M1 Garand Sniper

[jdbwoodsman]

The data and reference I have stipulates Springfield Armory is the only manufacturer who supplied un-heat treated receivers to G&H to be drilled and tapped, returned to SA for heat treat and completion - and that's all the further that I'm prepared to go in making statements of fact on the M1C.... they are a specialty item and it takes a guy like the gentleman Mr. Fry offered to get you in contact with who can make a determination as to originality. He's studied them for a lifetime and knows what he's talking about. If you do get in touch with him, whatever he says is not to be taken lightly, it's all good factual info coming from him. I recommend you take him up on his offer of the contact.

[RayG]

Pvt Joker

I didn't look at the author of the photos of the M1D. I thought it was the first posters photos of the one he was buying, sorry about that, my bad.
You might be right on the prices on your non-papered M1D however I was going on my experience where I had picked up one just like your's with the correct barrel and original mount etc. about three years ago but because it was not papered, I paid $1600 for it. Now I'm sure prices did go up since then.
But to the best of my knowledge, the sniper used in Korea was the M1C. as there were plently of them that had been issued by that time. The M1D probably came too late for Korea or if it did get there the fighting was either over or close to it. My barrel, like yours was dated 1952 and these rifles were probably put together some time after the barrel was made. And if following the general time period between manufacture and issue. you could be talking a year before an item is issued. I would love to see an M1D that was documented as being used in Korea, Ray

[Pvt. Joker]

Hi, Ray. No problem on the mix-up. As far as the one you bought for $1600, I believe you but speaking for myself, I wouldn't sell mine for anywhere near that low especially in today's market. Original "D" parts are not getting any easier to find, and while you can go buy the repro stuff, anyone who knows a bit about these can easily tell the difference. I don't consider mine a "fake" because I don't try and pass it off as an original rifle, but to look at the weapon itself, there really is no physical difference between it and an original arsenal-built "D" model save for the paper (and the cheekpad). But otherwise, it looks the same, it functions the same, and it is made up from the same parts, just as the originals were back in the early 1950s. I figure that's gotta be worth something, especially considering what the parts to build it cost me (and they've gone up since then, last time I looked). In the end, though, everything is only "worth" what the market will bear for it, original or otherwise. So if I do ever decide to sell it, I guess I'll find out at that point what it really IS worth at that point; good, bad, or otherwise. Of course, if it's worth less to the marketplace than it is to me, well, that's sure not going to break my heart, either. I spent a LONG time gathering all the right pieces for that little project, and I'm pretty happy with how it's turned out so far. Maybe eventually, I'll get the last details down pat like an original cheekpad, but till then, it's happy sitting on the shelf next to the K98 sniper project...



As far as the use of these in Korea goes, I think I remember seeing a photo of one being used there. There were two soldiers laying on a hill, and one was shooting an M1D if I recall correctly. If I can find it again, I'll post a link. That's the best way I know of (save for various books and claims of Korean vets whom I believe have told me they used them there, but I understand that's not hard evidence like a photo would be) to try and document the M1D as having been used in the Korean war. It certainly may not have been common, but that doesn't mean that none were ever there. I'll see if I can find that photo again.

[MikeW]

I do not remember if it was a M1C or M1D, I saw an example of one of these up close somewhere around 10 years ago at Joes Sporting Goods in St. Paul, MN.

[condor]

M1C's were originally made that way.
M1D"s are coverted M1 Garands

[RayG]

I know there is a noted photo of two Marines on a hill in Korea shooting sniper rifles. One was the scoped USMC 03 Springfield and the other was an M1C.

I'm sure your rifle is a bit more then I paid as that was 3-4 yrs ago. A couple of months after I bought it and while shooting it at the range, one of my friends who was with, wanted it real bad and as my collecting focus normally is CW throught WWII I sold it to him for $50 over what I paid to cover my gas and show costs when I bought it. I saw he was trying to sell it to fund a collector car purchase about a year ago and was asking $2600 for it. I don't think it sold though, as least not then. Ray

[FestungSpanien]

The seller told me he was going to take some pictures this weekend, so as soon as I get them I will post them to see what the heck this rifle is
Ace

[GD/LW]

Looking for a new toy Ace ?

[FestungSpanien]

You now that I am like a kid

Looking for a new toy Ace ?

[Ronnie Fry]

Can't wait to see the photos Ace!!

r

[FestungSpanien]

Ronnie, still waiting for them

Can't wait to see the photos Ace!!

r

[FestungSpanien]

Should I update this thread by saying that it all ended up with a put together sniper version, so I let it go
Thanks you all for your help
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Ace

[juoneen]

Now if you want to read a great book that is reprinted , try "shots fired in anger" or a"a rifleman goes to war. " approx 45.usd for a reprint, and if you find an original printed copy its worth a few hundred.