Lot 1362: Springfield Armory John Garand Presentation M1-Garand

This is absolutely the apex of any advanced M1 Garand rifle collection or any high end martial arms collection. This is the exact, original M1 Garand milestone serial number "1000000" that was authorized for presentation to John C. Garand and given to him at his retirement ceremony on April 30th, 1953, at the Kimball Hotel in Springfield, Mass. It was manufactured in November of 1942. The name John C. Garand needs no introduction to anyone that is remotely familiar to the U.S. martial firearms or any WWII historical facts. Every Army, USMC, Navy and Air Force veteran from WWII through Vietnam and well beyond intimately knows how wonderful and significant this rifle design was and that it ultimately helped save the United States, Europe, and the free world during WWII. His rifle design and U.S. Government service work was so significant that the M1 Garand is still in use by thousands of collectors and rifle enthusiasts who flock to Camp Perry for the annual High Power rifle matches today that bear his name. The M1 is highly regarded as one of the most prolific and collectible rifles, even today, almost 80 years after its development. This beautiful rifle is pictured and described in the book "The M1 Garand rifle" by Canfield on pages 815-822. During his lifetime, John Garand only received his standard government salary, selflessly allowing the U.S. Government to manufacture these rifles with no royalty payments. An included letter from Dorothy Jerome of Helena, Montana, expressed her wish to contribute to Garand’s “share of what is due…for his invention of the M1” by personally sending Garand a check for $1.00. The check is uncashed. In 1973, the U.S. Congress introduced a bill to award Garand $100,000 for his service related to the development of the M1. The bill did not pass. This rifle was manufactured in early Oct/Nov 1942. It has the standard receiver markings over serial number "100000". The barrel is stamped on the side “S-A-10-42.” The rifle has the following correct parts: op rod ("D35382-6 SA," unmodified), bolt ("D28287-12/A8W"), trigger housing ("D28290-8-SA"), milled trigger guard and hammer ("C-46008-3 SA"), and all internal action parts. It is fitted with a WWII narrow gas cylinder, front sight with the screw cover intact, the round top gas cylinder lock, single slot gas plug, and a set of the WWII locking bar rear sights. The rifle is mounted in the most beautiful, highly figured, regular production M1 Garand stock and handguard sets we have ever seen. It has full fiddleback/flame figure from the front of the handguard to the buttplate. The stock has a faint boxed "SA" cartouche followed by a faint cross-cannon inspection/acceptance proof. This beautiful and historic rifle comes with its original inscribed walnut presentation/display case that measures 9 x 46 inches and has a green felt interior. The top of the lid has a small brass plaque that reads: "PRESENTED TO/JOHN C. GARAND/BY AUTHORITY OF/THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY/ROBERT T. STEVENS/APRIL 30, 1953". It comes with a presentation silver plated clip inscribed “SPRING DIVISION/BORG-WARNER CORP.” and “John Garand/April 30 1953” holding 8 gold plated dummy cartridges each inscribed with a name of an associate (Jack Becker, Adolph Bergetz, Dan Gillespie, Pat Gillett, Jim Niblick, Bill Schumacher, Harry Troendly, and Art Welch), retirement banquet program and photo album, 8x10 inch photograph of Garand holding this rifle at his retirement party, and other John Grand personal effects such as his guest name tag for the Merchants Bureau Breakfast Club, American Society for Metals medal presented in Oct. 1941 with framed certificate, The Rice Medal for Meritorious Service presented in Nov. 1941 with framed certificate, framed honorary doctorate of engineering from Lehigh University presented in 1949, his Springfield Armory photo ID with his signature on the back, health insurance and retired federal employee cards, Christmas/New Year card with 1923 post office date on the envelope, drafting set, Garand’s induction to the Ordnance Hall of Fame letter, Garand’s bumper medallions for entry at Springfield Armory, and newspaper articles. This rifle, along with the 63rd NRA President Allen Cors, is featured on the cover of the "Blue Book of Gun Values" (36th edition). A copy of this edition is included and is signed by Cors and author S.P. Fjestad. This rifle was also featured in “The American Society of Arms Collectors” (bulletin #101) and “American Rifleman” (July 2009). These issues are also in this lot. The rifle won the Ten Best Arms Exhibited at the NRA Award in 2009, and the NRA medal for this honor is part of the extensive archive. One cannot improve upon this!

Exceptional, as presented, with 99% of the arsenal presentation grade blue/black type finish on all the metal surfaces. The stock and handguard are also like-new with beautiful, full figured, tiger-striped walnut showing no handling marks anywhere. The original presentation case is also in excellent condition. Mechanically excellent. Just a superb and historic example of a rare one of a kind John C. Garand presentation M1 Garand rifle serial number "1000000". Arguably the most historic 20th century weapon we have ever offered at auction!