Receiver manufactured in 1956, the second to last year of M1 rifle serial production at the U.S. Springfield Armory, and subsequently built up by the armory to 1953-1957 pattern "Type 1" National Match specifications. These rifles, unlike the standard production rifles used in match shooting prior, were specifically built by the armory for competitive use in the National Matches at Camp Perry from 1953 to 1957 using serviceable receivers the armory had in stock at the time, and were later offered for sale to qualified members of the public through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM). While made to a more exacting standard than the rifles used prior, the Type 1 National Match rifles built from 1953 to 1957 lacked many of the features found on the later 1959 Type 1 and 1960s Type 2 variants, with only a "NM" marked barrel, standard sights/small parts, and no bedding work to the stock. Reference pages 546-550 of Bruce Canfield's "The M1 Garand Rifle" for more details on the 1953 to 1957 Type 1 National Match M1 rifles. Features a standard wing blade front sight and T105 adjustable peep rear sight assembly, unmarked post-war wide base gas cylinder, 'high-hump' lock, "BS" marked lock screw, "SA" marked and "10 55" dated barrel marked "NM" on the left side and with a bright chamber ring, "6528287-SA/A15" marked bolt, along with a "6535382 SA" operating rod, and a "6528290-SA" trigger housing with a "SA D5546008" hammer, "SA11" safety, and unmarked stamped trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of walnut handguards and a walnut stock with boxed "DoD eagle" inspection stamp on the left of the wrist and serif "P" firing proof on the grip. Includes a M1 pattern web sling, a plastic muzzle cover, and a matching numbered DD Form 1149-3 shipping invoice, dated "3/10/58", addressed from the U.S. Raritan Arsenal to an individual in Oakland, California, identifying the rifle as "NATIONAL MATCH". Provenance: The Billy Pyle Collection

Exceptionally fine, retaining 97% plus original parkerized finish with some minor cycling wear, some minor edge wear, dried grease in protected areas, and some minor handling marks. The stock is very fine as sanded and re-oiled with a crack in the front handguard, some minor chipping around the buttplate, some noticeable over hang on the sides of the butt plate, and clear stamps. Mechanically excellent.