A little road trip to the CMP South store.

[GunnyUSMC]

Feibings Dark Brown leather dye is almost a dead match to the chestnut ridge stain. You can get that at Tandy leather.

Best investment I ever made was CMP rifles. I love cutting open the box and seeing what's inside.

You have to know your wood and how it will react to the dye. Light color beach and birch will take on a more red color. Light color walnut will take on a nice reddish brown color, but dark walnut will turn dark brown and sometimes almost black.
Here is a light birch stock stained with Fiibings dark brown leather dye.

 

[cfullgraf]

You have to know your wood and how it will react to the dye. ]

Gunny, nice work and good information. Thanks

 

[sharkman]

Using Gun turpentine like Laphroaig does take a long time to dry, raw linseed oil without a dryer will take weeks.
Mineral spirit will cut down the drying time to a day or two between coats.
For the finish to oxidize to that pretty red, that can take years.
On your new stock the grain will be open. To fill the grain you can use 0000 steel wool to do scrub coats after your first coat is applied.
First coat. Apply heavy. Rub in very good. Let sit 30 min. then wipe dry.
Allow the stock to dry.
Now start scrub coats. Wet your steel wool with your oil and rub it into the stock. Keep the steel wool wet but not to wet. The steel wool will remove very little wood that will work as a filler, so you don’t want much oil on the stock. After scrubbing rub the stock by hand. You want to rub till your hand gets hot. The stock should look almost dry = no wet oil on the surface. Allow the stock to dry for 3 or 4 days. You may need to do 3 or 4 scrub coats.
This sounds like fun.
Well, we finished Matt’s M1 last night and we’re headed to the range. I’ll post pics when we get back.

Thanks Gunny!

Semper Fi
(Darn it, I hate when my iPad auto corrects what I’m typing and I don’t catch it....)

 

[GooseGestapo]

Just be aware that glass bedding a stock disqualifies a rifle from use in the JCG matches. Wood shims and glass bedding are considered “Accurizing”, and not allowed.
Nobody will care, but if you win or place at a major match and a rifle inspection conducted, you could be disqualified.

Strangely, a new Boyd’s stock or Criterion barrel is acceptable...
(I.e.: CMP Special).

But, I wouldn’t hesitate if wanting to tighten up a “shooter”.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Just be aware that glass bedding a stock disqualifies a rifle from use in the JCG matches. Wood shims and glass bedding are considered “Accurizing”, and not allowed.
Nobody will care, but if you win or place at a major match and a rifle inspection conducted, you could be disqualified.

Strangely, a new Boyd’s stock or Criterion barrel is acceptable...
(I.e.: CMP Special).

But, I wouldn’t hesitate if wanting to tighten up a “shooter”.

Matt will just be using it as a shooter. He’s not into match shooting, he’s more of a collector.
We shipped his M1 along with some other guns to South Dakota yesterday before I brought him to the airport.

I contacted CMP yesterday about the cracks in my stock and handguard. They were very nice and only asked a few questions. They were going to send me a shipping label to return the stock and handguard. But with my luck the replacement stock would be dirty like the one that was on the rifle. I would have to clean it and most likely find some damage. I told them that I would just repair the stock, but would like to send the handguard back . They told me that they would just send me a replacement Walnut handguard.
Another plus for the CMP.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Boy was that fast. The replacement handguard from CMP arrived this morning. Another plus for CMP.
It’s nice too. Just need to clean it and repair the stock.

 

[HankC]

Made my trip to CMP North Store this morning. No Service Grade Garands, Field Grades only have IHC at $980. Plenty rack grade M1C and M1D at around $1K and $400 drill rifles. No thanks. I guess you South Store folks took all the incoming Garands! Was told they would have better inventory during the National Match weeks. The metals on rack grade M1Cs and M1Ds look nice, likely reparked, some have new Hackberry stocks that look interesting. I guess I may just mail order a field grade and try my luck if getting a Garand. Don't have any 30-06, hate to add a caliber, but this may be the last wave of Garands!

