I am not sure where else to post this but hoping to find someone out there more knowledgeable than I am in identifying and assessing the value of what I believe to be a rare WWII era M1 Garand that was converted to an M1D Sniper Rifle. If this post needs to be moved, please do so.
Here is what I have;
OK - Here is an update to my purchase of the M1D Sniper rifle according to a document that was in an envelope date 12-18-07.
QUOTING THE LETTER
"This 'MID' Sniper has an original Military 'SA 6-52' marked and dated 'M1D' sniper barrel assembly and as all 'M1D' Sniper Rifles are Arsenal built out of existing M1 Garands it is difficult to qualify the originality without Provenance, Sales Paper or Documentation. These were originally sold through the DCM or CMP programs and came with all accessories usually in unissued condition and in Arsenal shipping boxes.
As to this particular specimen I have found the following;
1. This 'M1D' barrel is mint and rated 100% original finish with mint bore and throat gauging only a 2, (*Do not know the head spacing of installed barrel).
2. Its very early WWII receiver with the '3860xx' serial number puts is manufacture appx Late 1941. The receiver appears to be original including 99% original 1941 Springfield Armory Factory metal finish, its matching period '2SA' revisioned numbered bolt and '3SA' revision numbered un-cut/never modified operating rod with these too having 99-100% original 1941 finish. Though the rear sight knobs have been upgraded with post WWII variation, all the receiver internals appear to be of original 1941 manufacture. The center barrel band and its 'solid pin' are also of early WWII era manufacture again retaining 100% of original Armory Factory metal finish. The gas cylinder assembly, front sight assembly including the sight screw cap and early 'single slot' gas plug are also original 1941 period more than likely off of the same original late 1941 Springfield Armory Rifle. The complete trigger housing is of Winchester WWII manufacture and all matching "WRA" with 100% original finish and again out of an original WWII Wicnester M1 Garand.
My opinion based upon what is see is that this is indeed a scarce late 1941 Springfield Armory M1 Garand that was used to build the current 'M1D' Sniper and would have a value of <$xxxx-xxxxx> range today. A number of these early 1941 M1 Garands were sent to Briton in 1941/42 on Lend Lease and came back into the USA appx 1950's/60's and known as "British Proof" M1 Garands in today's collector circles. The stock is in remarkably good concidition and could have been an armory stock that had never seen service based upon other wood furniture. I did not remove the factory leather cheek piece to inspect for arsenal markings. The butt plate is of WWII manufacture and has the original WWII cleaning pieces in its butt trap.
In addition to the estimated value of the Sniper Rifle itself, you may add the values of the following items as well to realise the total value of the unit.
Original Era WWII butt tool kit appx $xx-xxx
Original "MRT July 1952" marked and dated web sling is original and mint with its value appx $xxx-xxx
Original leather sniper cheek piece is "MRT 1-52" and is an original military part with appx value $xxx-xxx
Original "M-37" prong type flash hider is original and mint and correctly dated to that of the sniper rifle with appx value $xxx-xxx
Original "M-2" cone type early Springfield flash hider is original and mint and correctly date to that of the sniper rifle with appx value $xxx-xxx
The "M1D" Scope Mount is original with slight wear on its hinge that does not impair function or detract from overall quality of this fine specimen and is valued at appx $xxx-xxx
The M-84 Scope is original with excellent optics, adjustments, and retains original doors. The rear rubber eyepiece is original as is the refurbished but original metal sliding front sunshade. Its appx value is $xxx-xxxx
Again, if you could provide a letter of Provenance this could add significant value or place it as a valued museum quality piece. I have inspected thousands of M1 Garands and hundreds of sniper rifles and this by far is one of the most unique and well preserved specimens I have seen." END QUOTE
Now, having provided the above all I can add is this. The gentleman I purchased this from was an avid trapshooter from the central Illinois area and set a world record for 16 yd handicap in the late 1960's through early 1970's with an average score of over 99+. He shot trap with the plant manager of the Ford Motors Assembly Plant in Chicago IL. That particular gentleman was a high ranking Ford employee during the WWII era and retired as plant manager of the Chicago facility in the late 1960's. Supposedly he was given the M1D sniper rifle by a general from New Jersey as a gift. I am unsure as to the time period. When the Ford plant manager retired and was ready to move to Arizona he gifted the gun to "Jim", who I recently purchased the rifle from. I was just with Jim yesterday and asked him about the Ford employee who is deceased, if there were any way of tracking the origin of the gun. He presented me with a copy of the letter I shared in the previous post as he told me the legend of the gun died when his friend in Arizona died as he himself had never found it important to validate the gun until he tried in 2007.
