US Rifle Cal .30 M1, SA SG Special with pics

[Terrence]

Hey Guys,
Just got this beauty today. Springfield Armory Service Grade Special, serial number 5,874,xxx. The description is "collector grade metal with new CMP stock." The new CMP stock is meh (just ask mac1911) but can be replaced with a correct USGI stock for a couple hundred $$$. She is going to be a safe queen and I don't plan on firing her since her original finish is so pristine. Bore is in the white and the parkerizing is still fresh and thick. I noticed a couple small spots of surface rust on the bolt's rear locking lug and on the underside of the receiver heel which pisses me off. Any suggestions to clear those up? Or PB blast and q-tips?
The clear thing on the op rod handle is a protective cover that the CMP sent on the rifle.

I have more pics I will post in a reply since I can't seem to get more than 10 pics on this post.

 

[Terrence]

More pics


Notice the scratch in the bolt channel in the 2d and 3d pics? Looks like some kind of debris was in the way when the op rod was cycled or the rifle was fired.

 

[50 BMG]

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Notice the scratch in the bolt channel in the first 2 pics? Looks like some kind of debris was in the way when the op rod was cycled or the rifle was fired.

Very Very nice, Congratulations

 

[peteyb]

Very clean looking rifle, congrats! Still need to get me my first M1 once I have the money for it

 

[OfficerObie59]

Hey Guys,
Just got this beauty today. Springfield Armory Service Grade Special, serial number 5,874,xxx. The description is "collector grade metal with new CMP stock." The new CMP stock is meh (just ask mac1911) but can be replaced with a correct USGI stock for a couple hundred $$$. She is going to be a safe queen and I don't plan on firing her since her original finish is so pristine. Bore is in the white and the parkerizing is still fresh and thick. I noticed a couple small spots of surface rust on the bolt's rear locking lug and on the underside of the receiver heel which pisses me off. Any suggestions to clear those up? Or PB blast and q-tips?
The clear thing on the op rod handle is a protective cover that the CMP sent on the rifle.
View attachment 46258View attachment 46259View attachment 46260View attachment 46261View attachment 46262View attachment 46263View attachment 46264View attachment 46265View attachment 46266View attachment 46267
I have more pics I will post in a reply since I can't seem to get more than 10 pics on this post.

View attachment 46282View attachment 46271View attachment 46272View attachment 46273View attachment 46274View attachment 46276View attachment 46277View attachment 46278View attachment 46280
Notice the scratch in the bolt channel in the 2d and 3d pics? Looks like some kind of debris was in the way when the op rod was cycled or the rifle was fired.

Congrats, she's beautiful. You serial and barrel date match--and those are some great T&M numbers. I bet she's an ace on target with a 1 on the muzzle. Make sure to save the tag and put in the envelope with your CMP certificate if you ever choose to sell her a decade or two down the road.

 

[enbloc]

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[Terrence]

Congrats, she's beautiful. You serial and barrel date match--and those are some great T&M numbers. I bet she's an ace on target with a 1 on the muzzle. Make sure to save the tag and put in the envelope with your CMP certificate if you ever choose to sell her a decade or two down the road.

I agree that she'd probably be a tack driver, but I'm not going shoot her, and I'm leaving that tag right where it is because I probably would lose it if I took it off. I chuckled when I read the ME/TE on the tag because I have a regular old SG HRA with ME 0/ TE 2+. Go figure.

- - - Updated - - -

Welcome her Home to Massachusetts for me. She looks sweet!
~Matt

Ahh I forgot! This is her homecoming. I'd love to know exactly where she has been. I think its safe to say she stayed locked in an armory somewhere for almost 60 years.

 

[enbloc]

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[mac1911]

Looks great....I was back and fourth on the SGS or SG. I like to shoot my guns so I will leave the pretty guns to those with the resolve to let them be safe queens. I cant do it.
I'm pretty sure cmp puts all there guns on the test rack and puts a few rounds through them?.... the muzzle and throat wear is a funny thing out of my 3 service grades the one with muzzle +3 and throat of +4 is my most consistant shooter as groups go...I'm eager to see what the IHC offerings will be.
I'm tourn with the cmp offerings
service grade: best bang for your buck for shooting
Service grade special: potential to be a collectable and as close to usgi new with out big$$$
and if all correct and collector in the future go to auction might be even further out of reach
cmp special: best closet to new shooter out there

You gotta fire some nice mat h grade ammo through it!!!

 

[samandglove1]

Really nice metal on that rifle. I'm glad you got a good one.

