M1 Garand Armory
M1 Garand Born on Date

M1 Garand SA Born on Dates
 

W.W.II M1 Garand Serial Numbers by Month and year

Springfield Armory
 
Month 1932-1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 Month 1943 1944 1945

Serial Numbers Below Reflect the Final Serial Number Recorded for the end of that Month

January
A total of
80 tool-
room
models
were
produced
from
1932 thru
1936
ending w/
serial #
80
  1186 7715 26,729 183,519 462,737 January 1,169,091 2,543,412 3,450,503
February 1338 8762 30,008 197,811 498,216 February
1,200,000
&
1,357,474
to
1,396,255
2,634,316 3,531,489
March 1809 9893 33,790 211,228 542,494    
April 2213 10,703 38,034 228,527 588,879
May 2406 11,511 41,679 248,757 638,679
June 2911 12,848 46,221 269,686 691,401
July 2911 12,911 51,970 296,252 749,779 March 1,469,177 2,723,004 3,672,442
August 120 3537 14,823 59,868 324,301 809,016 April 1,547,452 2,810,628 3,717,867
September 307 4386 17,010 68,054 349,442 872,343 May 1,629,565 2,900,312 3,797,768
October 539 5242 19,410 78,306 377,258 940,250 June 1,710,012 2,981,126 3,875,601
November 696 6072 21,293 90,177 401,529 1,008,899 July 1,786,469 3,051,952 No Record
December 1034 6972 23,567
100,000
&
165,501
to
169,073
429,811 1,090,310 August 1,877,654 3,114,434 No Record
These "end of the month" delivery dates are approximate and are the result of the efforts of Scott Duff, noted M1 expert and author. Unfortunately the bookkeeping records of the Korean Era manufacturers were not as meticulously maintained, denying the M1 collector the ability to pinpoint the exact month of their Post W.W.II Garands. The 1950s production must be approximated by year, barrel dates, stock cartouches and experience.   September 1,978,407 3,180,532 No Record
October 2,092,825 3,242,497 3,888,xxx
November 2,204,430 3,302,641


Last W.W.II
Springfield
Armory
Serial #
Unknown
December
2,305,849
&
2,410,000
to
2,420,191
3,359,159
   
 

 

Winchester Born on Dates

from www.jouster.com

W.W.II M1 Garand Serial Numbers by Month and Year
Winchester Repeating Arms Company
 
Month 1940 1941 Month 1942 Month 1943 Month 1944 Month 1945

Serial Numbers Below Reflect the Final Serial Number Recorded for the end of that Month

January  

 

 100,501 January 144,110 January 1,282,762 January 2,379,642 January
2,540,xxx
&
1,601,150
TO
1,605,600
1,607,100
February 100,831 February 149,130 February 1,294,762 February 2,394,642

 

March 102,701 March 155,310 March 1,309,772 March 2,409,642
April 104,901 April 162,190 April 1,323,872 April 2,424,642
May 107,801 May
165,500
&
1,200,001
to
1,203,692
May 1,336,882 May 2,439,642
June 111,501   June 1,349,982 June 2,454,642 February
July 115,501 July 1,364,982 July 2,469,642 March 1,613,000
August 120,111 August
1,380,000
&
2,305,850
to
2,305,932
August 2,484,642 April 1,620,000
September 122,081   September 2,499,642 May 1,627,000
October 126,130 June 1,210,472 October 2,513,822 June
1,640,xxx
November 131,130 July 1,218,972 November 2,523,942 July
 
Last WRA
W.W.II
M1 Serial #
Unknown
December 100,101 137,960 August 1,228,982 December 2,533,142 August
Serial number 100,001 to 100,501 were an educational order for WRA to develop the necessary determine a fair market price for the M1 tooling and September 1,241,002 September 2,318,032   September
October 1,254,002 October 2,334,032 October
November 1,266,502 November 2,349,632 November
December 1,276,102 December 2,364,642 December

Winchester and Springfield M1s have an overlapping serial number range that runs from Winchester serial # 1,357,474 through serial # 1,387,xxx, giving approximately 30,000 duplicate numbers in this range.  Duplicate numbers found within organizations were stamped with an "A" below the serial number of the duplicate rifle on the "horseshoe". Both Winchester and Springfield rifles have been observed either stamped or etched with an "A". Serial numbers from 1,601,000 through 1,640,xxx also lie within the Springfield Serial Number Range and constitute the so-called "Win-13s". Both the Win-13s and Springfields have rifles in the 1,601,150 to 1,640,xxx serial number range.

