This is an excellent example of a early post WWII experimental M1 Garand rifle that was chambered in an 30-06 rifle cartridge. In addition to that it also has the very rare ergonomic designed/shaped all fiberglass M1 stock and a one-piece all fiberglass M1 front and rear handguard. After WWII the US Army set out to try and improve/remedy some of the noted shortcomings of the M1 rifle. One of them being that the rifle fired the large 30-06 cartridge shooting the 150/165 grain bullets. At that time there was a move to shoot smaller, more manageable cartridges to include necking down the 30-06 case to a 22-06 and a 22-308 cartridge; as well as duplex and three-plex cartridges. The duplex and multiplex loads actually had 2-3 small bullets stacked on top of each other that were actually fired like a salvo cartridge. They also experimented with redesigning the stock and handguard trying to develop a non-wood substitute version that was cheaper and easier to produce. This rare M1 has two of those features. This rifle itself is a standard post war Springfield Armory receiver with standard markings with the serial number placing production sometime in mid to late 1954. The bolt is marked "SA 65282871 SA/A11" and the operating rod is marked "6535382 SA." The complete trigger group is all correct early post war with all SA marked parts. It is fitted with the standard gas cylinder with a very unique conical shaped gas-cylinder lock. It has a standard front and rear sight set with a experimental multi-aperture rear sight. The base of the rear sight aperture is actually considerably wider than a standard rear sight and the aperture itself actually has three separate apertures to view through. Its assumed that this was intended for use with multiple-projectile type cartridges. It is fitted with an experimental one-piece fiberglass front and rear handguard set with a four-piece fiberglass stock. The one-piece handguard that standard front handguard cap and rear barrel band with a modified middle barrel band. The stock is actually comprised of 4 separate pieces; the outer two shells that were glued together, a white hard foam type insert inside the buttstock; a separate small insert in the rear/receiver area of the stock and a small thin plastic liner on the front inside area. Obviously the intent was to develop a more robust, easier to hold and easier to produce stock and handguard assembly.