Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Jack16 on December 05, 2010, 12:37:46 AM

Title: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Jack16 on December 05, 2010, 12:37:46 AM
I just got a Springfield M1 Garand today at Surplus City for $340. According to the serial number this rifle was made in August of 1942. It looks to be in ok-good condition. There is a lot of cosmoline that needs to be cleaned out and the stock is beaten with some dings in the wood, but that's kinda cool cause it looks like it has seen some action.

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/IMG_0504.jpg)


Anyways, I was looking at the windage knob and noticed it had asian markings on it. I found one website with "similar" markings.
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?169387-Aisian-marked-M1-Garand-I-got-the-pics (http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?169387-Aisian-marked-M1-Garand-I-got-the-pics)

They say those symbols are Chinese. The markings aren't the same on my windage knob, but the symbol on the barrel is.

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/IMG_0510.jpg)

(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/IMG_0513-1.jpg)

Not sure what this is, but looks interesting.
(http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x311/archywood/IMG_0511.jpg)



Can anybody give me any info on this?
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Tyrannis on December 05, 2010, 12:44:31 AM
this COULD possably of been a captured m1 garand, from ether the chinese or japanese, im taking a shot in the dark by saying this.

i do know the japanese had a prototype semi-auto rifle that they were modeling off captured m1 garands, but the rifle never saw mass production
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: kilo2 on December 05, 2010, 12:45:38 AM
Either that or a Chinese copy. The copies though are fairly rare.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Masherbrum on December 05, 2010, 12:55:09 AM
Looks Taiwanese to me.   My buddy's wife is Mandarin Chinese, I'll see if I can get them over and she can look at the pictures.   I know little Chinese, but it is "Left" on the knob.   
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: SmokinLoon on December 05, 2010, 01:20:12 AM
I bet it was re-barreled in 1954 and donated to the Taiwanese, South Koreans, or South Vietnamese.  The circular sun/flower emblem is telling me Taiwan for some reason.  To my knowledge, the Chinese did not copy the M1 Garand.  The Soviets were dumping Mosin Nagants on the Chinese enough for them to not worry about engineering a copy of the Garand.     

I am VERY surprised it only costs $340.  While well used, that Garand is in good condition.  Have it head spaced and the bore inspected just to be sure.   
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Rolex on December 05, 2010, 01:37:07 AM
It looks Chinese. Yes, the kanj on the knob means left. You have to rotate the last photo 90° clockwise to read the kanji from top to bottom. The top kanji (left in photo) means country and I'm not sure about the other. It's an old kanji or a Chinese one I'm not positive about. They probably mean "government property."
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Maverick on December 05, 2010, 01:50:15 PM
FWIW if it is a real Springfield manufactured Garand you have a very inexpensive option for a new barrel. I know of one that was sent to the factory a couple months ago with a heavily pitted black bore. It came back with a new standard GI barrel (.308 as requested but 30-06 same price) for a cost of $225. It took 3 weeks including transit time to the factory.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: 68ZooM on December 05, 2010, 02:31:34 PM
i have a website saved somewhere (I'll try to find it) that you can order ever piece of a Garand, or you can send it to them for different stages of restoration, fully restored they go for alot of money, his site has them any where from 800 up to 3500 depending on the condition of the Gun, looks like you have alot of cleaning ahead of you
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: VonKost on December 05, 2010, 02:35:10 PM
Does it have import marks on it? Maybe on the side of the barrel?
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Jack16 on December 05, 2010, 03:09:33 PM
No no, I'll keep it the way it is for now. I think it's kinda cool looking.
As for anyother import marks, the only other mark I see is an "M" on the side of the front sight by the gas tube. I haven't taken it apart yet so I don't know if there are any hidden markings underneath the wood.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Plawranc on December 05, 2010, 03:32:54 PM
"Geet off myy laaaeewrn you little punks"  :rofl

Lovely rifle!
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Rhah on December 05, 2010, 09:00:17 PM
"Geet off myy laaaeewrn you little punks"  :rofl


ahh good old Clint Eastwood
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Tupac on December 05, 2010, 09:21:48 PM
"Geet off myy laaaeewrn you little punks"  :rofl

Lovely rifle!

If you watch Gran Torino backwards its about a zombie who starts to hate asian people more and more until it climaxes when one of them steals his car.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Nefarious on December 05, 2010, 11:31:16 PM
Not to familiar with the M1s, but they could be South Korean as they did use them in the Korean war.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Rolex on December 06, 2010, 01:17:35 AM
Not to familiar with the M1s, but they could be South Korean as they did use them in the Korean war.