 

Serial Number Ranges of  Interesting Variations:

from www.jouster.com

Beginning Number

 

Ending Number

Manufacturer

Year Contract Completed

1,357,474

to

1,387,xxx

Winchester duplicated SA s/ns   (approx. 30,000)

Jan. 1943

1,600,000

to

1,601,149

“Voluntary Contribution”[1]    This one is something of a mystery.  Several examples exist in this range and are generic SA WWII receivers.

?

1,601,150

to

1,640,xxx

Duplicate s/ns used on “Win -13s” taken out of the SA s/n range

Jan. – June ‘45

3,200,000

to

3,800,000

Serial number range of M1Cs

1944 – 1945

3,888,xxx

to

4,200,000

Unaccounted for serial numbers between WWII and Korea.

Oct.1945 –

Jan. 1952

4,440,000

to

4,445,xxx

IHC receivers produced by SA. Including

“Arrowhead” and “Postage Stamp” logos. Exact quantity and ranges unknown. Experts feel that no more than approximately 1500 “Arrowheads” and 1100 “Postage Stamps” were produced.

1953[2]

4,638,xxx

to

4,660,000

IHC 4 Million “Gap Letter” logo receivers produced by Springfield. (approx. 22,000)

1953 – 1954

5,198,034

to

5,213,034

IHC 5 Million “Gap Letter” logo receivers produced by Springfield. (total 13,243)

1955 – 1956?

5,213,035

to

5,217,xxx

IHC receivers produced by HRA. End of range and total quantity unknown.

1955 – 1956?

6,034,330

to

6,034,729

Springfield s/n range assigned to HRA for an overrun of 400 additional rifles. Rifles MAY have HRA 1952, 1953 or 1956 barrels, or even SA barrels.

Aug.1956

6,084,405

to

6,100,499

Last official M1 Rifle produced[3] vs. the last reported/observed serial numbered receiver. Assembly of new rifles continued into 1957 including many National Match Rifles.

17 May

1957 - ?

X6,000,000

to

X6,001,9xx

These are the so-called “X Guns”[4] among the last M1 Rifles assembled including many National Match Rifles. (Approx. 2,000)

1956 – 1957

 

Assigned[1] Serial Number Ranges:

 

Beginning Number

 

Ending Number

Manufacturer

Year Contract

Completed

1

to

100,000

Springfield Armory

Dec.  1940

100,001

to

165,500

Winchester

May   1942

165,501

to

   865,500

Springfield Armory

Sept. 1942

865,501

to

1,999,999

Springfield Armory

Feb.  1943

1,200,000

to

1,261,260

Winchester

Nov.  1942

1,261,261

to

1,357,473

Winchester

July   1943

1,357,474

to

   1,387,xxx

Winchester duplicated approximately 30,000 Springfield s/ns in this range.

Aug.  1943?

1,357,474

to

2,305,849

Springfield Armory

Dec. 1943

2,305,850

to

2,655,982

Winchester  (Rifles were actually produced to about s/n 2,540,000)

Jan. 1944

X2,655,982

to

X2,655,148

Rock Island Arsenal

Experimental

2,656,149

to

4,100,000

Springfield Armory  (Rifles were actually produced to about s/n 3,889,xxx  Last actual WW II serial number unknown)

Oct.  1945

X4,100,001

to

X4,200,000

Possibly planned as a dumping ground for duplicate, mutilated or overrun s/ns. Two IHCs have been found that had two s/ns one below the other. The original s/ns apparently inadvertently duplicated by IHC at the factory. The duplicate numbers were lined out and the substitute numbers electro-penciled under the original. 

Field Service Use

4,200,001

to

4,399,999

Springfield Armory

1952 – 1954[2]

4,400,000

to

4,660,000

International Harvester

1953 – 1954

4,660,001

to

4,800,000

Harrington & Richardson

1953 – 1954

4,800,001

to

4,999,999

Not Assigned

N/A

5,000,000

to

5,000,500

Springfield Armory (Actual intended use unknown, but ALL documented guns are in this range are generic SAs). Perhaps allocated for Beretta samples or experimentation?

