AKA - The Garand, The greatest Battle implement ever devised
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| Loaded EN Block Clip |
Capacity - 8 rounds via EN Block Clip
Weight - 9.5lbs or 4.31kg (models did vary)
Length - 43 inches or 1.1m
Origin - U.S.A.
The M1 Garand, a staple of power and innovation at a time when bolt actions ruled the military world. In the Pacific and in Europe the Garand was present, enduring the elements, fighting on to eventually gain a venerable title as the best general issue rifle available in large numbers. Numbers vary on the total production number but it is generally accepted to be around 6 million, production coming mainly from Springfield Armory who at the time was a state owned arsenal, but also from Harrington and Richardson, international Harvester, Winchester and others.
The rifle is a semi automatic, firing from a closed bolt, air cooled, and fed from an 8 round EN block clip which was inserted into an internal magazine. Once inserted the operator would quickly release pressure on the clip and bolt would slam closed loading the first round into the chamber. If the operator was too slow with removing his thumb, it could become caught between the bolt and breach face causing the infamous garand thumb 'ouch'. Once loaded the operator was encouraged to expend all 8 rounds before reloading as topping up the weapon was a time consuming process, though many would simply release the partially used clip through a release switch at the base of the rifle and eject the chambered round and insert a new clip. The barrels on the garand are generally between 22 and 24 inches long.
One of the most recognizable things of the M1 Garand is the sound of the EN block clip ejecting making a loud "PING" after the last round has been fired. This was sometimes seen as a drawback as often enemy combatants would hear that the firers rifle was empty and would then attack. As always in war there are clever cookies out there that take note of enemy behavior, in particular U.S. marines fighting the japanese would sometimes throw or bang empty clips on the ground to replicate the noise of an empty rifle and wait for the enemy to pop their heads up only to find that 'empty' garand isn't so empty after all.
The rifle was designed by Canadian born gun designer John Garand and served as the standard U.S. Military rifle replacing the Springfield M1903 from 1936 (though they werent in widespread use until 1937/38) until offically 1957. Though use of the rifle continued through various conflicts including Vietnam, and is in use today as a parade rifle by some U.S. units.
Today the Garand enjoys high popularity as target shooting rifle and collectors piece sold to the American public through the Civilian Marksmanship Program as well as through normal surplus channels.
INTERESTING FACT :
During WW2 the German Army in times of poor weapon supply would issue captured U.S. M1's as the 7.62mm Selbstladegewehr 251 (a).
PROS : Reliable, Accurate, Semi Automatic firepower,
CONS : Heavy, Time consuming maintenance,
COOL FACTOR : 9 / 10
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