GCA Journal Garand Collectors Association Spring 2022 Volume 36 Issue 2

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The GCA's Mission Statement The purpose of the GCA. To exchange information and expand knowledge of the US Rifle,
Cahber 30, M 1, to preserve and publ,c,ze the history of the nfle and its inventor John C. Garand,
to asmt and encourage new collectors; to asmt authors in wnting new reference works; to assist members in their collecting,
and to encourage compet1t1Ve and recreational safe shooting of the nfle
This is my first column as your new GCA President. Steve Rutledge has tirelessly 6CAJournal
served in that capacity for many years and has guided the GCA through a level
GCA Joimial (ISSN 1552-3764) is published quarterly by the Garand
of increased sophistication none imagined when the GCA first began in 1986. Collectors Association, 4710 Roe Parkway, Suite 200, Roeland Park, KS 66205.
At his request, he will be assuming the role of GCA Vice-President where he oPfefriicoedsi. caPlOsS pToMsAtaSgTeE Rpa: idS eantd Kaadndsares sCs itcyh, aMngisesso utori ,G aCnAd J aodudmitiaoln aml amgaaziilnineg,
can provide much-needed counsel to me, yet not bear as much of a burden. Garand Collectors Association, P.O. Box 640, Mission, KS 66201. Any claims or
statements of the writers or advertisers in this publication represent their own
Your Board of Directors held a special vote, and this action was unanimously opinions and are not necessarily those of the editor, the officers, directors,
approved. The GCA will continue to provide our membership with interesting or staff of the Garand Collectors Association. The copyright, filed with the
and cutting-edge Garand information, as well the excellent service all have Lnaibturarery. Roef pCroodnugcretisosn, Wofa asnhyin gptaornt ,w Dit.hCo.u, ta tphpel iwesr itttoe na lpl ecromnitsesniotsn ooff athne oGriagriannadl
come to expect. Steve has been a mentor to me during my eleven years in the Collectors Association is prohibited.
EDITORIAL STAFF
GCA leadership but more importantly, he has been my friend. Editor-in-Chief ... .. .. Garrett Shropshire
Senior Editor .. .............. Bob Seijas
I am often asked, "What is the GCA?" My view is that we are a member-driven Managing Editor ...... Mike Bernazzani
historical association striving to not only study the Ml Rifle but also learn Editor ................................ . ..... Dave McClain
Editor ................................... . ...... Brian Guenthenspberger
about the rifle's origins and evolution. We also like to focus on the people that Editor ................................ . . .. .... Cody Toombs
designed, worked on, and employed them in the defense of free nations. If there Technical Advisor . ............... Gus Fisher
Technical Advisor ................ Scott Duff
is any question as to what it is that we do, please look at the top of page 2 in Technical Advisor .. ..... Paul "Bubba" Goedde
every GCA Journal to read our Mission Statement. GCA Marketplace ... .. .................. Greg Mirsky
Membership/Distribution .. .... Sharon Bosley
The GCA is the membership, and our focus of effort must be the GCA Journal. Membership/Distribution .. .. ........... Carl Palermo
We constantly strive to uncover new material and be accurate in relating our GCA Board of Directors
discoveries. Often, the rifle is just the beginning of the story, as was seen in last
JimAclell Don Kemps
month's story of Major General Hartsell and his "High Tyro" Ml award rifle. Colorado Wisconsin
The stories are there, and we as well as the membership must seek them. Mike Bernazzani Dave McClain
Spring is here, and I have a renewed interest to get out to the range. It is also a Pennsylvania New Jersey
time to start thinking about Camp Perry. GCA Journal Managing Editor Mike Robert Clark Jack Prucha
Connecticut Georgia
Bernazzani along with GCA Rifle Team Administrator Mike Korff head up the
AmyDobish Steve Rutledge
GCA efforts at Perry. These two, along with several others, pour an enormous Wisconsin Tennessee
amount of time and energy into our presence there. There is a reason the John Brian Guenthenspberger Robert Seijas
C. Garand Match is the CMP's most popular match in the country. Beyond Ohio New Jersey
that though, the Ml rifle is very capable of impressive scores in conventional Andrew Hall
Tennessee
matches. The GCA stands ready to financially encourage those competitors to
come to Perry and go against the "black rifle" to demonstrate what service rifle GCA Treasurer: Ores! Michaels
shooting is all about. As a reminder, member Joe Sopko won the Billy Atkins founder: Richard Deane • Chairman Emeritus: Robert Seijas
To contact the GCA Board of Directors, email
Trophy (Service Rifle Long Range Championship) at Camp Perry in 2007 with [email protected] or write to the GCA Office.
