As long as I had the lights and camera out for the "after" shots of my K98, I thought I might as well show off my Garand. It's a 41 British Lend-Lease, all original.
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Nice I had one of these and it was a Winchester made M1.
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Hi Matt, please forgive my ignorance but what makes this a "British Lend - Lease Garand"? I have never heard of M1's being supplied to British forces? Are these marked "US Property" like Lend-Lease Thompsons?
The only use of M1 Garands by British Forces that I know of was during "OP Torch" in North Africa where several British units were dressed as "US troops" with M1 helmets and M41 jackets (to avoid them being fired upon by Vichy French Forces) Actually a friend of mine from No.6 Commando was one of these men and he carried an M1. He was reluctant to give it back after the Op
but he realised that getting .30-'06 ammo would be a problem so he went back to the .303 Lee Enfield.
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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Under the Lend-Lease Act of 1941, these rifles and other weapons and aid were shipped to England to aid in the defense of their homeland. It seems that their restrictive gun laws left them in a pretty tight spot. I've also read that these rifles, as with the Savage made Enfields, were loaned (rather than sold) to bypass restrictions against selling arms to England since the US was neutral at the time. I'm not sure when these rifles came home, but mine was purchased by a friend in the 70's. Most of them came home with a red band on the handguard marked "30-06" to help prevent them from being loaded with .303 British.
I'm no expert on this, but here's a link to an article from the NRA's American Rifleman:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/650257/posts
I hope this answers your question. I had never heard of the lend-lease act until I got this rifle.
Coastie: Hey Chief, it's good to see another Coastie around here. That was my original choice for a screen name.Comment
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Matt,Originally posted by Matt Vann
Yes the does your M1 have the British proof marks on it as found on many of these lend lease M1's also did you replace the stock?
Thanks,
Robert
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I just noticed you little note there. Yeah 'fraid the old Chief bet ya to it,Originally posted by Matt Vann
it's my e-bay name as well that's another story.
My M-1 had a BP mark on the barrel and I kick myself in the butt for selling it. Used part of my second Re-enlistment bonus to buy it. It was a definite tack driver.
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This one has the British proof-mark on the barrel as well as the "30-06" stamp. The stock is correct and probably original, just cleaned up with some linseed oil and elbow grease. There is still some paint inside the barrel slot of the forend where the red band was. This rifle is in unbelieveable condition. The barrel and throat erosion is 1 to 1.5. I'm the second owner of this weapon since it came back.Comment
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M1
Very nice!
RobertComment
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Nice rifle Matt!,
This is my version of the same.
Originally posted by Matt VannAs long as I had the lights and camera out for the "after" shots of my K98, I thought I might as well show off my Garand. It's a 41 British Lend-Lease, all original.
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#2Originally posted by Gary CainComment
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Anyone know what the '6' signifies?
#3Originally posted by Gary CainComment
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#4Originally posted by Gary CainComment
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#5Originally posted by Gary CainComment
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#6 These are the Brit proofs.Originally posted by Gary CainComment
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The markings on mine are the same, but I'm lost on the "6." I have a friend who has forgotten more about Garands than I'll ever know, so I'll ask him next time we run into each other.Comment
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