The markings are Chinese Kanji, not Korean Hangul.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Yeager2 on December 06, 2010, 01:54:03 AM
The Circular Knob has the two Characters "Left" and "Right" on it ( zuo 左 and  you 右) (Chinese Characters called 汉字 ( Hanzi)

The other picture with the metal side piece has the words "國軍“  but it is in a "Traditional Character Set" / complex script called 繁体字 ( Fantizi )

the Simple Character set actually looks like this --> 国军 ( Guo Jun) which directly means National Forces / National Army / National Military

Litterally it would be " Country Solider " or "Country military" etc.

-Pilot in China
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Guppy35 on December 06, 2010, 02:09:26 AM
Gotta believe it's one that was imported back in to the US.  Nothing wrong with that of course  :)
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: ozrocker on December 06, 2010, 06:40:17 AM
Maybe a Garand that was sent to China in support of Chang Kai - Shek  and his Army during the
Japanese invasions/occupations?
 I don't know, throwing a wild guess out there.
I know we (US) sent tons of money and equipment over there during the war to try to keep the
IJA at bay. Especially in early war time frame.

                                                                             <S> Oz
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Nefarious on December 06, 2010, 07:24:15 AM
Maybe a Garand that was sent to China in support of Chang Kai - Shek  and his Army during the
Japanese invasions/occupations?
 I don't know, throwing a wild guess out there.
I know we (US) sent tons of money and equipment over there during the war to try to keep the
IJA at bay. Especially in early war time frame.

                                                                             <S> Oz

You might be right... Thanks Rolex and Yeager.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Serenity on December 06, 2010, 11:21:58 AM
If you watch Gran Torino backwards its about a zombie who starts to hate asian people more and more until it climaxes when one of them steals his car.

Wow... That's sadly hilarious.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: SFRT - Frenchy on December 06, 2010, 11:48:51 AM
Dang ... at this price ... Score! :rock
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: LeDragon on December 06, 2010, 11:51:08 AM
I'd leave the way it is, nothing wrong with a little asian on your barrel.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Babalonian on December 06, 2010, 02:37:00 PM
Looks like Mandarin / Taiwanese (post-China revolution).
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Jack16 on December 19, 2010, 01:45:39 PM
Well I believe I have found out why this rifle was only $340... the barrel is worn....
I haven't shot it, but I placed the round into the muzzle and the casing touches the muzzle.
My question is, is this an accurate way to measure muzzle wear? Or should I still take it to be checked out and have the gunsmith use a muzzle gauge on it. I don't want to have to buy a new $200-300 barrel if I don't have to...
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Golfer on December 19, 2010, 02:43:48 PM
You can get someone to slug the barrel.  Have someone check the headspace and make sure you don't run any commercial grade ammunition through it.  Most of the commercial stuff is made for use in bolt guns and runs at a higher pressure which will damage your operating rod.  There may be issue with the primers which can cause a slam-fire as well so you should use military surplus or ammunition made specifically for the M1 Garand.  American Eagle/Federal have been producing this for a little while now but it's more expensive and harder to find.  A third option is what I do which is roll your own using mil-spec primers (CCI #34) and whatever powder/load you choose based on your own research.

If you're asking these questions you need to have it inspected by someone experienced with the Garand.

If the headspace isn't where it needs to be then you'll need a new barrel anyway.  If $300 for a new barrel breaks the bank then you wern't going to be shooting your gun much anyway.
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: mbailey on December 19, 2010, 03:18:03 PM
To add to Golfers post, at that point your into it for $640.00. We just sold one at the gunshop ( International Harvester ) for $900.00. She was far from mint ( id would have put it at the high end of 70% to the low end of 80% ) but all the numbers matched. IMHO she was a perfect off the shelf shooter.

Yours would still be a deal at $640.

Good source for barrels ( i purchased one for my M2 Carbine thru these fellas, their knowledge is 2nd to none )

Just an FYI, some of them do require "finish" reaming. But they also have "off the shelf" and ready to go bbls. They can install for you also if needed.

http://www.dgrguns.com/0-main-page-barrels.htm


Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: Jack16 on December 24, 2010, 03:15:40 PM
Good news guys! I do not have to get a new barrel. The muzzle was a little worn, but that's because my friend and I were a little rough when cleaning it with the cleaning rod. I didn't know the M1 had that issue. The gunsmith said all the mechanisms inside where in great condition and he shot a whole clip though it without any problems.  :D
The accuacy might be thrown off a little, but I don't care :P
Title: Re: Asian markings on my Garand?
Post by: mbailey on December 24, 2010, 03:29:26 PM
Good news guys! I do not have to get a new barrel. The muzzle was a little worn, but that's because my friend and I were a little rough when cleaning it with the cleaning rod. I didn't know the M1 had that issue. The gunsmith said all the mechanisms inside where in great condition and he shot a whole clip though it without any problems.  :D
The accuacy might be thrown off a little, but I don't care :P
:aok