This is a good example of an original early WWII production M1 Garand rifle manufactured by the Winchester factory circa March/April 1941. This rifle is still in its original issue configuration and also shows its original wartime field use. A small handing tag on the rifle states that this rifle was purchased from the Captain William Bond collection. Cpt. Bond served in the 671st Artillery Battalion, 66th Infantry Division, in the European Theatre. The tag also indicates that many of the items in his collection were picked up after WWII during the occupation of the U-Boat pens in St. Naziare, France. It doesn't specifically state that this rifle was one of them; however, in looking at it certainly would appear to be a "battlefield" pickup rifle that didn't get turned in. The receiver is marked "U.S. RIFLE/CAL. 30 M1/WINCHESTER/Trade Mark/104419" with the right side of the receiver is marked "D28291-2. Its fitted with it original WWII Winchester barrel that is stamped with a single circled "WP" proof mark with a single punch mark. It has a well worn breech area with most of it in the white. The various parts are marked as follows: trigger housing: D28290- W.R.A., trigger guard: C46025 W.R.A., early hammer marked on the side: C-46008-1, safety marked on the side: C46015-4, bolt: D28287-1 W.R.A. operating rod: D35382-W.R.A., (unmodified), milled bullet guide marked: B8876 W.R.A., op-rod catch in the white with the punch mark, single bevel follower arm, it has the early non-reinforced op-rod guide with the side serrations and the very early two piece, square coil recoil spring. It has a correct Winchester manufactured battle range marked rear sight set with the open arrows on both the elevation knob and the windage knob, with the locking bar on the windage side. It has the correct very early Winchester gas cylinder, marked on the side: D35449 W.R.A., its early beveled gas cylinder lock and single slot gas plug. All retain faint amount of their early Du-Lite blue type finish in the protected areas. The gas cylinder has the field modification of the horizontal cut straight down through the top dovetail so that the original front sight can be tightened correctly. The sight does not come with its protective screw cap. It is fitted with an original WWII Winchester stock and handguard set with a grooved rear handguard band and the grooved, oval front barrel band. The stock has the early long channel with a very faint "W.R.A/R.S." followed by the Cross-Cannon Ordnance cartouche on the left side with a single circled "P" proof in the grip area. The stock is so early that it still has the fully checkered buttplate with no buttrap. It is comes with an original WWII canvas sling.