 

[H&R Glock]

Yoe! Sarge! I sent in copies of my DD214 (E5 discharged in 1967) , American Legion Card, Drivers License, Gun Club Card, CCW Card, FFL License, and a Wanted Poster (with picture) from the Post Office to the CMP along with my credit card number.
If they are trying to fulfill orders from mail first, why haven't I gotten an acknowledgement of order from them yet? Maybe they have run out of rifles? UGH-OH maybe they know that I already have one of their rifles? Shhhh! don't tell anyone!

 

[GunnyUSMC]

I have never ordered a rifle from CMP. I went to the north store a few years ago, where I bought one of the Mossberg trainers. This trip to the south store was my first.

Here’s better pics of the handguard they sent me. I cleaned it today but didn’t get any pics.
The rear handguard is birch. I’m going to dig through my parts to see if I have one in Walnut that will match better.

 

[AJMBLAZER]

I personally know of several Garands that were recovered from enemy caches in afg.(no ammo or clips was found for them- otherwise, who knows- I may have been obligated to at least carry one on the truck). I wonder if turkey was the source of them.

Iran. The Shah’s Army had a lot of them.

https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2016/10/16/wwii-weapons-in-the-ayatollahs-iran/

 

[FL-NC]

Iran. The Shah’s Army had a lot of them.

https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2016/10/16/wwii-weapons-in-the-ayatollahs-iran/

VERY interesting read. Thanks for posting it! The Garand I examined had all of the US markings crudely removed by a grinder of some type. Your link also gives me some insight as to the possible origins of 1911's amd M1919 series machineguns recovered from our forces in iraq. REALLY would have liked to have gotten my hands on one of those iranian Lugers!

 

[P5 Guy]

The arms Americans bought for OUR military sure got passed around.
http://forums.thecmp.org/archive/index.php/t-6329.html

 

[Officers'Wife]

Wherever the rifle from CMP came from… I still remember when my father managed to get a Garand which he then presented to my grandfather. (World War II veteran.) The old man cradled that rifle in his arms much like I did both my children when they were babies. I also made the very large and foolish mistake to attempt to "comfort" my grandfather over some missed shots by pointing out his eyesight wasn't what it used to be. Two clips later I came to the startling conclusion that he may have been letting me when all the shooting contests over the years. I still say that if he was the worst shot in his squad as he claimed… If the Nazis had any sense they would've surrendered by telephone from far away!

 

[H&R Glock]

E-mailed the CMP and got a response. I asked if I could see the status of my mail order by going to the web site. They said they are 30 days behind in processing orders so understand any delays in seeing my order online.
If I click on "E-STORE" on the web site and register a log on, that I could track the progress of my order by computer.
This my be helpful to other mail ordering shooters.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Here is a before and after look at the handguard after cleaning.

 

[bbqreloader]

Cleaned up nice, any mystery cracks discovered?

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Cleaned up nice, any mystery cracks discovered?

No mystery cracks. I did find some black paint on it.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Sorry about the delay in the update, but I pulled a muscle in my back when I unloaded my new tool cabinet. Pretty much couldn’t get anything done the pass week and a half. Got to keep reminding my self that I’m not as young as I used to be. But I’m all better now.
So here in the next step in getting my M1 finished.
The front handguard from CMP cleaned up really nice but the rear handguard didn’t match the stock or the front handguard. So I went to digging through my stock parts and found a handguard that matched.


The only problem is that it has a stress crack.

If you look close in this pic you can see the crack following the wood grain the full length of the handguard. But it’s an easy repair. You can see the three areas where I used my Dremel tool with a sanding drum to remove a little wood, about a 16th of an inch.



I used denatured alcohol to clean the crack. I cut three pieces of fiberglass cloth to glass into the areas where I removed the wood. This will stabilize the crack and the handguard will be stronger then when it was new.


