Erly M1 Garand Gas Tub Why So Expencive?

[brannow]

Hi Guys,

So I bought a collection of gun parts from the estate of a gun collector and in the stuff is this early Garand gas cylinder. I put it on ebay and its going nuts. Why is it going for so much money? What am I missing here?

Here is the auction. Its mine so you have permission to discus it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Early-RIA-M1...item2c895b6784

Thanks in advance,

Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN
www.collectorsmilitaria.com

[Dave C.]

Not just an early gas cylinder but a 'gas trap'! These were only used on the earliest production and subsequently dropped/replaced. Rare and expensive parts. Try google searching it and you will finds lots of more info.

[Johnny Peppers]

All the "Gas Trap" M1 Rifles that were in inventory were converted to gas port as they could be brought into armories. The gas cylinders are particularly hard to find as most of the other early parts were compatible with the early gas port system. Not only that, but the gas cylinder appears to be almost complete with the exception of the stacking swivel.

Curious as to the reference to RIA.

Did you find any springs that look like these. The spring on the right is the op-rod spring, and the spring on the left is an assist spring for the op-rod spring.

[Johnny Peppers]

I can see the drawing number on the rear ring of the gas cylinder, but don't see a drawing number on the gas plug or sight. The early examples had a drawing number on virtually every part, but this was quickly phased out, with the drawing number left only on the major parts.

This is the lower butt plate screw from a gas trap rifle, with drawing number B-8881-6. The B indicated the size of the drafting paper the screw was on, 8881 was the number assigned the screw, and the 6 was the revision number of the screw.

[brannow]

Thanks Guys! I put RIA because that was on the guys tag. How big is that spring? I have lots of springs and have to look though them again but it does not look familiar.

Thanks again!

Bill Rannow
Mpls, MN
www.collectorsmilitaria.com

[Johnny Peppers]

While Rock Island Arsenal did build Model 1903 rifles, they never built any M1 Rifles.

By the way, sent the link to the auction to Billy Pyle who is probably the foremost authority on the M1 Rifle, and especially the gas trap, and he said the gas cylinder assembly was totally correct.

http://www.dsarms.com/p-11749-book-t...illy-pyle.aspx

[Lampwick]

WOW!!! Result!! Sold for $4,748.12

[rajko84]

WOW!!! Result!! Sold for $4,748.12

I could not believe the price. If that piece sold for that much how much would go the whole rifle which is not converted?

[Johnny Peppers]

Probably next to the barrel, the gas cylinder assembly is the hardest part to find when doing a restoration of a gas trap rifle. Not that you could place that much value on the gas cylinder just to have one should you do a restoration, but a very high value to someone doing a restoration and needing just that part. Depending on condition, original gas trap rifles sell in the $50,000 range. Something under 50,000 were manufactured, and today they are extremely rare in original unaltered configuration. Ordnance converted all in inventory to the new gas port system, so originals probably left the military by being stolen.

[scotty1418]

Hope you're going for a steak dinner!

[rajko84]

Probably next to the barrel, the gas cylinder assembly is the hardest part to find when doing a restoration of a gas trap rifle. Not that you could place that much value on the gas cylinder just to have one should you do a restoration, but a very high value to someone doing a restoration and needing just that part. Depending on condition, original gas trap rifles sell in the $50,000 range. Something under 50,000 were manufactured, and today they are extremely rare in original unaltered configuration. Ordnance converted all in inventory to the new gas port system, so originals probably left the military by being stolen.

Thank you Johnny for your answer.

[Death-Ace]

Thank you Johnny for your answer.

Now to sports with Dave! Sorry, couldn't resist! Is it true that many gas trap rifles were still in the Philippines during the invasion in '41/'42? I remember reading it somewhere but never found any evidence regarding it. Nice little piece of history!

Lev