08-24-2011, 01:30 PM

When I bought my wife her engagement ring it was what is called a 'Provenance ring.' This means we tracked the history to when it was made in 1920, what jeweler made it, who first wore it, and the history of how it was handed down in one family until we bought it at an estate sale. Similarly, with my first wife her wedding ring when given to us as a gift was a Provenance ring with a remarkable history.
I've heard of different guns being tracked down to having been owned by everyone from Melvin Purvis to Wyatt Earp... and obviously people do that kind of tracking because selling a gun or knife known to have been owned by some people adds tremendously to the value. It's the history, not the weapon itself, that gives it the collectors' value.
But I am curious about whether or not our M1's can be tracked simply because it would be great to be able to preserve the history of some of these rifles. I know most won't track back to having been carried by anyone famous in most cases... but some may track back to having been part of some pretty significant parts of WWII and Korea... ow who knows what. I also know that these guns are rebuilt... so probably almost no one has all original parts - but at least the serial number stays they same as the rifle is remade. And on top of that they have probably been issued to a string of soldiers.
Does anyone keep records of what soldier carried what serial number rifle? Or were they just issued to a platoon and not kept with the same soldier? Or are there no records like this at all that there is public access to?
I think it would be a blast to put in the sleuthing to pull up my rifle's history. Is it possible?

The serial number listings by month presented below were developed by Scott Duff, a recognized authority on and author of a series of books on the M1 Garand. The following information can be found in the books 'The M1 Garand: WWII' and 'The M1 Garand Serial Numbers and Data Sheets' found at Fulton Armory, and are used here with Mr. Duff's permission.

Add an M1 Garand Search; M1 Garand Specialty Lists. M1 Garand Demilitarized List; M1 Garand Foreign Military Assistance (FMA/MAP) Data. Serial number 197 - thought.

PLEASE NOTE: The following information is copyrighted and may not be copied, distributed or used in any other forms of publications, or in any other written or electronic form without the expressed permission of Scott Duff or Scott Duff Publications.

SPRINGFIELD DCM U.S. M-1 OR M1 GARAND.30-06 RIFLE. GI#: 101561728 SPRINGFIELD DCM U.S. M-1 OR M1 GARAND.30-06 RIFLE. Serial number '4,278,XXX' in the 1952-54 year range with probable DCM/CMP upgrades including 1965 dated SA barrel.
Springfield Armory production, serial number 693,449, so it was manufactured during July 1942. Look at the drawing number stamped into the right side of the receiver. Drawing number 28291-17 stamped on right front leg of receiver, correct for serial number range 490,001 - 1,500,000.
M1 Garand Rifle WW2 1943 Original Nice Springfield Armory SA WRA: 2: 1325.00: Springfield M1 Garand, Penny Start, Korean War / WW2, WWII, USGI: 1: 1225.00: INLAND U.S.30 Cal Carbine 1943 210K serial number NOT M1 Garand, M2, M3, 1903A3, 1911, 1: 1009.00: CMP H&R M1 Garand manufactured in 1953 - NO RESERVE - C.
The last “production” M1 rifle, serial number 6,084,405, was completed on May 17, 1957 and was accompanied by much fanfare—including an appearance by John C. Garand at the ceremony.

The tables below list only the Springfield Armory and

theWinchester Repeating Arms Companyserial numbers.

Springfield Armory production 1932 - 34 : 80

Year/Month	Serial # at end of Month
1937
August	120
September	307
October	539
November	696
December	1,034

M1 Garand Serial Number History Lookup

Year/Month	Serial # at end of Month
1938
January	1,186
February	1,338
March	1,809
April	2,213
May	2,406
June	2,911
July	2,911
August	3,537
September	4,386
October	5,242
November	6,072
December	6,972

Springfield M1 Garand Serial Number Database

Year/Month	Serial # at end of Month
1939
January	7,715
February	8,762
March	9,893
April	10,703
May

1937

M1 Garand Serial Number History Lookup

1938

Springfield M1 Garand Serial Number Database

1939