his Don McCoy-built 7.62mm Ml rifle. To learn more about the CMP Games
The Garand Co/lectorsAssodaton
at Camp Perry, watch the video the GCA produced last summer located on our
is affiliated witk ..
website and Facebook page.
GCA Director Amy Dobish, and our management company Attache, are working Civilian Marksmanship Program
diligently on our upcoming convention. We are excited to report that Cody,
Wyoming is the location. The feedback from the last time we were there is that National Rifle Association
attendees did not allocate enough time to take advantage of all the activities in
the vicinity. The Little Bighorn Battlefield, Yellowstone National Park, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation
Buffalo Bill Center of the West are all must-see places. We are firming up plans
for late September and are excited that everyone there has been so encouraging.
Membership
Details are too numerous to publish in the GCA Journal, so expect to receive
emails outlining the event. We will also post everything on the website. GCA clues are $25 per year in the US, which includes a one-year subscription to
this magazine, GCA]oumal. All correspondence related to membership, acces
sory purchases, material submitted for this magazine, teclmical questions, etc.
should be sent to:
GARAND COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION, Inc. Front cover: 57988925 · Story on page 27.
P.O. Box 640
Mission, KS 66201 Back cover: Maior Kirby Smith, Commanding Officer of the First Marine Division
Telephone: [phone] Reconnaissance Company, keeps alert for possible enemy guerrillas as his men
Email address: [email protected] • Article Submissions: [email protected] probe for land mines while on patrol somewhere in North Korea. Major Kirby
Visit our website at: www.thegca.org Smith led the first Marine helicopter landing on the rugged Korean mountains.
Office hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. -Central Time, Monday through Friday
1 GCA Journal • Spring 2022 GCA Journal• Spring 2022 2
Featured Rifle 4223507 carries a 12 52 barrel so could
not have been made prior to December. It is only
4223507 23,500 into the new serial block and would be expected
to have a JLG stock. Scott Duff's DCM rifle 4203002
carries an undated Marlin barrel but also has a JLG
stock (Featured Rifle, Fall 2020 Journal). Both rifles
r
EAi(l]~EJD appear mint and original.
An Early Restart
~IfLlt
By Bob Seijas
We have detailed the finds of "Fast Eddie" Rosellini Although there is a lot of uncertainty about the 1952-
before... he's one of those guys we all know who 53 period, many students believe the very first restart
just seems to find things. This time it's a very early rifles were built on leftover WWII receivers in the 3.8
example of the restart of Ml production at Springfield million serial range. The assigned serial block for the
Armory during the Korean War. restart began at 4200001, but 6,080 rifles were delivered
in fiscal year 1952 that ended June 30, 1952. It is likely
that at least some of these were assembled on receivers
from 1945. The difficulty in identifying them by barrel
date stems from the fact that early 1952 barrels are
common on rebuilt rifles. Thus, observations like
3862793 with 1 52 barrel and 3879403 with 3 52 barrel
could be either part of early 1952 production or simple
rebuilds. Neither appeared to be totally original when
recorded. Scott Duff discussed this dilemma as long According to Scott, "In around 1994 Mac McCullom
ago as the Fall 1999 Journal. turned up a crate with 15 to 25 SA 4.2m rifles that
looked exactly like my father's DCM rifle. Over the
Fiscal 1953 began July 1, 1952. Some rifles recorded years I had the opportunity to sell several of them
by Scott appeared to be part of the earliest restart but don't recall which ones went to whom. 4223507
production: sure looks like one I may have sold at the Forks of the
Delaware show in Fort Washington, PA. All of them
were flat-out new."
