new contracts were awarded. During 1953–56, M1s were produced by International Harvester and Harrington & Richardson in which International Harvester alone produced a total of 337,623 M1 Garands. A final, very small lot of M1s was produced by Springfield Armory in early 1957, using finished components already on hand. Beretta also produced Garands using Winchester tooling.
The British Army looked at the M1 as a possible replacement for its bolt-action Lee–Enfield No.1 Mk III , but it was rejected when rigorous testing suggested that it was an unreliable weapon in muddy conditions. However, surplus M1 rifles were provided as foreign aid to American allies; including South Korea, West Germany, Italy, Japan, Denmark, Greece, Turkey, Iran , South Vietnam, the Philippines, etc. Most Garands shipped to allied nations were predominantly manufactured by International Harvester Corporation during the period of 1953-56, and second from Springfield Armory from all periods.
Some Garands were still being used by the United States into the Vietnam War in 1963; despite the M14 's official adoption in 1957, it was not until 1965 that the changeover from the M1 Garand was completed in the active-duty component of the army (with the exception of the sniper variants, which were introduced in World War II and saw action in Korea and Vietnam). The Garand remained in service with the Army Reserve , Army National Guard and the Navy , well into the early 1970s or longer.
Due to widespread United States military assistance as well their durability, M1 Garands have also been turning up in modern conflicts such as with the insurgencies in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Some military drill teams still use the M1 rifle, including the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team , the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Honor Guard, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary , almost all Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and some Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) teams of all branches of the U.S. military.
Production History:
Type: Semi-automatic rifle
Place of origin: United States
In service: 1936–1959 (as the standard U.S. service rifle), 1940s–present (other countries)
Used by: See Users
Wars:
Designer: John C. Garand
Designed: 1928
Manufacturer:
Unit cost: About $85 (during World War II) ($1,200- $1400+ in 2016 dollars)
Produced: 1934—1956
No. built: 5,468,772
Variants: M1C, M1D
Specifications:
Weight: 9.5 lb (4.31 kg) to 11.6 lb (5.3 kg)
Length: 43.5 in (1,100 mm) Barrel length 24 in (609.6 mm)
Cartridge :
Action : Gas-operated , rotating bolt
Rate of fire : 40–50 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity : 2,800 ft/s (853 m/s)
Effective firing range: 500 yd (457 m)
Feed system: 8-round en-bloc clip , internal magazine
Sights:
- Rear: adjustable aperture
- Front: wing protected post