NATO, Aug. 1952

5,000,501

to

5,278,245

International Harvester

1954 – 1956

5,278,246

to

5,488,246

Springfield Armory

1954 – 1955

5,488,247

to

5,793,847

Harrington & Richardson

1954 – 1956

5,793,848

to

6,099,905

Springfield Armory

1955 – 1957

6,034,330

to

6,034,729

Numbers assigned to HRA from the Springfield s/n range for a 400-rifle contract overrun.

Aug. 1956

 

Rifle Production Date

Manufacturer Year/Month  Aprox Serial Number at Beginning of Month Serial # at end of Month Year/Month 
Springfield August-37 80 120 August-37
Springfield September-37 121 307 September-37
Springfield October-37 308 539 October-37
Springfield November-37 540 696 November-37
Springfield December-37 697 1,034 December-37
Springfield January-38 1,035 1,186 January-38
Springfield February-38 1,187 1,338 February-38
Springfield March-38 1,339 1,809 March-38
Springfield April-38 1,810 2,213 April-38
Springfield May-38 2,214 2,406 May-38
Springfield June-38 2,407 2,911 June-38
Springfield July-38 2,912 2,911 July-38
Springfield August-38 2,912 3,537 August-38
Springfield September-38 3,538 4,386 September-38
Springfield October-38 4,387 5,242 October-38
Springfield November-38 5,243 6,072 November-38
Springfield December-38 6,073 6,972 December-38
Springfield January-39 6,973 7,715 January-39
Springfield February-39 7,716 8,762 February-39
Springfield March-39 8,763 9,893 March-39
Springfield April-39 9,894 10,703 April-39
Springfield May-39 10,704 11,511 May-39
Springfield June-39 11,512 12,848 June-39
Springfield July-39 12,849 12,911 July-39
Springfield August-39 12,912 14,823 August-39
Springfield September-39 14,824 17,010 September-39
Springfield October-39 17,011 19,410 October-39
Springfield November-39 19,411 21,293 November-39
Springfield December-39 21,294 23,567 December-39
Springfield January-40 23,568 26,729 January-40
Springfield February-40 26,730 30,008 February-40
         