Here is everything I use for the repair.
Piece of flat wood covered with wax paper
Some fiberglass cloth
Some nylon string that I’ve coated with wax
And I’ll be using Acraglas

The wood with the wax paper and nylon string will be used as a clamp to help close the crack at the rear of the handguard.

 

[Striker]

Got to keep reminding my self that I’m not as young as I used to be.

Yep, the older you get, the better you was.....

 

[HankC]

"I cut three pieces of fiberglass cloth to glass into the areas where I removed the wood"
You are not a superglue believer? Folks use superglue to fix hairline cracks, I have done it myself and it holds, not sure how long but an AK hand guand cover I repaired that way probably 8 years ago still going strong. Superglue is thin and get into the crack well. I would not use it to repair load carrying areas.

 

[Reloadron]

Yo, Mr. Gunny. Does your Winchester have the Winchester rear sight aperture? Should be a thicker rear sight as I recall. Also, is the trigger group housing Winchester? Finally, as to the rear handguard, I have a few in walnut which are pretty nice and clean, with metal on them. Seems to me I recall a certain retired Gunnery Sergeant sending me a few nice bracelets and it would be nice to return the good deed. Had I not misplaced your name and address I was going to send a Christmas Card. I may also have a walnut forward handguard. The wood is yours for the asking as well as a rear sight which I "think" I have. I have a stash of Garand parts and while pecked at over the years I still have more than I'll ever use or need.

Ron

 

[GunnyUSMC]

"I cut three pieces of fiberglass cloth to glass into the areas where I removed the wood"
You are not a superglue believer? Folks use superglue to fix hairline cracks, I have done it myself and it holds, not sure how long but an AK hand guand cover I repaired that way probably 8 years ago still going strong. Superglue is thin and get into the crack well. I would not use it to repair load carrying areas.

Nope. Not a fan of Superglue. It will work in some cases, but not where ther is force from recoil or when the cracked from stress (the wood pulling it self apart as it ages). Most superglue dries brittle so you have to make sure that there is no gap the the glue fills.
I’ve been doing stock repair for over 30 years and give an as long as I live warranty. Only one was brought back. The new break was next to the repair I had done. I did the second repair for free and told the guy to stop hitting things with the buttstock.

Yo, Mr. Gunny. Does your Winchester have the Winchester rear sight aperture? Should be a thicker rear sight as I recall. Also, is the trigger group housing Winchester? Finally, as to the rear handguard, I have a few in walnut which are pretty nice and clean, with metal on them. Seems to me I recall a certain retired Gunnery Sergeant sending me a few nice bracelets and it would be nice to return the good deed. Had I not misplaced your name and address I was going to send a Christmas Card. I may also have a walnut forward handguard. The wood is yours for the asking as well as a rear sight which I "think" I have. I have a stash of Garand parts and while pecked at over the years I still have more than I'll ever use or need.

Ron

A very nice offer, but I’ll use theset I have because they match very nice. I do wish I had more Garand parts.
I forgot about sending those bracelets. I hope they fit good.
As for the rear sight, I’m not sure. Here are som pics. The trigger guard is Winchester, but the trigger housing is Springfield.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The repair is done. Here ar before and after pics.
The crack.





All dressed up.


The reinforcements




All dressed up. Tomorrow I’ll put a little BLO inside the handguard and it will look much better .

 

[Reloadron]

The rear sight apeture looks to be the thicker Winchester type. I have a W.R.A trigger housing sitting here and if you want it it's yours. I will never have any use for it and if I need one I have another. I realize you are not out to make a perfect restoration but what the heck. Shoot me a PM with your mailing address and I'll get it out to you this week.

Semper Fi
Ron

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The rear sight apeture looks to be the thicker Winchester type. I have a W.R.A trigger housing sitting here and if you want it it's yours. I will never have any use for it and if I need one I have another. I realize you are not out to make a perfect restoration but what the heck. Shoot me a PM with your mailing address and I'll get it out to you this week.

Semper Fi
Ron

Thanks
The restoration will be a BTDT. That is, Been There, Done That. The wood will match the wear on the metal.