Serial Barrel Receiver Made
3881711 SA 11-52 calendar 1945
3882716 SA 11-52 calendar 1945
3882710 SA 3-53 calendar 1945
3882767 SA 4-53 calendar 1945
4200427 SA 9-52 calendar 1952
4200871 SA 9-52 calendar 1952
4200796 SA 10-52 calendar 1952
4200354 SA 11-52 calendar 1952
Those first early guns were accepted under James L.
Guion's tenure and the stocks are stamped SA/JLG.
The exact number so marked is not known, but
collectors have used 30,000 as a very rough guess.
The Defense Acceptance Stamp wasn't used until
the middle of 1953 (Canfield says August, Duff says
September) but in any case, in fiscal 1954 that began
July 1, 1953, and probably prior to 50,000 guns.
3 GCA Journal• Spring 2022 __ GCA Journal• Spring 2022 4
_ __...,,._ ~~--------~~---------------------~--------
Unlike Scott's 4203007 with Marlin barrel and
4223507
U-marked safety, the Featured Rifle has no surprises.
The gas cylinder lock screw is the round top chamfer
The rifle is truly mint and clearly original, a benchmark
type used before the high hump late version and is
for the 1952 production restart at Springfield. Both
probably near the end of its use. Scott discussed some
the metal and wood are uniform in color and have no
anomalies sometimes found on rifles made in this
blemishes. It obviously did not go to war in Korea.
period with a quote from Springfield Research:
"When production restarted in 1950, there was a huge, numbered. As parts were needed, workmen were sent
disorganized stockpile of parts in various stages of to the warehouse to bring back whatever they could
completion at Springfield. Included among the parts find there."
were thousands of receivers, many already serial
5 GCA Journal• Spring 2022 GCA Journal• Spring 2022 6
ERRATUM
Official Datasheet © SERIAL NUMBER 4223507 Winter Issue 2021
Garand Collectors Association Springfield Armory
theGCA.org MANUFACTURER
RIFLE TYPEI PHOTO OR REMARKS Sorry, we goofed. The Editors at The GCA Journal take great pride in getting all of our facts
Ml 1952 production restart ORIGINAL? 100 % correct before printing them. On Page 17 and Page 18 of the Winter Issue 2021 we incorrectly
LOWER RIGHT FRONT RECEIVER Other marks, location, or remarks Mint and original identified the rifles in Scott Nisbet's collection. We incorrectly ordered the entire list from
"bottom-to-top" instead of "top-to-bottom". We greatly appreciate the many members who
A41A correctly recognized the caption error and sent us a note. Again, we at The GCA Journal
pride ourselves on our accuracy and greatly apologize for missing the mark on this one.
D 6528261 43
r ◄ SHAPE
My Collection
BARREL (SIDE)
=- - I 1-----
SA February 1945
Ii -
i---v-_ ____D_65_354_48_ 4_5 _MD_34_ P!_A _12 _5 2. . ....,pL-l---------- BOLT 6528287 - SA FIRING PIN SA February 1944
Late
USl
EXTRACTOR
TOP UNDER HANDGUARD: CHAMBER BRIGHT? yes Dark Relic Found in Ardennes -C======::::~~
SA Nov. 1943
REMARKS: GAS CYLINDER Late
GAS CYLINDER Round top chamfered
REAR SIGHT Late FRONT SIGHT LOCK WRA September 1943
APERTURE Late Width: 5/8" LOCK SCREW Poppet valve o
COVER Late no marks Cup over Screw: No
BASE Late FOLLOWER Late unmarked
Screw: Late Slide Late
PINION Late
BULLET GUIDE Stamped ID notch
WINDAGE Late, maker not visible
OP ROD CATCH Late
ELEVATION DRC
FOLLOWER ARM Late unmarked SA December 1941 -
TRIG. HOUSG. 6528290 - SA Pad: Small Hole:Cloverleaf FOLLOWER ROD Long fork riveted Made about
TRIG. GUARD Late Hammer spring housg: Late OP ROD SPRING Round dark finish officially tehnet edready Athme ewriacra.
