Old style M1 garand Op rod
DDuane3903
I recently purchased a M1 Garand. In my reading about this rifle I have
seen where it is unsafe to shoot one with the old style Op rod( with "35"
stamped on it and the square corner). I read that I should replace it with
a newer Op rod. Can someone please let me know what I should do.
Dick Wells
The old style op rods that have not been modified are in demand as
collectors items to rebuild earlier M1s. You need to get the manufacturer
(Springfield or Winchester) and the drawing numbers off of the rod so it
can be determined what year rifle it should be on. You should be able to
trade someone for a modified one. Hopefully a rod that matches your
rifle. If you tell me what its serial # and Manufacturer are I will let
you know when it was made and what drawing number rod should be on it.
Regards, RW
Ordinary_Guy
dduan...@aol.com (DDuane3903) wrote:
#I recently purchased a M1 Garand. In my reading about this rifle I have
#seen where it is unsafe to shoot one with the old style Op rod( with "35"
#stamped on it and the square corner). I read that I should replace it with
#a newer Op rod. Can someone please let me know what I should do.
Hi, DDuane,
All WWII M1 Rifle op rods carry the drawing number
D35382
The "D" is the drawing size.
This will be followed by a rev number such as -3, -6 or -9, and the
mfr, e.g., SA for Springfield. Winchester op rods are marked
D35382-W.R.A. or D35382-WRA depending on when they were made.
Assuming you have a typical "shooter" Garand with non-matching parts
(nothing wrong with them, they're just not fare for collectors'
appetities), you probably should replace it with a "cut," or better
yet, postwar rod with the relief cut machined in as part of the
original mfr.
Your uncut op rod, if in good shape, is worth between $50-$100 to a
collector. A good (new on gauge) op rod from Fulton Armory will cost
you $99.95, so you can (when you find a buyer for your uncut rod) do
this at no cost.
While it is not tremendously unsafe to shoot an uncut rod, there is
some chance it will break during use. This is not good. More
importantly, your uncut rod could help someone in their M1 Rifle
restoration project & it would be a shame to further wear it or,
perish forbid, break it.
E-mail the complete drawing no, & rev number and I will date the rod
for you. Some rev numbers appeared for shorter time spans than
others; this might affect its value.
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Ordinary_Guy
Garand Collectors Association member
Fulton Armory Webmaster
http://www.fulton-armory.com
Specializing in everything AR-15, M14/M1A, M1 Rifle & M1 Carbine
Ordinary_Guy
WILLIAM DAVID HAWKINS
In a previous article, wjku...@pipeline.com (Ordinary_Guy) says:
#dduan...@aol.com (DDuane3903) wrote:
#
##I recently purchased a M1 Garand. In my reading about this rifle I have
##seen where it is unsafe to shoot one with the old style Op rod( with "35"
##stamped on it and the square corner). I read that I should replace it with
##a newer Op rod. Can someone please let me know what I should do.
#
##DDuan...@aol.com
Doesn't the CMP sell op rods? Can't DDuane call them and ask for a parts
list? Wouldn't it cost less than retail? Isn't their phone number
1-419-635-2141?
--
Thanks,
Dave Hawkins
N7XDR
Ha...@aztec.asu.edu
Tom Albano
WILLIAM DAVID HAWKINS wrote:
#
# #dduan...@aol.com (DDuane3903) wrote:
# #
# ##I recently purchased a M1 Garand. In my reading about this rifle I have
# ##stamped on it and the square corner). I read that I should replace it with
# ##a newer Op rod. Can someone please let me know what I should do.
# #
# ##DDuan...@aol.com
#
# Doesn't the CMP sell op rods? Can't DDuane call them and ask for a parts
# list? Wouldn't it cost less than retail? Isn't their phone number
# 1-419-635-2141?
# --
I have the latest CMP price list in front of me. It lists:
NLU#015 "OPERATING ROD, M1" $45.00
CMP
P.O.BOX 576
PORT CLINTON, OH
43452
Joseph Powers
If you are fortunate enough to own one of the early op rods, a collector
might pay a premium for it. I understand that the square corner was more
likely to crack with use and age. The early op rods are hard to find when
restoring an earyl Garand to its original configuration.
Steve West
# dduan...@aol.com (DDuane3903) wrote:
#
# #I recently purchased a M1 Garand. In my reading about this rifle I have
# #seen where it is unsafe to shoot one with the old style Op rod( with "35"
# #stamped on it and the square corner). I read that I should replace it with
# #a newer Op rod. Can someone please let me know what I should do.
#
I see that people are asking you not to modify the rod but rather to
sell this one to a collector and get yourself another one.
I don't take a position on this, but I'll just inform you that the
machining procedure for modifying the rod (if you choose to do so) can
be found in "The Fighting Garand Owner's Manual" edited by Nolan Wilson
pages 70-71.
swest
Ordinary_Guy
Tom Albano <alb...@ct.picker.com> wrote:
#WILLIAM DAVID HAWKINS wrote:
## Doesn't the CMP sell op rods? Can't DDuane call them and ask for a parts
## list? Wouldn't it cost less than retail? Isn't their phone number
## 1-419-635-2141?
## --
#I have the latest CMP price list in front of me. It lists:
#NLU#015 "OPERATING ROD, M1" $45.00
#CMP
#P.O.BOX 576
#PORT CLINTON, OH
#43452
Hi, Folks,
So true, so true. But.
Caveat emptor. The three gas cylinders I received from the CMP parts
program last year were worn out. Well, actually two were worn out and
one was dented. So they went back. They were cheerfully replaced by
the CMP with two that are very good and one that's marginal. But what
if I hadn't had them gauged??? I'd have been trying to use worn-out
parts.
So unless you're prepared to properly gauge CMP parts, get 'em from
someone who sells you already-guaged parts.
Caveat emptor.