Original example of a 1942 production U.S. Springfield Armory M1 Garand Rifle. This rifle is part of a small number of M1 Rifles supplied to the British Army in 1942 under the Lend Lease Program. Some M1 Rifles were issued to British Commando units and were carried thru the entire war. Most of the rifles remained unissued and were returned to the U.S. and resold commercially in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The British identified at least some of the Lend Lease M1 rifles as 'non-standard caliber' by painting a red band on the handguard. British proofmarks were stamped on the barrels when the rifles were exported from Great Britain. The British Lend Lease M1 Garands are some of the very few pre-war or early WWII production M1 rifles found in original, unaltered condition. The rifle has a gray-green parkerized finish and walnut stock, handguard and forearm. The lower portion of the handguard is painted with a two-inch wide red band (this band was usually removed by early owners and is rarely found on Lend Lease M1 rifles). The rifle has the early production features that include: (1) 'Type 1" rear sights, (2) milled trigger guard, (3) un-cut "SA-3" operating rod, (3) milled, grooved, forearm band and (4) front sight seal. The rear sight screws and buttplate screws are blued. The hammer spring housing, operating rod catch and face of the barrel chamber are bight. The right side of the barrel chamber is marked: "S-A-1-42" over stamped with British export proofs. The steel lot code "REP 25A" is stamped on the right side of the lower receiver. The rifle has a "2SA" bolt with "RE5A" steel lot code. The receiver heel is roll-stamped: "U.S. RIFLE/CAL. 30 M1/SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY/463972" in five lines. The trigger guard is stamped with the part number: "C-46025-3-SA" and all of the components in the trigger group have the correct "SA" markings. The left side of the short channel stock is stamped with a "SA/GHS" final inspection mark followed by a small Ordnance Corps escutcheon. An encircled "P" proofmark is stamped on the pistol grip behind the trigger guard. The original single slot gas cylinder screw has been replaced with a post war style screw. The rifle is complete with a broken Model 1907 russet leather sling and a post-war M5 Bayonet and scabbard.