Military gun guys.....need your help

[JunkCollector]

Ok so I had to pick up a shotgun choke gauge at a favorite LGS

In checking the inventory there.
He had something odd.
It was a springfield manufactured 30-06 that was semi-auto
It wasn't a Garand but probably a precursor

Something worthy of pursuing? Maybe prototype collectible ?
The price wasn't bad 650.

Thoughts

[mitdr774]

What does it look like? A few designs predated the M1, but most didnt make it much past trials.

[sakodude]

https://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-gall ... rifle.aspx
something like this?

[Varmintmist]

Well the Garand was not 30 cal. originally. How about a early BAR?

[JunkCollector]

It is something like that.
Definitely springfield
Definitely 06
And Definitely semi-auto
Thinking I need to be there Wednesday as I'm sure it's not common.

[JunkCollector]

Well the Garand was not 30 cal. originally. How about a early BAR?

Were they made by springfield?
I really should have checked it out then.
To me it had a Garandish look
Kicking myself now.

[JunkCollector]

What I think it may be is a garand model 1924......if it is I'll have my first Garand.

[Chiro1989]

JunkCollector, you REALLY need a phone with a good camera

[JunkCollector]

My phone takes great pictures.
I just have to think of taking them.

I had a lot of buns in the oven at the time and juggling isn't my Forte

This was in the air.
BSA international mark iii with unertl 15x ultra varmint scope

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This is still in the air Philadelphia XE fox

20231213_123808.jpg (2.08 MiB) Viewed 3412 times

Didn't want to drop either but I can be flexible at times

[Bigslug]

J.C., do some searches for "Pedersen Rifle".

John Pedersen and John Garand were both working at Springfield Armory and competing - more or less - for what ultimately became the M1.

Worth a hell of a lot more than $650 if that's what it is. Only other likely candidate might be a Johnson. . .which looks nothing like the Garand.

Tell us more about the BSA. . .and scope.

[Chiro1989]

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Your welcome, Merry Christmas hey

[JunkCollector]

Thanks Chiro....I think It's going to be a buy.
Bigslug I'm thinking it's an early Garand right now.

[shotgunshooter3]

If you don't buy it, give me the store info and I will.

[Big Al1]

Open link: does it look like the Pederson??

https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=pe ... 537&ch=786

[JunkCollector]

Al I'm thinking no on the pederson.
It looked more like a garand to me.
Really wish I had handled it.
I Was listening as the owner was telling someone about it.

I initially just thought Garand and too expensive when it was on the rack.

[Diver43]

Al I'm thinking no on the pederson.
It looked more like a garand to me.
Really wish I had handled it.
I Was listening as the owner was telling someone about it.

I initially just thought Garand and too expensive when it was on the rack.

Maybe a Garand that bubba modified?

[Bigslug]

A couple links:

https://www.nps.gov/spar/learn/historyc ... ations.htm

https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac- ... -m1-garand

Unfortunately, you're kind of trying to describe your impressions of a grainy photo of the Loch Ness Monster's flipper.

[JunkCollector]

Al I'm thinking no on the pederson.
It looked more like a garand to me.
Really wish I had handled it.
I Was listening as the owner was telling someone about it.

I initially just thought Garand and too expensive when it was on the rack.

Maybe a Garand that bubba modified?

The owner of the store did say it was springfield and made before the Garand.
I'll call him when he opens have him put it aside and go from there.
If it's something really special I'll have to tell him what he has.....he's a good guy and wouldn't feel right otherwise

[JunkCollector]

A couple links:

https://www.nps.gov/spar/learn/historyc ... ations.htm

https://www.rockislandauction.com/riac- ... -m1-garand

Unfortunately, you're kind of trying to describe your impressions of a grainy photo of the Loch Ness Monster's flipper.

Yes....I sure get that on this one.

[Bigslug]

The opening chapter of Scott Duff's book provides some useful tidbits:

Pedersen only worked in the .276 caliber both he and Garand did much early development in. By 1930, the government decided to hitch their wagon to Garand and paid off Pedersen's contract.

McArthur's decision to halt development of the .276 in favor of retaining the .30-06 for logistical reasons took place in 1932.

Garand had been working parallel with both calibers in the 1920's.

The impression I get is that both men's prototypes were very limited in number and, while the government tested them, there wasn't much that would have had a chance of making it out of the Armory's possession and into the world. By the time anybody was making noises about things like "troop trials", what they had looked pretty solidly like the M1 known to history. Serial numbers 1-80 were "model shop" rifles started in 1932 with the goal of working out the various jigs and fixtures necessary for production, and those are clearly M1's. The biggest external change was initiated around 1939-40 to change the front end of the gas system from "gas trap" to the final "gas port", but that's one of those "gotta look REAL hard" variations.

So yeah. . . pics, especially of receiver markings.

[JunkCollector]

I'll be on it.
I just sent him an email so may know more before Wednesday when he'd reopen.

[Centermass]

Is it the M1924 or the Garand model 1919?
The 1919 was made in both .276 and 30-06

[JunkCollector]

If I was on the ball I'd either have it or at least have it reserved.
I was pretty clueless when there.
I often wonder what something was afterwards.....this is one of those cases.

[JunkCollector]

Well I'm a boob
I was to the left of the guy holding it and thought it was a semi-auto.

I looked today and it's an 03 Springfield 8/44"date on end of barrel.
Nice looking gun.

[Centermass]

Oh…I know exactly what that is..
That’s a Springfield 1903.

It’s not semi. It’s bolt action, springer clip feed… if I remember correctly.


Sorry, couldn’t resist