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Books on M1 Garand

1.7K views 19 replies 15 participants last post by  CJS57  
#1 ·
Since I joined this forum several years ago, I've been focused on learning about and collecting Colts. However, I've always been interested in the M1 Garand. but I don't know much about them. Can anyone recommend a good book that would help me gain some knowledge?

Any other suggestions would also be appreciated.

Thank you!
 
#12 ·
The thing with the M1 Garand is they all look alike with the exception of the early gas trap version which most of us will never see. They were the same basic gun from start to finish with interchanging parts in nearly all cases. The majority of Garands are arsenal rebuilds or made up from parts. It is much easier to find a Korean War era gun in all original condition hen a WWII gun. With all the books out now many have taken to assembling guns that match the books. The early parts are a bit hard to find and most guns were updated when they passed through the arsenals. As historical guns they are quite significant but as collector guns the thrill is a bit less. It's not like you can find one in a barn that is all original and untouched as most of what was sold off was arsenal reworked. Very few left the service in any other way. Documented original guns are scarce and the fakes are next to impossible to tell. The books are great and I have most of them but they become a technical manual of the parts for the most part.
 
#13 ·
There are original guns out there, and surprisingly some came through the NRA/DCM and CMP programs. Most collectors are looking for reference books that tell when the design of the part changed as well as the part number. Just like anything else, it takes some study and looking at original rifles to tell the originals from the rebuilds.
 
#14 ·
Books are sorta like tools, you cannot have too many. The reward/s come when you need information and you are able to reach for that book you didn’t really think you needed, or the project has tossed you a curve ball but you have that tool you bought just in case saves the day. You smile and or chuckle because you had the solution on hand. For that moment you are your own hero.
 
#17 ·
I suggest you join The Garand Collectors Association (https://thegca.org/). I am a member and can attest that it is a great organization with a ton of resources and links to resources on the Garand. They publish a newsletter as well. They are also affiliated with the CMP, which aids in the purchase of surplus M1s, ammo and accessories from that organization.
 
#18 ·
The M1 Rifle probably had more changes done to it than the Colt SAA which is highly collectible. The original recoil springs were "Keystone" made from flat wire stock, which required a helper spring, also made from square wire.

This is an original August 1940 example, and just from the rear the sight the windage and elevations knobs are different being fine checkered, and the rear sight cover is flat with no reinforcing ribs, blued instead of Parkerized, and has a part number.

Like any other collectible gun, it's knowing when the changes were made.

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