Here is what I have;
OK - Here is an update to my purchase of the M1D Sniper rifle according to a document that was in an envelope date 12-18-07.
QUOTING THE LETTER
"This 'MID' Sniper has an original Military 'SA 6-52' marked and dated 'M1D' sniper barrel assembly and as all 'M1D' Sniper Rifles are Arsenal built out of existing M1 Garands it is difficult to qualify the originality without Provenance, Sales Paper or Documentation. These were originally sold through the DCM or CMP programs and came with all accessories usually in unissued condition and in Arsenal shipping boxes.
As to this particular specimen I have found the following;
1. This 'M1D' barrel is mint and rated 100% original finish with mint bore and throat gauging only a 2, (*Do not know the head spacing of installed barrel).
2. Its very early WWII receiver with the '3860xx' serial number puts is manufacture appx Late 1941. The receiver appears to be original including 99% original 1941 Springfield Armory Factory metal finish, its matching period '2SA' revisioned numbered bolt and '3SA' revision numbered un-cut/never modified operating rod with these too having 99-100% original 1941 finish. Though the rear sight knobs have been upgraded with post WWII variation, all the receiver internals appear to be of original 1941 manufacture. The center barrel band and its 'solid pin' are also of early WWII era manufacture again retaining 100% of original Armory Factory metal finish. The gas cylinder assembly, front sight assembly including the sight screw cap and early 'single slot' gas plug are also original 1941 period more than likely off of the same original late 1941 Springfield Armory Rifle. The complete trigger housing is of Winchester WWII manufacture and all matching "WRA" with 100% original finish and again out of an original WWII Wicnester M1 Garand.
My opinion based upon what is see is that this is indeed a scarce late 1941 Springfield Armory M1 Garand that was used to build the current 'M1D' Sniper and would have a value of <$xxxx-xxxxx> range today. A number of these early 1941 M1 Garands were sent to Briton in 1941/42 on Lend Lease and came back into the USA appx 1950's/60's and known as "British Proof" M1 Garands in today's collector circles. The stock is in remarkably good concidition and could have been an armory stock that had never seen service based upon other wood furniture. I did not remove the factory leather cheek piece to inspect for arsenal markings. The butt plate is of WWII manufacture and has the original WWII cleaning pieces in its butt trap.
In addition to the estimated value of the Sniper Rifle itself, you may add the values of the following items as well to realise the total value of the unit.
Original Era WWII butt tool kit appx $xx-xxx
Original "MRT July 1952" marked and dated web sling is original and mint with its value appx $xxx-xxx
Original leather sniper cheek piece is "MRT 1-52" and is an original military part with appx value $xxx-xxx
Original "M-37" prong type flash hider is original and mint and correctly dated to that of the sniper rifle with appx value $xxx-xxx
Original "M-2" cone type early Springfield flash hider is original and mint and correctly date to that of the sniper rifle with appx value $xxx-xxx
The "M1D" Scope Mount is original with slight wear on its hinge that does not impair function or detract from overall quality of this fine specimen and is valued at appx $xxx-xxx
The M-84 Scope is original with excellent optics, adjustments, and retains original doors. The rear rubber eyepiece is original as is the refurbished but original metal sliding front sunshade. Its appx value is $xxx-xxxx
Again, if you could provide a letter of Provenance this could add significant value or place it as a valued museum quality piece. I have inspected thousands of M1 Garands and hundreds of sniper rifles and this by far is one of the most unique and well preserved specimens I have seen." END QUOTE
Now, having provided the above all I can add is this. The gentleman I purchased this from was an avid trapshooter from the central Illinois area and set a world record for 16 yd handicap in the late 1960's through early 1970's with an average score of over 99+. He shot trap with the plant manager of the Ford Motors Assembly Plant in Chicago IL. That particular gentleman was a high ranking Ford employee during the WWII era and retired as plant manager of the Chicago facility in the late 1960's. Supposedly he was given the M1D sniper rifle by a general from New Jersey as a gift. I am unsure as to the time period. When the Ford plant manager retired and was ready to move to Arizona he gifted the gun to "Jim", who I recently purchased the rifle from. I was just with Jim yesterday and asked him about the Ford employee who is deceased, if there were any way of tracking the origin of the gun. He presented me with a copy of the letter I shared in the previous post as he told me the legend of the gun died when his friend in Arizona died as he himself had never found it important to validate the gun until he tried in 2007.