 

[enbloc]

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[Terrence]

As to cleaning up the rust spots I don't like PB Blaster... but I do love Kroil. Blaster can be a little harsh on th petina I've found and now only use Kroil with no ill effects. Start with the Q-tips, if persistant move up to the sponge side of a scotchbrite rescue pad that has had the soap washed out then dried, then soaked in kroil. Lastly, a well-worn scour side of the same pad can be very lightly worked in small circles with kroil to great effect. The good news is you get to perfect your technique on the underside of the heel, and learn how to deal with rust BEFORE trying this method on visible surfaces like the upper heel itself.
Happy rust hunting, ~Matt

Thanks for the advice and the heads up about PB blast and its effect on the finish. I'll have to get some Kroil. The last thing I expected with a SG Special was rust spots, but it is what it is.

 

[Terrence]

Looks great....I was back and fourth on the SGS or SG. I like to shoot my guns so I will leave the pretty guns to those with the resolve to let them be safe queens. I cant do it.
I'm pretty sure cmp puts all there guns on the test rack and puts a few rounds through them?.... the muzzle and throat wear is a funny thing out of my 3 service grades the one with muzzle +3 and throat of +4 is my most consistant shooter as groups go...I'm eager to see what the IHC offerings will be.
I'm tourn with the cmp offerings
service grade: best bang for your buck for shooting
Service grade special: potential to be a collectable and as close to usgi new with out big$$$
and if all correct and collector in the future go to auction might be even further out of reach
cmp special: best closet to new shooter out there

You gotta fire some nice mat h grade ammo through it!!!

Mac I don't even want to pull the op rod back for fear of wear and tear! Firing her is out of the question until she sits in the safe long enough and I say 'eff it' and bring her to the range.
I saw a video of the CMP facilities and they did show rifles being test fired.
Out of all the grades at the CMP, I am least interested in the Special Grade with the Criterion barrel. Refinished old parts and new commercial barrel just don't do it for me. The $100 difference between field grade and service grade is a no brainer in favor of the SG, although the FG all come with some form of USGI wood, but it could be beech or birch or some franken-stock slapped on by the Greeks, so you could hit the lotto or strike out swinging. I'm tempted to order an HRA SG Special for my Xmas present from the wifey. I already convinced her to get me a SG, but seeing the condition of this rifle has whetted my appetite for more pristine parkerizing and crappy cmp replacement stocks.
I'm afraid of the IHC's being "Turked" like some other Turkish milsurps. CMP will grade and price them accordingly, so I guess it won't be too bad.

- - - Updated - - -

If you are going to keep her for historic investment, I like to research the month of manufacture then search newspaper fiche for cool headlines (for me that is usually news about Korean Conflict) and print that up to go with it.
~Matt

Interesting idea, I never thought of that. Barrel says 5-55 so sometime around then. Hmm

 

[OfficerObie59]

If you are going to keep her for historic investment, I like to research the month of manufacture then search newspaper fiche for cool headlines (for me that is usually news about Korean Conflict) and print that up to go with it.
~Matt

I'm showing 5,793,xxx kicked off 1955, but in a quick search I can't find anything more specific until the end of the run in '57. That would seem to match well with his barrel date of May 1955.

 

[mac1911]

CMP Specialist good for those who want a nicer condition m1 for shooting vs a SG.
In the end you really cant go wrong with any cmp. I tossed the idea of buying a few field grades trying to hit the lottery....talking with Phil New head armoror @ cmp the wood is rated as such. From cmp forums there seemed to be a huge number of garands that came in woodless...

 

[Dirtypacman]

Congrats on another beautiful Garand man. I hope to be able to be there when you finally break down and shoot her.

 

[Terrence]

Congrats on another beautiful Garand man. I hope to be able to be there when you finally break down and shoot her.

Yep, I'll call you if/when the day comes.

 

[OldNorth]

That's a rare rifle. Congrats!

Edit: I misread the serial. Thought it was a 5.7 mil range SA. Still, beautiful rifle. I have a '55 SA 5.8 as well. Great shooter. My fav M1.

Check this out.

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=26374

 

[NickW85]

Wow that is in superb shape. Nice rifle.

 

[Terrence]

That's a rare rifle. Congrats!

Edit: I misread the serial. Thought it was a 5.7 mil range SA. Still, beautiful rifle. I have a '55 SA 5.8 as well. Great shooter. My fav M1.

Check this out.

http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=26374

Yes sir, I checked that out when the estore showed the serial number. Its a good reference. My rifle falls within a few hundred serial numbers of rifles of the chart.