This is a very nice example of a early Springfield Armory restored "Gas Trap" M1 Garand as manufactured in December 1937, that has been restored/assembled with some of early parts. The receiver is serial numbered "988" and based on the book "The Gas Trap Garand" by Billy Pile, places the production of this rifle in December 1937 of which only 335 were produced in that month. It has been correctly arsenal rewelded for the seventh round stoppage problem in accordance with arsenal specification. The right side of the receiver is marked "D-28291"only with no heat lot marking which is correct. The right side of the barrel is marked on the side with an upside down "G" followed by "1-S-A-12-41" with the 41 very faint or partly removed. The operating rod is a late version that is marked 7790722 SA; Bolt: D28287-2SA/T1; the rear sights, the windage locking bar on the side with the early open arrow windage knob, finely machined edge, marked "LEFT/LEFT", elevation knob: has the slightly larger open arrows, marked "BATTLE/RANGE/ UP/DOWN", rear sight aperture is a late unmarked pattern with raised edges; the rear sight cover: stamped "B 8872" with the space, the trigger guard, is milled: machine marked "C 46025 (with 2 circular rings around the take down hole), late pattern trigger housing: marked "D 28290-12-SA" the cloverleaf hole on the left side, hammer: machine marked on the side "C-46008-2 SA, trigger: unmarked with traverse hole through the side, safety: scarce early version machine marked "C-46015", follower rod: 1st model, unmarked, nonreinforced with serrations on the side with round recoil spring, follower: early version stamped "1" on the underside, bullet guide: early milled version machine marked, "B-8875", follower arm pin: early production version without step, gas trap gas cylinder: 2nd version marked "D-28289-1" with spear point milling cuts on the sides, gas plug marked: B-8876/-4 with an unmarked blade front sight. It has a nice early pattern walnut stock with the two equal sized holes in the butt which has not been routed out for the later hinged butt plate. It is fitted with a correct first pattern no-trap buttplate and has no visible cartouche or firing proofs. The front and rear handguards are both later patterns without the drawing numbers. It does have the early pattern milled middle band with the circumferential groove and no drawing number with lower machine-out areas and a solid cross pin.

Very fine as assembled and professionally restored with 95% of the current parkerized finish overall. The stock and handguard set is in very fine plus condition with a nice light figure in all the wood components showing only minor handling marks overall. A very nice looking early restored "Gas Trap" M1 Garand with a 1937 production receiver.