TRIGGER Late
Hammer spring guide: Late LOWER BAND Late stamped
HAMMER SA 5546008 CLIP LATCH Square front
SAFETY SA 11 Remarks: Uniform in color SA November 1941 -
OP ROD I 6535382 - SA British Lend Lease
STOCK ® REAR HANDGUARD Relief cut: Yes
Clip: Late BUTTPLATE Late SA SLING None
Op Rod Clearance Cut: Ye S SA March 1941
Long screw: Late
Remarks:
FRONT HANDGUARD Short screw: Late
l----+--------,.------------1 Ferrule: Late
FERRULE With hole ISSWLINIVGE L La te Spacer: Late PURCHASE DATE: PRICE:
PURCHASE FROM:
OTHER DATA SA November 1939
VALUE DATE Gas Trap Build
VALUE DATE
SNIPER
EQUIPMENT VALUE DATE
Rev. 7 12/11 Spring 2022 GCA Journal
7 GCA Journal• Spring 2022 GCA Journal • Spring 2022 8
Shooting a
~ming.too, BOLT ACTION
BRAND-NEW
REPEATING RIFLE
MODEL GRADE CALIBER SPECIAL SERIAi.
January 1943 US Navy Rifle by __ _ _ _________ ___ ___E ...:...Q..:.U.:..:.:.IP_:M.:_:E:.:_N.:_:T:____~N~U~M~B~E~R:_f
Jim Adell 1 1 1
If you had a brand new, never fired since manufacture Jim Morell's excellent article, "Drafted But Never
in January 1943 Ml Garand US Navy Service Rifle Served, The Remington 720" in the May 2001 issue
still in its original wrap would you take it out and of American Rifleman and a chapter in John F. Lacy's
shoot it? And then hunt with it? Well, NO, neither book, "The Remington 700."
would I. But I did just that with a Remington 720. The 720 was the Navy's premier Secretary of the
After Pearl Harbor, all the services wanted Ml Navy Trophy Rifle from the time they started being
rifles. The Navy was on the bottom of the list, and awarded sometime in the mid-1960s, until early in the
they couldn't even get M1903's. Remember that the 1980's when the Navy started to run out. The Marines
Marines fought at Guadalcanal with their M1903's. received half of them and awarded them at a slower
The Navy purchased all the "SPRINGFIELD rate. I was sitting with Colonel Dick Brown USMC
CAL.30 1906" 720s they could get as a substitute (retired), the Navy's Small Arms Program Manager,
for the Ml, (just under 1,000 of a total production in the shade above the 1,000 yard firing line during Grade MK 2 Mod 1 7.62mm NATO Garand rifles. A 41513, manufactured in January 1943. Up until that
of about 2,500). The Army took delivery from the Interservice Rifle Match at MCB Quantico, VA year or two later, a new NAVSEA Instruction started time, to win a 720 you had to win the match. When
Remington. After inspection, the rifles were stamped and asked him what he was going to do when he ran awarding cal..30 Ml Garands as 2nd place awards. they started using the 720 as the premier award
with an Ordnance Wheel and a FJA cartouche. The out of 720's. He said not to worry as he had a lot of Dick said that the Marines had returned about 4,000 for special performance with a MK2 Mod 1 as 1st
Navy intended to use them, therefore the 720 is a Ml Garands to award. He then issued a new Naval new since rebuilt by the Marines (the famous "0- place award, and a cal..30 Ml as a 2nd place award
true Navy Martial Arm. However, by the time they Sea Systems Command Instruction directing how 65 and 0-66" rifles) back to Navy control. Dick it was much easier to win a rifle. The rule was that
were received from the Army, the Navy had enough the SECNAV trophy rifles were to be awarded. It immediately gave half of them back to the Marines you could not win more than two rifles of any type
M1903 and M1903A3 rifles to suffice, allowing decreased the number of 720's awarded each year, under control of the Weapons Training Battalion at in a year.
