smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
The "Greatest Garand" is coming home.
Over a period of 7 or 8 years during the 1950s, my father sporterized a Garand. Although I can't boast of his parenting abilities, he was a remarkable engineer and artisan.
In 1961 Gun World magazine put Dad's Garand on their cover and called it, "The Greatest Garand" Tommy Bish wrote the article on it.
The Garand is the only firearm on which I actually remember watching him checker the stock. Two strokes and a puff; che-che-pft, che-che-pft, che-che-pft. I can still hear it. He also did fleur de lis carvings, which are surrounded by the checkering.
In order to produce a rifle that was as comfortable to carry as it was pleasing to look at, he shortened the barrel & gas cylinder and shaved almost 3 pounds off the weight. In shortening the gas cylinder he also had to come up with new specs for the operating rod spring. I remember him telling me in later years that he wound something close to 300 different springs before getting one that would allow the action to cycle nearly any reasonable chamber pressure, bullet shape & weight.
As with many other projects, a couple of years after completion, Dad lost interest and traded the Garand for 3 fairly desirable Winchesters.
I went and looked at the old girl today and she looks quite good. She appears to have been well cared for. Bore looks pretty good and overall I see no scratches, flaws or blemishes. The two noticeable changes are a seemingly tired op rod spring and someone stripped the original glossy piano finish off the stock, which is now a fairly attractive satin finish. Also, the bluing, particularly at the rear of the action where the serial number is located, has taken on a slight burgundy cast.
Posted a couple of pics of the Garand over on the "Gun Prices" thread, as she looked in the early 1960s. Don't wish to waste server space and duplicate them here.
I had to take a firearms safety test today (yes I passed it). Monday we'll do the paperwork, then a ten day wait (gotta love Kali).
Good thing I've still got some 4895 on hand. Will have to put some Garand specific rounds together.
Haven't been this excited about anything in a long time.
Over a period of 7 or 8 years during the 1950s, my father sporterized a Garand. Although I can't boast of his parenting abilities, he was a remarkable engineer and artisan.
In 1961 Gun World magazine put Dad's Garand on their cover and called it, "The Greatest Garand" Tommy Bish wrote the article on it.
The Garand is the only firearm on which I actually remember watching him checker the stock. Two strokes and a puff; che-che-pft, che-che-pft, che-che-pft. I can still hear it. He also did fleur de lis carvings, which are surrounded by the checkering.
In order to produce a rifle that was as comfortable to carry as it was pleasing to look at, he shortened the barrel & gas cylinder and shaved almost 3 pounds off the weight. In shortening the gas cylinder he also had to come up with new specs for the operating rod spring. I remember him telling me in later years that he wound something close to 300 different springs before getting one that would allow the action to cycle nearly any reasonable chamber pressure, bullet shape & weight.
As with many other projects, a couple of years after completion, Dad lost interest and traded the Garand for 3 fairly desirable Winchesters.
I went and looked at the old girl today and she looks quite good. She appears to have been well cared for. Bore looks pretty good and overall I see no scratches, flaws or blemishes. The two noticeable changes are a seemingly tired op rod spring and someone stripped the original glossy piano finish off the stock, which is now a fairly attractive satin finish. Also, the bluing, particularly at the rear of the action where the serial number is located, has taken on a slight burgundy cast.
Posted a couple of pics of the Garand over on the "Gun Prices" thread, as she looked in the early 1960s. Don't wish to waste server space and duplicate them here.
I had to take a firearms safety test today (yes I passed it). Monday we'll do the paperwork, then a ten day wait (gotta love Kali).
Good thing I've still got some 4895 on hand. Will have to put some Garand specific rounds together.
Haven't been this excited about anything in a long time.
