Make: Springfield Armory. This rifle uses all Springfield Armory parts for its main components.
Model: M-1 Garand. This rifle has a National Match marked barrel and rear sight aperture installed.
Serial Number: 5845965
Year of Manufacture: Receiver dates to ca. 1955. Barrel is dated March 1952.
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed
Markings: There is no import mark.
Receiver: “U.S. RIFLE / CAL. .30 M1 / SPRINGFIELD / ARMORY / 5845965”
Trigger Group: “6528290-SA”
Hammer: “SA D5546008”
Safety: “SA-11”
Follower: Unmarked
Receiver Leg: “F 6528291”. Correct for the rifle’s serial number.
Op Rod: “D35382 3 SA”
Barrel: “-D6535488 46 A167A-” and “NM” on top. “S-A-3-52” on the right rear.
Bolt: “D28287-12SA / S-06 diamond”
The stock and sights are described below.
Barrel Length: 24”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set between two protective wings. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture sight set between two protective wings. A National Match rear aperture is installed. The face of the aperture’s riser is marked “NM”. The top of the aperture is marked “595”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The left side of the stock, above the trigger, is marked with a boxed Springfield “SA / GAW” stamp, and a “crossed cannons” cartouche. The face of the grip is marked with a “P”.
The stocks are three piece smooth walnut with metal nose caps, a stacking loop, two sling loops, a pistol grip, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage in the butt. The hand guards are securely in place. The pin that secures the lower band to the barrel cut is missing. The front handguard is screwed to the lower band to limit movement and improve accuracy. The wood shows scrapes and compression marks. The LOP measures 13 ¼” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate shows light wear. The stocks rate in about Very Good Plus to Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original to Rebuild
Bore Condition: The grooves are semi-bright. There is fouling in the bore that should clean up some. The rifling is deep. There is some oxidation in the grooves near the muzzle. The bore shows an M.E. of 1.8. The throat shows a T.E. of 2.8. In this writer's opinion, this bore rates an 8.5 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. The gas tube shows one small but deep scrape. The remaining metal shows scuffs, a few light scrapes, and other light handling marks. The action shows light operational wear. The metal markings are clear. Some of the stock markings have faded. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle has an OD canvas sling attached, a combination tool stored in the butt, and a rear sight protector installed.
Our Assessment: "I am confident that the M-1 rifle is potentially as accurate as any service rifle ever made, and that with the same care that has been bestowed on the 1903 National Match rifles in the past, it can be made to give long-range accuracy that will excel that of any other military arm."
-John Garand, September 1947 issue of "The American Rifleman". Much of the historical information in this listing is based on the writing of the incomparable Bruce Canfield.
The trusty old M-1903 Springfield was long believed to be more accurate than the M-1 Garand, but soon after WW2, the target possibilities of the Garand began to be appreciated. In 1953, true National Match Garands started to be built, with barrels selected by straightness, bolts by minimum headspace, lower bands by tight fit, stocks and hand guards by grain and fit, trigger groups by crispness of pull, and operating rods by proper fit. Specially made "National Match" Garand components manufactured by Springfield Armory were marked "NM", and Springfield Armory specifically made use of their high quality 1952 dated barrels for production of NM rifles until their supply was exhausted in 1963; serendipitous timing, as the last of the National Match M-1 Garands were produced in 1963. The following year they were replaced by National Match versions of the new US 7.62 NATO M-14 battle rifle.
This US Post-WW2 Springfield Armory M-1 Garand started life as a standard issue M-1 Garand made in ca. 1955, and has since been rebuilt, with a National Match marked barrel and rear sight aperture now installed. This rifle uses all Springfield Armory parts for its main components, and the front handguard is screwed to the lower band to limit movement and improve accuracy.
RIFLE