         
Springfield March-40 30,009 33,790 March-40
Springfield April-40 33,791 38,034 April-40
Springfield May-40 38,035 41,679 May-40
Springfield June-40 41,680 46,221 June-40
Springfield July-40 46,222 51,970 July-40
Springfield August-40 51,971 59,868 August-40
Springfield September-40 59,869 68,054 September-40
Springfield October-40 68,055 78,306 October-40
Springfield November-40 78,307 90,177 November-40
Springfield December-40 90,178 100,000 December-40
Springfield December-40 100,001 169,073 December-40
Springfield December-40 169,074 165,501 December-40
Springfield January-41 165,502 183,519 January-41
Springfield February-41 183,520 197,811 February-41
Springfield March-41 197,812 211,288 March-41
Springfield April-41 211,289 228,527 April-41
Springfield May-41 228,528 248,757 May-41
Springfield June-41 248,758 269,686 June-41
Springfield July-41 269,687 296,252 July-41
Springfield August-41 296,253 324,301 August-41
Springfield September-41 324,302 349,442 September-41
Springfield October-41 349,443 377,258 October-41
Springfield November-41 377,259 401,529 November-41
Springfield December-41 401,530 429,811 December-41
Springfield January-42 429,812 462,737 January-42
Springfield February-42 462,738 498,216 February-42
Springfield March-42 498,217 542,494 March-42
Springfield April-42 542,495 588,879 April-42
Springfield May-42 588,880 638,679 May-42
Springfield June-42 638,680 691,401 June-42
Springfield July-42 691,402 749,779 July-42
Springfield August-42 749,780 809,016 August-42
Springfield September-42 809,017 872,343 September-42
Springfield October-42 872,344 940,250 October-42
Springfield November-42 940,251 1,008,899 November-42
Springfield December-42 1,008,900 1,090,310 December-42
Springfield January-43 1,090,311 1,169,091 January-43
Springfield February-43 1,169,092 1,200,000 February-43
Springfield February-43 1,200,001 1,357,474 February-43
Springfield February-43 1,357,475 1,396,255 February-43
Springfield March-43 1,396,256 1,469,177 March-43
Springfield April-43 1,469,178 1,547,452 April-43
Springfield May-43 1,547,453 1,629,565 May-43
Springfield June-43 1,629,566 1,710,012 June-43
Springfield July-43 1,710,013 1,786,469 July-43
Springfield August-43 1,786,470 1,877,654 August-43
Springfield September-43 1,877,655 1,978,407 September-43
Springfield October-43 1,978,408 2,092,825 October-43
Springfield November-43 2,092,826 2,204,430 November-43
Springfield December-43 2,204,431 2,305,849 December-43
Springfield December-43 2,305,850 2,410,000 December-43
Springfield December-43 2,410,001 2,420,191 December-43
Springfield January-44 2,420,192 2,543,412 January-44
Springfield February-44 2,543,413 2,634,316 February-44
Springfield March-44 2,634,317 2,723,004 March-44
Springfield April-44 2,723,005 2,810,312 April-44
Springfield May-44 2,810,313 2,900,312 May-44
Springfield June-44 2,900,313 2,981,126 June-44
Springfield July-44 2,981,127 3,051,952 July-44
Springfield August-44 3,051,953 3,114,434 August-44
Springfield September-44 3,114,435 3,180,532 September-44
Springfield October-44 3,180,533 3,241,586 October-44
Springfield November-44 3,241,587 3,302,641 November-44
Springfield December-44 3,302,642 3,359,159 December-44
Springfield January-45 3,359,160 3,450,503 January-45
Springfield February-45 3,450,504 3,531,489 February-45
Springfield March-45 3,531,490 3,672,442 March-45
Springfield April-45 3,672,443 3,717,867 April-45
Springfield May-45 3,717,868 3,797,768 May-45
Springfield June-45 3,797,769 3,875,601 June-45
Springfield July-45 3,875,602 3,875,603 July-45
Springfield August-45 3,875,604 3,875,605 August-45
Springfield September-45 3,875,606 3,875,607 September-45
Springfield October-45 3,875,608 3,888,081 October-45
Late 1945 3,888,082 4,100,000 Late - 1945
1952 - 1954 4,400,000 4,660,000 1952 - 1954
Nato Aug 1952 5,000,000 5,000,500 Nato Aug 1952
1954 - 1955 5,278,246 5,488,246 1954 - 1955
1955 - 1957 5,793,848 6,099,905 1955 - 1957

The above worksheet provided by Timothy Traub

http://www.cromwell-intl.com/garand/

 

Winchester's serial‑numbering system appears to have changed in January 1945. This seems to be about the time W.R.A. switched from 2.5 million serial numbers to 1.6 million. These are often referred to as WIN‑13 rifles. The 2.5 million numbers stopped in the area of 2,535,XXX which places it about 39,000 rifles from the end of production in June 1945. It is believed that approximately 40,000 WIN‑13 rifles were produced. In addition, rifles in the 1.6 million serial number range have been observed ranging from number 1,602,XXX through 1,639,XXX. All of this supports the January 1945 date for the serial number range change.

 

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY

1932‑1934 – 80 [pre-production models]

 

1937

AUG‑120

SEP‑307

OCT‑539

NOV‑696

DEC‑1034

 

1938

JAN‑1186

FEB‑1338

MAR‑1809

APR‑2213

 

MAY‑2406

JUN‑2911

JUL‑2911

AUG‑3537

SEP‑4386

OCT‑5242

NOV‑6072

DEC‑6972

 

1939

JAN‑7715

FEB‑8762

MAR‑9893

APR‑10703

MAY‑11511

JUN‑12848

JUL‑12911

AUG‑14823

SEP‑17010

OCT‑19410

NOV‑21293

DEC‑23567

 

1940

JAN‑26729

FEB‑30008

MAR‑33790

APR‑38034

MAY‑41679

JUN‑46221

JUL‑51970

AUG‑59868

SEP‑68054

OCT‑78306

NOV‑90177

DEC‑100000 & 165001 to 169073

 