the 720s to be put in storage. For more details, see but started awarding fairly large number of Standard Quantico (which is the home for the Marine Corps The Navy finally ran out of 720's about 1996. At
Rifle and Pistol Teams) to award as SECNAV that time, they stopped awarding the standard grade
trophy rifles. MK2 Mod 1 rifles and started awarding the match
I had started shooting for the Navy with the Ml rifle conditioned Grade B MK2 Mod 1 rifles. From a
in the Fall of 1971. I was selected for the Pacific shooter's point of view, getting a match-conditioned
Fleet Rifle team which shot the All-Navy Matches Ml Garand was much more desirable than a standard
in June 1972, and was released from active service grade rifle. The Navy is still awarding these match
at the end of June 1972. I was then selected for the conditioned and standard-grade cal..30 Ml Garand
Naval Reserve Rifle Team to shoot the National Rifle rifles. Since they have not been awarded in 25 years,
Matches at Army National Guard Base Camp Perry the standard-grade MK2 Mod 1 rifles are getting
in August of 1972. I continued to be a member of that more difficult for collectors to find.
team, seriously shooting each spring and summer As I started winning more trophy rifles, I thought
but never won a SECNAV trophy rifle until 1982 about that special first rifle. I had taken it out of the
when large numbers of rifles started to be awarded. wrap and handled it frequently, and it got a few dings.
The first rifle that I won is Remington 720 number I had known two active-duty sailors that had shot
9 GCA Journal• Spring 2022 GCA Journal • Spring 2022 1 0
their 720's. So, why not me? I took it to the range and The Buckhorn sight on the 720 is difficult to use
shot enough to get a good 100 yard zero. At the time, in that the front sight bead would completely cover
~mington® I worked with a friend who lived on 140 acres about a deer at distances over 100 yards. It gave me an
a 25-minute drive from my home, and it was full of appreciation for the old-time hunters with their
deer. I decided to take it hunting for both elk and lever-action Winchester and Marlin rifles that had
~ deer. I hunted for several weeks but never saw an elk. similar sights. I finally got close enough to a deer to
The deer were fairly unconcerned about people, so I properly place my shot and was successful. I haven't
REMINGTON ARMS COMPANY, INC. spent a lot of time dry firing on does. When I finally fired my 720 since then, but it was a thrill for me to
gave up on seeing elk, it was getting into the deer successfully hunt with it.
SPORTING ARMS-AMMUNITION-TARGETS-TRAPS
breeding season, and the deer became much harder
ILICN,NEW YCRKI.3357
to stalk.
TELEPHONE [phone]
Dept. of the Navy May 14, 1987
Naval Reserve Rifle Team
Nava 1 & Marine Corps Reserve Center
5151 Bannock St.
Denver, CO 80215
Attn: Commander James M. Adell
Dear Commander Ade 11:
Your letter of April 8, 1987 has been forwarded to this office for repl_y.
The Model 720 rifle was introduced in 1941 and discontinued in 1944. The
~erial number history and quantities produced are essentially as you list
in Y?ur letter: Our rec?rds are not complete however and it is entirely
possible for rifles outside the serial number ranges can exist.
We manufactured 2427 Model 720 rifles from 1940 to 1944. Approximately
1000 were so 1 d to the U. S. Navy Department during 1942. They were chambered
for the 30-06 Springfield cartridge. The serial numbers were issued from
the 40,000 into the 42,000 block.
On the subject of U. S. Navy use of the Model 720 ~ our records reveal that
the Navy Department did not use the approximately 1000 Model 720 rifles that
w~re purchased during 1942. However, during 1964 they started releasing the
rifles for use as award trophies under the title of "Secretary of the Navy"
and "Secretary of Defense" by the Navy and Marine Corps.
