Interview with a Sharpshooter: The GAR Riddle Explained
Article Title: Unraveling the History of a SA-52 M1 Garand Rifle
In the world of military firearms, the SA-52 M1 Garand rifle is a fascinating piece of history. This article aims to shed light on the origins, modifications, and conversions of a SA-52 M1 Garand rifle with serial number 3575437.
The SA-52 marking near the rear of the scope on this M1 rifle is a clue to its unique history. It does not originate from the U.S. M1 Garand but denotes a post-WWII French adaptation or license-built version, specifically the MAS-49/56 or related rifles labeled as SA-52, which were produced in the early 1950s.
The rifle, produced by Springfield Armory early in 1945, was one of 38,000 rifles conveyed to Britain in 1941, as indicated by British proofmarks. However, its exact origins and history, as indicated by its markings, remain unclear.
The barrel of the rifle is .308, and its markings do not indicate "NATO 7.62" as other U.S. Navy M1 models do. The conversion to the 7.62 NATO round likely involved the insertion of a commercially available bushing, given its original .30-'06 Sprg. chambering. However, the rifle does not clearly indicate this conversion.
The modification in 1952, signified by the SA-52 marking, resulted in the replacement of the T105E1 rear sight, birch stock, and forged trigger guard of the rifle. The rifle may have been "accurized" for competitive match use, as indicated by the epoxy bedding and specialized aperture on the rear sight.
It's important to note that the presence of a chamber bushing in the rifle is usually suspect and may lead to its early extraction and ejection with a fired round. The bushing insertion provides approximately a 1/2" of additional free bore, which may affect the accuracy of the conversion.
Despite these modifications, the rifle does not clearly indicate its conversion to the 7.62 NATO round. The drawing number and its revision, D35448-7 REP 36B, on top of the barrel of the rifle also translates to November 1941.
In conclusion, while the SA-52 M1 Garand rifle with serial number 3575437 is a captivating piece of military history, its exact origins and the details of its conversion to the 7.62 NATO round remain a mystery. Further research may uncover more about this intriguing firearm.
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