This is a historic extremely early production U.S. Springfield Armory "Shop Model" M1 Garand rifle serial number "7" that was one of only "80" shop model rifles ever manufactured! This rifle is an early Gas Trap configuration rifle. These rifle are extremely rare and are considered as a "significant" model in any US Martial rifle collection. These shop model rifles were the very "first" true M1 Garand rifles ever manufactured. They were all hand produced (individual machined parts) as SA was not set up to manufacture on a production line basis. This fine example has many of the early parts and components as used on the early shop model and/or gas trap rifles. The receiver has the early receiver markings used only on the shop model rifles of: "U.S./SEMIAUTO. RIFLE/CAL. .30M1/SPRINGFIELD/ARMORY", with no drawing number or heat lot number on the side. It remains in original "7 shot" configuration. The receiver is fitted with a correct early pattern M1 Gas Trap type barrel that is 22 1/4 inch long and threaded on the front end for the gas cylinder with the single spline on top. It is not marked with any drawing numbers or markings on the right side and is correctly stamped with only a single larger "P" firing proof with a single punch mark. The barrel is fitted with a early gas trap, gas cylinder with the spear point milling marks on each side with the rear facing drawing number of "D28289" and square top front sight groove that is fitted with a second model gas plug that is marked on the sides with "B-8876/-4". The front sight is third pattern sight with the flared front wings that is marked on the side with "SA12703-0". The bolt is a second or early third pattern that is stamped with: "D28287 -1" with no heat lot markings. It has an early two-piece operating rod that is stamped with "D35381 SA" on the underside flat of the operating rod with no revision mark of any kind, however it does have the early stress relief semi-circle cut added. For the internal parts it has the following: it has an early follower rod that has the serration on the flat upper end with a fully round shaft with the recoil spring attaching to only the very end of the follower rod. The recoil spring is also a very early flat, narrow wire, keystone type recoil spring. The rear sight assembly has all the various early parts such as the unmarked rear sight aperture with no guide rails on the sides, a four pattern rear sight cover stamped: "B8872". The windage and elevation knobs are the early third pattern with the open, narrow arrows correctly marked: "BATTLE RANGE", with the flush nut on the windage side with the second pattern windage knob marked "LEFT/LEFT" with the small open arrows. The internal parts consist of the following: a early milled bullet guide marked "B8875 W.R.A.", a 1934 version of the follower and slide, with the narrow rear tabs, and the narrow front tabs with the slide still in the white. The trigger group is marked as follows: It has the early hammer that is marked on the side: "C46008-1SA" with the hole on the side, the safety is marked "C46015-4SA" it has the milled trigger guard marked "C46025", and the trigger housing is marked "D28290 SA" the hammer spring guide is still in the white. It is fitted with a early set of all dark walnut with a early third pattern unmarked gas trap middle barrel band that has the milled lower rear edges, no drawing numbers or markings with the circumferential groove. It has the standard early unmarked front handguard and later production lower handguard and barrel band that has the double fixturing holes and the circumferential groove. It is also fitted with the second pattern gas trap type buttstock with the two equal size 13/16 holes in the butt with the no trap buttplate, the buttplate screws and lower sling swivel are all unmarked. Note this extremely early production single digit M1 Garand rifle retains nearly of it original parts, with only a few minor replacements unquestionably done in the tool room at Springfield Armory.

Extremely fine with 98% of the arsenal parkerized finish overall, with only very minor edge and high spot wear on the receiver. The stock and handguard are excellent with a clear sharp firing proof. A number of original early gas trap parts paired with an extremely early serial number "7" shop model receiver all make this a truly rare and historic beginning of undoubtedly the most significant rifle of World War II, that would be an excellent addition to any advance martial arms collection.