Thank you for writing to us, and we hope the above information will be of
some value to you. We have also attached highlights concerning the Model 720
and perhaps wi 11 be of interest to you.
Sincerely,
j d!ft;-
Manager, Product Service
KDG: cm
Attach.
11 GCA Journal • Spring 2022 GCA Journal • Spring 2022 12
article by Jeremy Cheek in Summer 2004
GCA Journal detailing USMC rebuild
rifles). This is an essentially new rifle
that has been recently rebuilt by the
CMP armorers.
In a pre-retirement afternoon gathering
at his home, we finally were able to
assemble guests for the presentation in
the garden. With his two Marine officer
sons at his side, LtGen Davis was initially
speechless when presented with the Ml.
As a historian, he accurately related to the
audience what he was holding. Knowing
that this was actually a USMC rifle made
it even more special.
The next day we were present for the
actual retirement ceremony at Marine
Every once in a while, the perfect gift Barracks (8th and I), Washington, D.C.
opportunity presents itself. Our friend and Under a very warm summer sun, General
mentor was retiring from the Marines after Robert B. Neller, Commandant of the
37 years of service. What does a group of Marine Corps, presided. The Marines
former Marines present to a retiring general Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, Marines
officer of Marines? An Ml Garand is the from Marine Barracks Companies A
obvious choice. and B as well as the Marine Corps
LtGen Jon Davis had an impressive career, Color Guard demonstrated their world-
to be certain. Initially trained on the AV-8A
Harrier, he later transitioned to the AV-8B renowned skills. Naturally, the Marines
having now flown all variants of the aircraft. passed in review carrying Ml's that still
He even had the opportunity to fly the RAF serve with distinction. Considering the
version as an exchange pilot. Forward Ml we gave LtGen Davis, it was very
thinking was his hallmark, but I believe he fitting to see Marines still using the rifle
would want to be best known as watching for ceremonial purposes.
the backs of those Marines he commanded For a person that has dedicated so much
and with whom he served. It is this latter of his life to serve our nation, we know
aspect that we four former Marine Harrier he is looking forward to giving his
pilots wished to celebrate. family more time. Families of service
Once the decision to find an Ml was made, members share their loved ones' time
the question became, "Which one?" As the with others and we salute their sacrifice
group's representative, I was discussing as well. We expect, though, that he will
it with a GCA friend and retired Marine. have a few moments to take his new Ml
He suggested one marked 0-6x, a known to the rifle range.
USMC rebuild mark, to guarantee USMC
provenance. Why didn't I think of that? I
immediately posted a "wanted to buy" on
the CMP Ml Garand marketplace forum
and received an offer within fifteen minutes.
This person, as it turned out, is a GCA
member as well as a retired Marine and was
Photo by Cpl. Samantha Braun USMC. The
eager to assist us. After learning to whom
appearance of U.S. Department of Defense
this rifle would be presented, he offered visual information does not imply or
it to us at his purchase price. The rifle is constitute DoD endorsement.
a 4.2 million SA CMP Special Grade in
.308 Winchester marked with the telltale
0-66 on the receiver flat, (see the excellent
GCA Journal• Spring 2022 14
Taking 6095438 to a safe place, I eased the bolt
forward and pulled the trigger group out to examine it.
It looked like it had never been used and there was no
bedding of any kind, just perfect machine inletting. I
don't believe in bumping the stock to free it from the
rifle, so I held it vertical and hit the comb with the other
hand until it disengaged. Still no special bedding, only
a perfect mating of wood and metal. Despite not being
MY FAVORITE GARAND
glass bedded, however, the last four digits of the serial
are written in the barrel channel. This was normally
By Gary Paul Johnston not done until 1960, and I have no explanation for it.
