MeekAndMild
New member
It just occurred to me. During the Korean War some of the M1 Garands were equipped with scopes. How did they mount them so as to not interfere with clip loading and ejection?
Garand scope mount question..
- Thread starter MeekAndMild
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The M1-C had a Griffin & Howe side scope mount. This required taking a machined finished receiver, sending it to G&H and having them drill the receiver to take the scope mount base. Three screws and two pins were used to keep the scope mount base affixed to the receiver. Said receiver was then returned to the Armory where the mount was removed and the receiver heat treated (easier to drill when the metal is soft). The mount was then affixed to the receiver and ready to be scoped. The scope itself was attached to a scope mount which had a matching dovetail to the scope mount base. Two thumbscrews would be turned to affix the mount to the base. As it was side mounted, it permitted use of the clip.
The M1-C required precision work to ensure that once the scope was mounted, it was perfectly aligned with the bore. It was expensive and required skilled labor. As a cheaper alternative, the M1-D was developed. This differed in that the receiver was not in any way modified. Instead, the barrel was slightly turned down and a scope mount base slid onto the barrel. This was held in place by a pin. Thus, a scope mount would attach directly to the barrel. A matching mount was then screwed into the base. As the scope mount base mounted directly onto the barrel, the handguard required shortening.
Either solution worked. The M1-C came out late in '45 and the M-1D was authorized and produced starting in 1945, but was too late to serve in WW II. It saw service in Korea & Viet Nam.
The M1-C required precision work to ensure that once the scope was mounted, it was perfectly aligned with the bore. It was expensive and required skilled labor. As a cheaper alternative, the M1-D was developed. This differed in that the receiver was not in any way modified. Instead, the barrel was slightly turned down and a scope mount base slid onto the barrel. This was held in place by a pin. Thus, a scope mount would attach directly to the barrel. A matching mount was then screwed into the base. As the scope mount base mounted directly onto the barrel, the handguard required shortening.
Either solution worked. The M1-C came out late in '45 and the M-1D was authorized and produced starting in 1945, but was too late to serve in WW II. It saw service in Korea & Viet Nam.
MeekAndMild
New member
Thanks, that makes sense. Side mounted scopes wouldn't interfere with loading. So in the C model they drilled the reciever but in the D model they had to turn down the barrel, so both required machining, which would mean the rifle would no longer be original configuration.
Is there any later, non military scope mounting technique which could be done without modifying the rifle?
Is there any later, non military scope mounting technique which could be done without modifying the rifle?
B-Square made one, but I'm not sure if they currently do. Somebody?
BTW, there is a mount unit for the M1A (civvie M14) that mounts around the handguard for a long eye relief scope. Check out the "Scout Models" at the Springfield, Inc. site. It's probably adaptable to the Garand.
BTW, there is a mount unit for the M1A (civvie M14) that mounts around the handguard for a long eye relief scope. Check out the "Scout Models" at the Springfield, Inc. site. It's probably adaptable to the Garand.
MeekAndMild
New member
Wow!, lots of hits on the search engine. This will bear looking at whenever the next gun show comes to town. Unless I fall into one of theose 'loopholes' and drown.
