Premier Fine Art & Antiques Auction
August 29, 2023
Below is just a small portion of the massive selection of high quality art & antiques to be featured in our upcoming August 29th 2023 auction! This auction will span multiple genres of collectibles, including Fine Paintings & Art, Jewelry & Silver, Orientalia, Rare Glass & Lamps, Early & Victorian Furniture, Decoys, Carvings, Coin-Op, & MORE!
EXTREMELY DESIREABLE U.S. SPRINGFIELD M1 “GAS TRAP” GARAND SEMI-AUTO MILITARY RIFLE
22-4373
Cal. 30-06
Ser. # 46195.
Barrel is 23-1/4″ including gas trap with markings visible on the right side that include “M” and “P” punch mark proof. Throat gauges 1.0. Muzzle does not accept gauge due to gas trap assembly. “Flush nut” aperture rear sight with battle range elevation knob. Sight cover marked “B8872”. Blade front sight with protective ears. These rifles were the first production models of the iconic and widely used semi-automatic military rifle developed by John C. Garand, an Ordnance Design Engineer who worked at the Springfield Armory. Many different types of rifles were tested in this era to arrive at a design which would fulfill military requirements. Mr. Garand experimented with several diverse types of operation before settling on the gas system.
The new rifle was adopted January 9, 1936 as U.S. Semi-Automatic Rifle, Cal. 30 M1. The new rifle became known by the name of its designer and is widely but unofficially known as the M1 Garand. This rifle made a valuable contribution to the Allied Victory in WWII; it also served through the Korean War and was widely distributed and served many more years in numerous nations’ forces around the world. Any newly developed design will have problems which need to be eliminated, and the gas trap system proved no exception. It quickly built up carbon deposits and could be difficult to clean. After approximately 47,000 rifles were manufactured, the new gas “port” system began to replace the gas “trap”. This system involved drilling a hole into the bore in order to access the expanding gases needed to operate the rifle. There is an overlap in Serial numbers between the two types as production was transitioned to the improved model. Gas trap rifles were rebuilt to the new system eliminating the gas trap parts, but the rebuilds were spread throughout the WWII years and photos show gas trap Garands being used in combat. These rifles are now highly desirable collectors’ items in their original configuration. Receiver P/N “D 28291-1”. Heat lot “REP6”. Operating rod is marked “D35382-1-SA”. One-piece unmarked follower rod assembly. Gas trap assembly is in the white and marked on top over barrel with P/N “D-28289-1”. It is the late type without the fluting on the sides. Front sight with flared guard blades is unmarked. Bolt is marked “D28287-2SA” and punch proof. Trigger housing marked “D28290-1-SA”. Milled trigger guard is marked “C46025-1SA”. Hammer is marked “C46008-2 SA”. Matching walnut stock set. Buttstock is marked under grip with encircled “P” proof. Stock is marked inside barrel channel with “S”. Correct solid checkered buttplate.
STATUS: CURIO.
