M1 Garand, original issue, before 1958

What this entry covers

ATF's wording is "U.S. Rifle, cal. .30, M1, original issue only, produced prior to 1958."¹ It names the rifle by its official designation, the one often simply called the Garand⁴, and adds two conditions: the rifle is "original issue only", and it was "produced prior to 1958"¹. It names no maker, so it is not limited to rifles from Springfield Armory¹. Whether a particular rifle fits this entry depends on the ATF wording above.

The same page carries a second, similar entry: "U.S. Rifle, cal. .30, M1, original military issue only, produced prior to 1956."¹ The sources consulted for this note do not explain why ATF lists both; each carries its own wording. Other M1 rifle entries are narrower still: early Springfield Armory rifles with the original gas system made "from 1936 until early 1940", and two commemorative series, the Springfield World War II Commemorative and the Springfield Armory, Inc. Korean War Commemorative, each with its own serial range².

Identifying it

• Maker and serial number. Springfield Armory, Winchester Repeating Arms, International Harvester, Harrington and Richardson and, in one small block, Rock Island Arsenal were each assigned blocks of serial numbers³. International Harvester's blocks began at 4,400,000 and Harrington and Richardson's at 4,660,001³. The National Park Service notes that the companies' numbers intermixed as production grew, and that its figures are approximate³.
• Winchester's 1945 rifles. In mid-January 1945 Winchester switched to serial numbers in the 1.6 millions, and rifles numbered 1,600,000 to 1,640,000 were made through 30 June 1945³.
• Dating by serial number. The park's month-by-month table for Springfield Armory and Winchester rifles is credited to Scott A. Duff's book on the wartime rifle³.

Common confusions

• Rebuilt rifles. According to the Civilian Marksmanship Program, decades of service left most of these rifles with replaced parts or a new finish, and untouched examples are scarce⁵. The entry's phrase "original issue only" is the wording such rifles are read against¹.
• Assembled rifles. Some rifles the program sells are built on reclaimed receivers with new commercial barrels and stock sets⁵. It notes that choosing a receiver maker does not mean the barrel and other parts came from the same maker⁵.
• 7.62 NATO versions. The MK2 MOD 0, converted with a chamber bushing, and the MK2 MOD 1, built for 7.62 NATO without one, differ from rifles issued in .30 caliber⁵.
• Import marks. The program states that the rifles it sells do not carry import marks⁵.
• Commemoratives. The World War II and Korean War commemorative rifles have their own entries and serial prefixes².

History

John Garand's design was adopted by the Army in 1936, with the Marine Corps and Navy following by 1940⁴. By the end of the Second World War Springfield Armory alone had made 3.1 million M1 rifles⁴. The rifle served through the Korean War and was replaced by the M-14 by 1957⁴. The National Park Service puts total production at more than six million⁴.

Further reading

• The Springfield Armory National Historic Site production page³ gives serial blocks by maker and a monthly table for wartime rifles.
• The park's article on John Garand⁴ covers the rifle's adoption and service life.
• The Civilian Marksmanship Program's M1 page⁵ describes how rebuilt and reassembled rifles differ from rifles as delivered.