M1 Garand Project

[Danoff]

Hey I have one of those! I didn't realize it was worth that much.

I have both an M1 Garand and an M1 Carbine. Grandfather (WWII vet) handed them down. They weren't his (he wasn't allowed to keep them), he bought them after the war.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

Nice project. 👍
When the Garand empties its magazine and automatically ejects it, does it really make a pinging loud enough that enemy soldiers can hear it?

Yup, some U.S soldiers used the noise to their advantage by carrying an empty mag and throwing it on the ground to trick the enemy into thinking they were reloading and therefore a vunerable easy target.

 

[pvtlapdance]

Here are a few photos of the stock after I unboxed it. It's soaked in greased, scratched, dented and dinged. It was so dirty that crap came off on my hands just taking it out of the box...

It's sitting on a pizza box because I was about to wash some of the surface dirt off with some simple green

 

[Takumi Fujiwara]

Haha, that thing's gonna need some work. Are you planning on a straight refinishing or something fancier? I'm thinking that if nothing else does it, maybe some checkering could hide some of the really trashed areas of the stock.

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, I'm a total sucker for any kind of restoration project.

 

[pvtlapdance]

Haha, that thing's gonna need some work. Are you planning on a straight refinishing or something fancier? I'm thinking that if nothing else does it, maybe some checkering could hide some of the really trashed areas of the stock.

I'll be keeping an eye on this thread, I'm a total sucker for any kind of restoration project.

I'm gonna just do a straight restoration. I want to bring it back to its original look. The only thing I care about actually being original is the stock. All the metal bits I'm just going to buy new (since I plan on firing it).

I'm not trying to track down all original WWII parts like some people do. Not on this project at least haha

 

[sesselpupser]

If I could legally own any gun in the world it would probably be an M1 Garand, I've always loved them ever since playing Medal of Honour on my PS1. Good luck with the resto, can't wait to see how it turns out!

 

[pvtlapdance]

So yesterday I spent about 3hrs taking an 800 degree heat gun to the stock. The idea is that the grease that is permeated into the wood melts at around 190. When it melts, it comes to the surface of the wood and can be wiped away.

In these pics, not a huge difference, but the natural grain of the wood has started to come back.

The original stamping is now visible

 

[TankAss95]

I'm gonna just do a straight restoration. I want to bring it back to its original look. The only thing I care about actually being original is the stock. All the metal bits I'm just going to buy new (since I plan on firing it).

I'm not trying to track down all original WWII parts like some people do. Not on this project at least haha

When the time comes be cautious; the sound of gunfire could take a veteran back to his youth...

 

[f1reb1rd]

Ohh im sorry im not good at grammer and im on my ipod so its like im txting and yes its like an ak47 only its a rifle

No s*** it's a rifle. It doesn't look like the AK either

 

[zedextreme8177]

My first glance at the thread title: My Grand Project

Still, the M1 Garand is probably my favourite semi-auto rifle, I still remember it from playing Medal of Honor: Frontline... Good times

 

[pvtlapdance]

Just spent 2.5 hours steaming the stock. The idea was that the steam would make the wood expand and pop out the dents, like autobody stuff but on wood.

Worked really well, pics to follow probably tomorrow afternoon!

 

[Skygrasper550]

M1 Garand, one of the most powerful and iconic rifles ever made. Very nice. Hope you get some pics and a video of the gun in action (especially the reload *Chiiing!!* ). Good luck with the rifle, mate