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Guys,
I ordered a CMP service grade Garand in late March. If you'll remember, they quit accepting orders for Springfield Garands sometime in February. The only service grades they had were H&R, so that's what I ordered. Since so many of the H&R's seem to be in excellent shooting condition, I looked forward to one of those, even though I prefer WWII history.
I used the "yellow sticky" option and threw a true "Hail Mary" pass. To the best of my memory, my sticky read something like this (all truth):
"Dear CMP,
My dad was one of Gen Patton's infantrymen at the Battle of the Bulge. Although I ordered an H&R, I would be deeply in your debt if you could find a Springfield service grade with a serial number below 3,300,000. If not, I’ll be very happy with a good-shooting H&R. Thanks so much.”
I got my shipping confirmation e-mail Thursday. Drum roll....
The following are the contents of this shipment:
Qty Item-No Item-Description
--------- --------------- ------------------------------
1 RM1SAS M1 Garand SA Service Grade
1 PC006FREE Case, CMP Hard Rifle Case
YYYEESSSS!!!!
The “Hail Mary” pass landed yesterday, and appears to have scored not one touchdown but TWO! I had forgotten they shipped Fedex overnight.
I opened the box and just kept saying “Oh my God.” Service Grade Springfield Armory serial number 2,010,9XX (October 1943). The milling marks are still strongly present in the op rod and bolt lug grooves, suggesting not a huge amount of use. Barrel 1 MW, 2+ TE, Sept 1946 SA (OMG!).
Milled trigger guard, SA trigger housing, SA Op rod, SA bolt (OMG!) Everything marked appears to be SA, other than the stock. Brand-new looking butt plate, gas cylinder, and front sight (CMP replacements?).
Late-production IHC or H&R walnut stock with some dings, walnut handguards.
I just kept looking at this rifle, and couldn’t help but suspect that some CMP armorer noted on my yellow sticky that my dad fought at the Battle of the Bulge, so he cherry-picked all the best Springfield Armory parts he could find, got me a nice walnut stock, and put together one awesome SA rifle for a service grade when I wasn’t even supposed to be able to order a Springfield at all. OMG. He cared. He cared about my dad, and about me, and he showed it. It brought tears to my eyes.
I think there are some folks even in this day and age worthy of our praise. I hope I can thank the specific individuals who made this happen! The CMP is FIRST CLASS!
I already had the 1943 UFH shortened bayonet, and have a repro 1907 sling for it. Hope to get it to the range soon!
Warmest Regards,
Crunch
I ordered a CMP service grade Garand in late March. If you'll remember, they quit accepting orders for Springfield Garands sometime in February. The only service grades they had were H&R, so that's what I ordered. Since so many of the H&R's seem to be in excellent shooting condition, I looked forward to one of those, even though I prefer WWII history.
I used the "yellow sticky" option and threw a true "Hail Mary" pass. To the best of my memory, my sticky read something like this (all truth):
"Dear CMP,
My dad was one of Gen Patton's infantrymen at the Battle of the Bulge. Although I ordered an H&R, I would be deeply in your debt if you could find a Springfield service grade with a serial number below 3,300,000. If not, I’ll be very happy with a good-shooting H&R. Thanks so much.”
I got my shipping confirmation e-mail Thursday. Drum roll....
The following are the contents of this shipment:
Qty Item-No Item-Description
--------- --------------- ------------------------------
1 RM1SAS M1 Garand SA Service Grade
1 PC006FREE Case, CMP Hard Rifle Case
YYYEESSSS!!!!
The “Hail Mary” pass landed yesterday, and appears to have scored not one touchdown but TWO! I had forgotten they shipped Fedex overnight.
I opened the box and just kept saying “Oh my God.” Service Grade Springfield Armory serial number 2,010,9XX (October 1943). The milling marks are still strongly present in the op rod and bolt lug grooves, suggesting not a huge amount of use. Barrel 1 MW, 2+ TE, Sept 1946 SA (OMG!).
Milled trigger guard, SA trigger housing, SA Op rod, SA bolt (OMG!) Everything marked appears to be SA, other than the stock. Brand-new looking butt plate, gas cylinder, and front sight (CMP replacements?).
Late-production IHC or H&R walnut stock with some dings, walnut handguards.
I just kept looking at this rifle, and couldn’t help but suspect that some CMP armorer noted on my yellow sticky that my dad fought at the Battle of the Bulge, so he cherry-picked all the best Springfield Armory parts he could find, got me a nice walnut stock, and put together one awesome SA rifle for a service grade when I wasn’t even supposed to be able to order a Springfield at all. OMG. He cared. He cared about my dad, and about me, and he showed it. It brought tears to my eyes.
I think there are some folks even in this day and age worthy of our praise. I hope I can thank the specific individuals who made this happen! The CMP is FIRST CLASS!
I already had the 1943 UFH shortened bayonet, and have a repro 1907 sling for it. Hope to get it to the range soon!
Warmest Regards,
Crunch
Congrats.
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