Fall 2023 Premier Firearms & Militaria Auction
November 3rd, 4th, 5th, & 6th, 2023
This auction will feature an outstanding collection of items spanning multiple categories including Modern, Military, Sporting, & Antique firearms & militaria! Below is just a small grouping of select highlights from the massive offering to be featured in this upcoming sale!
SCARCE WWII SPRINGFIELD M1 GARAND BRITISH LEND LEASE SEMI-AUTO MILITARY RIFLE
23-1209
Cal. 30-06
S# 323416
Bbl. 24″. Bbl. markings are inverted on left side & include “S-A 8-41” plus “5”. Bbl. has the Birmingham Nitro proof export markings on top in front of gas cyl. ring. Throat & muzzle gauges 1.0. On March 27, 1941, Garand rifles were authorized to be shipped to Great Britain under the Lend/Lease Act along w/ a second appropriation on Oct 27th of that year resulting in a total of approx. 38,000 rifles supplied to G. Britain until deliveries were halted in June, 1942 due to the shortage of these rifles needed to arm US troops. The rifles were slightly modified by the addition of a red band around or in the case of this rifle on the left side of the forend w/ the stenciled marking either “.30 or .300” w/ or w/out the periods. This example has the 300 w/ the period. The reason for this was to prevent confusion of ammunition types between the U.S. rimless .30 caliber & the British 303 cal. which used a rimmed case. The rifles apparently saw little or no use during the war except by the Home guard & other security forces. At the end of the war some of these rifles were sold to Am. Arms dealers & in order to leave Great Britain they were given commercial export proofs. This example has the crown over “BNP” indicating the Birmingham proof & is also marked “8 tons per”. There are also a crossed swords marking w/ “LB 2”. The crown “NP” appears on top of the receiver ring. The operating rod & bolt lugs are unmarked. Locking bar rear sight w/ battle range elevation knob. Blade front sight w/ protective ears. Front sight screw retains its original protective seal. Operating rod, trigger housing w/ milled trigger guard, hammer & safety all marked “SA”. Gas cyl. marked “S” behind stacking swivel. Unmarked single slot gas cyl. lock screw. Walnut stock set, buttstock correctly marked on left side w/ boxed “S.A. & GHS” plus crossed cannons. Circle “P” proof under grip. Front handguard has dark red painted rectangle enclosing black stenciled .300. Green web sling dated, “1944”. UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: buttstock contains plastic oiler & grease container. Two cleaning rod sections, cleaning rod tip & handle w/ green fabric case. White plastic muzzle & front sight protector. PROVANANCE: from the estate collection of Thomas J. Mulligan.
STATUS: CURIO