1941

JAN‑183519

FEB‑197811

MAR‑211228

APR‑228527

MAY‑248757

JUN‑269686

JUL‑296252

AUG‑324301

SEP‑349442

OCT‑377258

NOV‑401529

DEC‑429811

 

1942

JAN‑462737

FEB‑498216

MAR‑542494

APR‑588879

MAY‑638679

JUN‑691401

JUL‑749779

AUG‑809016

SEP‑872343

OCT‑940250

NOV‑1008899

DEC‑1090310

 

1943

JAN‑1169091

FEB‑1200000 & 1357474‑1396255

MAR‑1469177

APR‑1547452

MAY‑1629565

JUN‑1710012

JUL‑1786469

AUG‑1877654

SEP‑1978407

OCT‑2092825

NOV‑2204430

DEC‑2305849

 

1944

JAN‑2543412

FEB‑2634316

MAR‑2723004

APR‑2810628

MAY‑2900312

JUN‑2981126

JUL‑3051952

AUG‑3114434

SEP‑3180532

OCT‑3242497

NOV‑3302641

DEC‑3359159

 

1945

JAN‑3450503

FEB‑3532489

MAR‑3627442

APR‑3717867

MAY‑3797768

JUN‑3875601

JUL

 

AUG‑3888081

SEP

OCT

 

WINCHESTER REPEATING ARMS CO.

1941

JAN‑100501

FEB‑100831

MAR‑102701

APR‑104901

MAY‑107801

JUN‑111501

JUL‑115501

AUG‑120111

SEP‑122081

OCT‑126130

NOV‑131130

DEC‑137960

 

1942

JAN‑144110

FEB‑149130

MAR‑155310

APR‑162190

MAY‑165500 & 1200001‑1203692

JUN‑1210472

JUL‑1218972

AUG‑1228982

SEP‑1241002

OCT‑1254002

NOV‑1266502

DEC‑1276102

 

1943

JAN‑1282762

FEB‑1294762

MAR‑1309772

APR‑1323872

MAY‑1336882

JUN‑1349982

JUL‑1364982

AUG‑1380000 & 2305850‑2305932

SEP‑2318032

OCT‑2334032

NOV‑2349632

DEC‑2364642

 

1944

JAN‑2379642

FEB‑2394642

MAR‑2409642

APR‑2424642

MAY‑2439642

JUN‑2454642

JUL‑2469642

AUG‑2484642

SEP‑2499642

OCT‑2513822

NOV‑2523942

DEC‑2533142

 

1945

JAN‑2536600 (Mid‑January to June 30 are WIN‑13 rifles. Their serial number range is approximately 1600000 to 1640000).

 

 

Production records of M1 Rifles immediately following WWII until the outbreak of hostilities in Korea are less precise than for the WWII period. The last rifle produced during WWII by Springfield Armory WWII lies in the 3,888,xxx serial number range with production ending in October 1945. Springfield M1 production was resumed in 1952 with serial number 4,200,000 leaving a gap of approximately 312,xxx serial numbers

 

 

 Post WWII production totals: (approx.)

 

Springfield Armory: 661,747 (from 1952 – 1956)

Harrington & Richardson Arms: 428,600 (from 1953 –                 1956)

International Harvester Corporation: 337,623 (from 1953 – 1956)

 

1952 – 1956 Assigned Serial Number Ranges:

 

Not Assigned  N/A

4,800,001  to  4,999,999

 

Springfield Armory 

1952 – 1954    sn#4,200,001  to  4,399,999

Aug. 1952       sn#5,000,000  to  5,000,500

1954 – 1955    sn#5,278,246  to  5,488,246

1955 – 1957    sn#5,793,848  to  6,099,905

 

International Harvester 

1953 – 1954    sn#4,400,000  to  4,660,000

1954 – 1956    sn#5,000,501  to  5,278,245

 

 

 

Harrington & Richardson 

1953 – 1954   sn#4,660,001  to  4,800,000

1954 – 1956   sn#5,488,247  to  5,793,847

Assigned to HRA from Springfield s/n range for a 400-rifle contract overrun:

    Aug. 1956  sn#6,034,330  to  6,034,729

 

 

Fact Sheet #1

THE M1 NATIONAL MATCH RIFLE

The M1 rifle was first used in competition shooting in the Marine Corps Pacific Division Match held at Pearl Harbor on February 26­-27, 1946. This was followed by other matches held by the Marines. Most of the early improvements to the accuracy of the M1 were de­veloped from field experience and carried out by Marine armorers on selected weapons.

