Tracing an M1 Garand's history

[jefnvk]

Is it possible to trace an M1 Garand's history, or at least what unit it was originally issued to? I am thinking along the lines of invoices or shipping records. If so, how would one go about doing it?

Thanks!

 

[Jim K]

Basically, the answer is that there is no way. CMP has the old DCM records of guns sold to the public, but the Army never kept permanent records of weapons, just temporary records for inventory purposes (mimeographed lists of serial numbers assigned to a unit). The serial number of an issue weapon was not made part of the soldier's personnel (201) file.

In rare instances, a rifle can be traced to a unit or an individual because someone wrote in a book that "I was issued M1 rifle No. 1234567..." or something like that. But that doesn't happen often.

Jim

 

[jefnvk]

Thanks, that's pretty much what i figured. Just was hoping that shipping records or something of the sort had gotten kept.

 

[Sunray]

The closest you can get is its year of manufacture by maker. Go here and scroll down the left to 'US Military'. http://oldguns.net/
Jim's was made in 1943. If it's a Springfield. 1942 if it's a Winchester. snicker.

 

[jefnvk]

Yeah, I got that. Mine is 1943. 16089xx. Got lucky though, and knew that by the barrel, original and beautiful

Oops, must be thinking about a different page, that gave the months too. Still comes out the same, though.

 

[Trebor]

There was a web site where you could input the serial number and it would search various records and tell you if there was a hit. The site had incomplete records from various military posts, etc, and sometimes you'd get a hit that a particular rifle was at a particular base at a particular time.

I no longer have the URL though. Try asking over at jouster.com and someone should have it.

Btw, I put in the serial numbers of 5 different M-1's and never got any hits.

 

[jefnvk]

OK, could you be talking about this one? http://armscollectors.com/srs/lookup_m1.php

I did som looking around over there and found it. Man, I hate those bulletin board types. Anyways, no luck for me on the search.