Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
VERY NICE EXAMPLE OF AN ORIGINAL U.S. SPRINGFIELD M1 GARAND GAS TRAP SEMI-AUTO MILITARY RIFLE
23-1196
Cal. 30-06
S# 23656
Bbl. 24″. Correct flush nut rear sight with Battle Range Elevation knob and early non ribbed sight cover with drawing number. Blade front sight with protective ears and marked with “B 8882-0”. The M1 Garand rifle had a long and involved development period which included competition with the Pedersen and Johnson rifles. The Ordnance department decided as early as WWI that a semi-automatic infantry rifle would give the soldiers a great advantage in fire power but this could not be at the expense of accuracy and reliability. Many designs were tested from both the U.S. and foreign nations. The design which came closest to meeting this ideal was designed by John C. Garand, a civilian employee at Springfield Armory who was an extremely talented firearms designer. The M1 Garand rifle was standardized in Jan., 1936 and the first production models had a gas system which used an external trap at the muzzle to capture the expanding gases needed to operate the rifle. The number of these rifles which are called the “Gas Trap Garand” by collectors was relatively small as problems developed with this system including the difficulty in keeping them clean. The solution to the problem was a gas port drilled directly into the bore of the rifle.
According to author Bruce Canfield approximately 48,100 of these rifles were produced. Many were issued and sent as far afield as the Philippines and many were up graded and converted to “Gas Port Rifles” over time and most of the remainder destroyed in 1947. This makes the Gas Trap Garand a very scarce and desirable collector’s piece. This rifle with a correct type vintage replacement stock is otherwise an unaltered specimen and although it retains little of its original metal finish it has a pleasing appearance. The barrel is marked on the right side with a “P” proof. Throat gauges 1.0. Muzzle not gauged due to gas trap. The bolt has the drawing number “D28287” and an additional “J6”. The forward right side of the receiver is marked below the stock line “D28281-1”. The unmarked operating rod without letter code has the vertical cut. The follower rod has the short fork with the “square” spring and is also fitted with the compensating spring. Gas trap is made without flutes and is numbered “5” at rear and “0” at forward end. Trigger housing is marked on left side “D28290” and has the large pad. Hammer is numbered “C46008-1”.
Safety marked “C46016-4” and the milled trigger guard has “C46025”. Walnut stock set. Buttstock is correct type with the checkered buttplate without trap. Stock appears to be early replacement likely by a unit armorer as it is unmarked. Stock fittings including ferrules and bands are correct early types. Model 1907 tan leather sling is unmarked and has wear plus flexing.
STATUS: CURIO
