Looking for some M1D Experts

[ncozzo]

First post on the new hide. I was a member here years ago and I couldn’t recover my previous account. Anyway…

Went to my FFL to pick up a 40x .22 and spotted an M1D on the rack. I have a few Garands but I am relatively unfamiliar with the M1D and want to know what to look for to make sure it’s not pieced together. The details I have off hand and I can get more as I’ll likely be back there Saturday.

-H&R receiver
-M84 scope that had the right patina and appeared to be original production
-T37 flash hider
-$3k price tag. Possibly negotiable as it is consignment.

I guess what should I be looking for the make sure it’s legitimate and any other red flags to watch out for.

 

[Post Oak]

That is a good question. When you look at the ones that come up for sale, the choices can get confusing.

The first thing I would ask is whether the rifle has any documentation showing where it was sold. For not too much more than the $3k you mentioned you can get a documented M1D.

There were some legit HRA M1D's, but not that many. Most were SA and WRA just based on the early 50's timeframe that most M1D's were assembled. From the ones the CMP released at one point, about 10% were WRA and 90% were SA, which was about the ratio of WRA to SA prior to assembly of the M1D's.

M1D's have been sold a lot of different ways, from complete rifles with accessories, to complete rifles less accessories, to USGI parts kits, to repro parts kits.

Years ago, I wrote out a desirability list from my perspective, assuming similar condition:

1. CMP/DCM M1D with paperwork, sold as complete sniper (the Lottery M1D's)
2. SAMCO M1D with receipt, sold as complete sniper
3. CMP M1D with paperwork, sold as rifle only with USGI accessories added
4. Civilian assembled M1D, using USGI parts and accessories.
5. Civilian assembled M1D, using repro parts and accessories.

There were also some M1D’s imported from Norway, but I’m not sure whether they were complete. I’m sure there were a few USGI bring backs, but those rarely have documentation, so I left those off of the list.

Beyond any documentation you need to verify the parts and accessories themselves.

If you have some pictures, I'll be happy to look at them. There are also a lot of reference pictures over on the CMP forum.

 

[ncozzo]

I appreciate the insight here. I don’t believe it has documentation. I’m going to ask the question and see if I can get any pictures from the FFL

 

[cplnorton]

Without documentation such as the CMP paperwork, everyone will automatically consider it a put together.

Also, they repo every part on them now and unless you are good with them you will never be able to tell the difference in repo parts vs original. You can Look at the barrel drawing number to see if it's an originla USGI M1D barrel. But it still doesn't mean Ordnace put it together without paperwork. I've owned dozens of loose USGI M1D barrels and screwed them on receivers for friends to shoot in the vintage sniper match. The drawing number of a real USGI M1D barrel would end in "555". The early 1950's M1D barrels you have to remove the handguard to see the 555 on top of the barrel. The 1953 M1D barrels will have the 555 in the barrel channel and visible with the op rod pulled back.

Again, even if it has a USGI barrel that does not mean it was put together by Ordnance without paperwork.

You have to be careful on the M1D as a lot of guys build them with all repo parts. They sell a mount you can machine a regular M1 Barrel to accept and make a clone of a M1D barrel. Then they repo the mount, cheek pad, and scope.

Short of having someone that is good with these look at it, be safe and assume it's all repo. Even if the rifle was real with paperwork, a lot of guys finish them with repo parts. Most of the real M1Ds sold were sold loose and the parts were added later. Some used repo parts as they are much cheaper.