 

The Ordnance Dept. began studies by the Spring of 1948 to improve accuracy in the M1 rifle as an eventual replacement for the '03 Spring­field in the National Matches. In March, 1953, the Ordnance Dept. was directed by the Chief of Ordnance to furnish 800 U.S. cal. .30” M1 rifles for use in the National Matches. The rifles selected were hand-picked from newly manufactured weapons that had workmanship and accuracy superior to the average service weapon. Since Springfield Armory was still making Ml's, only hand-picking of su­perior quality weapons and some minor gunsmithing were needed to bring the weapons to required standards.

 

A meeting at Springfield Armory in September 1956 resulted in the funding of an engineering program to improve the M1 National Match rifle. Improvements and changes were implemented by an evolution­ary process from 1954 thru 1963, until the M1 was replaced by the M14. Weapons were built from newly made rifles, or rebuilt from previously made NM rifles. By 1959 production of new M1 rifles was phased out and all subsequent M1NM's were made by rebuilding existing rifles or from parts stock on hand. This explains some of the very low and very high serial numbers that are found. The rebuilding operation required considerable inspection, refinishing and refitting to eliminate parts which were excessively worn, or which had been altered in the field for some reason. Every rebuilt piece, however, was re-barreled and restocked.

 

In early 1959 the application of glass bedding to improve stock fit and accuracy came under study. Prior to this, the fitting of wood components essentially followed procedures developed by Marine armorers thru experience. Glass bedding was first used on M1 rifles made during 1959 for the 1960 National Matches, and was continued on the M14NM.The bedding compound was applied to routed-out areas at critical receiver contact points, assembled to the receiver and cured. After excess compound was removed, the stock was stamped with the last four digits of the receiver serial number to prevent accidental interchange.

 

IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIMENS

Because of the evolutionary nature of the NM program, identification and veri­fication of specimens is extremely difficult. The abundance of National Match parts, and the

 

premium placed on the rifles have made "parts guns" and forger­ies commonplace. The only positive way to verify a specimen is to have the or­iginal documentation for the rifle. (Of course, another clue would be to check the fits and accuracy of the piece. Few forgeries would have the accuracy of an NM rifle.) To the best of our knowledge, serial numbers of the weapons were never recorded until the actual assignment or sale of a rifle, and then appa­rently not retained for permanent records.

 

The earliest production National Match rifle had few identifying characteris­tics to set it apart from the standard M1 other than its precision assembly and its shooting ability. They did not have the front or rear "NM" sights, nor did they have glass bedding. Few, if any, components bore the "NM" stamp of later models. They would, however, have high serial numbers and barrels dated no earlier than about 1952, since they were selected from current production.

 

SERIAL NUMBER RANGE

 

The majority of the rifles were selected from new production lots in the 1950s and serial numbers of earlier specimens should reflect that. After 1959, many of the earlier weapons were rebuilt, always with a new barrel, and some used re­ceivers were selected. (This accounts for low number NM rifles, but with bar­rels dated later than about 1959 and marked "NM".) Some new receivers were al­so selected from spares stock, thus accounting for serial numbers higher than 6084145, the last production M1 made at Springfield Armory.

 

QUANTITY PRODUCED

 

Year    New    Rebuilt Total               Year    New    Rebuilt Total

1953    800                  800                  1954    4184    499      4683

1955    3003    314      3317                1956    5050    550      5600

1957    4184    499      4683                1958    1295    731      2026

1959    2877    2652    5529                1960                8663    8663

1961                1410    1410                1962                4500    4500

1963                3639    3639

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 

Hatcher, J.S. The Book of the Garand, Sportsmans Press, 1948.

U.S. Army Materiel Command, National Match Rifle brochure, 1964.

Springfield Armory annual reports, 1953-1964.

 

For additional information, contact:

Curator

Springfield Armory National Historical Site

One Armory Square, Suite 2

Springfield, Mass. 01105-1299

Thanks to www.jouster.com with information from Scott Duff , Dave McClain, Bob Sejas, Eagle One and many others.