In 1964 I was 23 and had been a police officer for War II and Korea, Alex stopped long enough to tell me
about eight months. We had made a fairly typical about the Garand.
arrest, but one that required medical treatment before Back in 1956, Alex saw a notice in The American
we could book the suspect into the central jail. That Rifleman magazine that the Director of Civilian
meant taking him to L.A. County General Hospital. Marksmanship (DCM) was selling Ml rifles, issue
When we arrived, a nurse called the hospital police grade for $98 and National Match for $125. Alex When I retired, we moved to Colorado and I continued
to escort us to the E.R. That's when I met Sergeant said that he immediately sent $98 for a regular rifle. to visit Alex and his wife in Big Bear. By then I had
Charles Alexander. During the half-hour we were However, the rifle he received was a National Match written about 200 articles for gun magazines, and
there, Alex and I discovered both of us were gun guys Ml. When he notified the DCM by letter, he received when I joined the GCA I told a friend, Walt Kuleck,
and exchanged numbers. It was the beginning of a life a reply saying that it was their mistake and that Alex about Alex's Ml. Walt asked me to get some photos
long friendship. could keep the National Match rifle for $98. of it for a story the next time I went out to Big Bear.
The first time I went to Alex's home in Temple City A glitch in the process was that the last digit was left When I did, I asked Alex if I could take his Ml apart
to see his gun collection, I spent a couple of hours as off of the serial number on the DCM document, so that to get some images for a story and he agreed. Looking into the underside of the receiver, I saw
he gave me a tour of about 150 rare and collectible instead of reading 6095438, the serial on the document almost no sign that the bolt had rubbed it in passing
handguns and rifles. One of them was an Ml rifle was 609543. When Alex contacted the DCM again he by, the Parkerizing barely looked marked. Around this
that looked brand new ... because it was! Interrupting was told to send the document back and they would area was semi-dry yellow grease which was GI issue
stories about what he did as a Naval Aviator in World replace it with the full serial number. When he showed at the time. I looked at the stock ferrule and found 543
the DCM paper to me I asked him why he didn't send and a soft 8.
it back, and he said he wasn't going to let it out of his After examining the bolt face and op rod, I reassembled
sight, and besides, he thought it was "funny!" it and gave it back to Alex. "Did you ever fire this rifle?" I
Through the years I visited Alex's home at least a asked. Alex could tell I was shocked. With a half-smile, he
hundred times in addition to going shooting, out to held up his finger and said, "One clip!" "WHY?" I asked.
dinner with him and his wife, and revisiting his still "It was so accurate it scared me," he answered. "They all
growing gun collection. He was older than I and when went into the size of a fifty-cent piece at 100-yards off the
he retired, I helped him move from the city up to Big bench." Alex said that he had another Garand to shoot
Bear, California where we continued to meet and shoot and he just didn't take 6095438 out after that. As the years
our guns. But we never shot that still as-new Garand. went by, it just became more valuable.
By then I had a couple ofMl's ofmy own, one of them When Alex and his wife had some health problems,
a National Match with papers, relatively few rounds I got involved with their trust. Sadly, Alex's wife and
having been fired through it. daughter passed on, and he followed near the end
But my NM Garand was different from Alex's, as it of 2020 after almost 93 years. By then I had bought
had NM machine-engraved on the left side of its barrel his Ml.
between the front sight and the gas cylinder ring, just Unfortunately, all of the DCM documents and the
like the M14 NM rifles I'd shot. letters could not be found, so I hoped to get a copy of
Number 6095438, however, had NM followed by a the original by contacting the CMP, which has some
5-pointed star on that area of its barrel. These letters of the remaining DCM documents. I learned that any
were neat and appeared to be done by a stamp, but they verification would only contain the date, make, serial
weren't clear because they were flat letters on a round number, and whether it was indeed a National Match
surface. I asked Alex what the star meant and he said rifle. I sent a check for $25 but there was no record of
he didn't know. a National Match Ml Rifle number 6095438 or under
the erroneous serial 609345. I was also told that files
before about 1993 were far from complete.
15 GCA Journal• Spring 2022 GCA Journal • Spring 2022 16