Cleaning or Rebuilding/ M1 Garand

[Clancy]

Gentlemen,
I have a question to ask you guys about your M1 Garand. Here we go. Whether you received it from the CMP or from a dealer, how many of you take the M1 Garand apart, clean it, apply grease, check parts, maybe change a stock or small parts, and then put the rifle back together and leave it as is? Or are you the type who would parkerize all the parts, boil the stock or run it through the dishwasher, or use oven cleaner on it, etc., and change major parts like a barrel or bolt to make it pretty/correct ? Do you think it has lost some of its historical value by basically re-building the gun?

Thanks again
Clancy

NRA Life Endowment
NRA Training Counselor
NRA Instructor
FSS 90% / BW X Speed Div by 1000 = PF
THA 63

[kurac]

I always break new purchases down, de-grease and then clean and re-grease/oil as needed. Regarding Garands, I have one complete rifle in hand but it was built on an ADI receiver and sold under the Springfield name, I have also a USGI Springfield receiver 5mil which I will be building a rifle around and then I have a complete rifle on the way from the CMP. This last rifle will be cleaned when it gets here and then test fired a lot for functionality. If it works fine I don't think I will be replacing any parts or re-parking

[Dump1567]

I clean and sometimes replace small parts or broken parts. I am guilty of dishwashing the stock, light sanding and applying Tung oil. I currently ony have two Garands. One is an H&R that has new wood and was refinished compliments of the Greeks. Almost looks new. The second is a 6 digit WWII SA that I pretty much left alone.

[icormba]

Gentlemen,
...received it from the CMP how many of you take the M1 Garand apart, clean it, apply grease, check parts, maybe change a stock or small parts, and then put the rifle back together and leave it as is?

Thanks again
Clancy

I usually follow Option #1

Sometimes I'll find a cheap ~$15-30 stock on eBay, throw it in the washer to see how it comes out, and maybe use it on a stockless Dane.


edit: Oh! I am collecting various Winchester parts for my 1941 (Nov)Winchester... When I'm done the only parts not Winchester will be the barrel & stock($$$$). This does nothing for collector value and will end up looking pretty funny considering none of the parts match color wise.

[TEX1966]

Clean, de-cosmo stock, grease and shoot. Have done this with all 3 service grades I got from the CMP. Did swap some parts around (HRA to HRA gun and SA to SA GUNS).

[Full Clip]

I went in knowing the Garand I picked up off Gunbroker last year (my first!) was a mixmaster of otherwise fine parts with a replacement stock. All I did was clean and lube and re-oil the wood with a couple coats of BLO. I wanted a shooter, not a collector/museum piece, but I think I got a pretty nice one. Looks respectable, shoots great! I have a couple of other collectable mil-surps (FN-49, SVT-40, Enfield No. 5) but truly collectable Garands are way out of my price league...