Garand Stock Information
The M1 Garand was the U.S. Army's first line infantry weapon from the Second World War through the Korean conflict. The M1 Garand is a rugged and reliable rifle with historical significance, and tens of thousands of them have been bought by gun collectors all across the country.
There are 14 different variations of M1 Garand stocks of different lengths, size of barrel channels, shape of pistol grip, etc. The M1 Garand is such a popular collector's rifle that almost any part can be purchased online, including both original and reproduction stocks.
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Brief History of the M1 Garand
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The M1 Garand rifle was developed in the late 1930s and and was one of the most advanced battle rifles in the Second World War. The U.S. also produced many tens of thousands of M1 rifles and carbines that it gave to various countries as a part of numerous "lend-lease" and other military supply programs during the Second World War, Korean War and Cold War. The M1 remained a commonly used battle rifle up until the late 1960s and even later in many smaller European and Second World countries.
Buying an M1 Garand or M1 Garand Stock
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Prices for M1 Garand rifles vary dramatically based on the model and condition. You might be able to pick up a more common model for as little as $200, but you could easily pay $2,000 or more for a rare model or a historically significant rifle. You can purchase M1 Garands online, at gun shows or many larger gun shops.
Fourteen different variations of the M1 Garand stock were produced between 1936 and 1967. Dozens of custom stocks have also been produced by aficionados and collectors. All but the rarest of models are available relatively inexpensively on the Internet today (starting below $100), and most of the larger traveling gun shows will likely have a collector/dealer with at least a few M1 Garand stocks available.
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M1 Garand Stocks
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M1 Garand rifle stocks were produced by four different manufacturers. The main production was from the Springfield National Armory, where nine different stocks for the Garand were produced between 1936 and 1957. Winchester also produced two types of stocks (undated), International Harvester another type (1953-1956), and Harrington and Richardson also produced an M1 Garand stock (1953-1956).
Identifying M1 Garand Stocks
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Original M1 Garand rifle stocks can be identified by the cartouche stamped into the stock, which has a code specifying the manufacturer and inspector of the stock. S.A. stands for Springfield Armory, W.R.A.stands for Winchester production, and Defense Eagle for both International Harvester and Harrington and Richardson production. The letters to the right represent the initials of the inspector.
Example - S.A./S.P.G. (Springfield Armory, Stanley P. Gibbs, Inspector)
Notes on the M1 Garand
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While there are a very few M1 Garands that are "mint" and were never used in training or combat, they represent less than 1 percent of the rifles in existence today. M1 Garands were never sold commercially new, and very few were warehoused, as they were a very much in-demand weapon. In fact, toward the end of the Second World War, thousands of battle-damaged M1 Garands were rebuilt and fully refurbished. These rifles frequently have a mix of parts but are desirable to collectors as they are genuine battle rifles.
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