Went up to Gatesville Sunday to pick up my newest toy.

My buddy Dave (not the same Dave from the chili cook-offs) teaches Geology on the base and lives up in Gatesville. He's a Civil War/Mexian War reenactor, and was off on a trip to reenact something Friday and Saturday. He drove home Sunday and was still in his gear and cleaning his musket when I got up there.



I asked him if that was his getup, and he replied "Only when I'm bein' a target." He's kinda unreconstructed, so every once and a while I give him a jolt by referring to the war as the "War of the Rebellion". He'll say "Hey!", and I'll giggle.

Anyway, he's a life member of the Texas State Rifle association, and has access to the CMP. He ordered me a new M-1 Garand a while back, and it came in last week. He called me Wednesday at about noon, in the middle of one of my classes (not knowing I was teaching). He was all excited, tellin' me he was openin' up the box. I called him back later and he was gushing with praises of the rifle, joking, tellin' me he wished he hadn't already told me the serial number.



Here's a proud new pappy. It's a Springfield Garand, made in the mid-1950s, after the Korean War. It's in excellent condition, and shows minimal wear and tear. I payed $618.00, but he swears it's worth at least a grand.



Mine is on the right, and Dave's is on the left. Now I need a sling and bayonet.



He showed me how to take it apart and we were both very happy with the condition of the action. The green tint is great, and the wood is beautiful. There are two stamps on the wood. One showing the Springfield Armory inspection, and then a "P" showing it was refurbished once and stored away (I think). Dave's has two of these "P" stamps. Anyone out there knowing anything about that, feel free to tell me all about it.



Here's the trigger group...



And here's the action. Nice green tint, all over.



Here's that "P" stamp I was talking about.



Here's the hinged butt plate. Now I need to find the stuff that goes in there.



We went out to his back 40 and shot a few rounds. Here's Dave shooting his rifle...



And me shooting mine. You can't see her here, but Red, Dave's dog, was keeping a fair distance away.



This was a at about 50 yards, off hand. I should have taken my bench rest up there but didn't next time. I was satisfied. I've always wanted one of these, so I'm as happy as I could be. Now he's gonna order me a Winchester M-1 carbine, but he's tellin' me not to hope that it will be in this kind of shape. hell, it's all good. Later. Cheers.

Postcript: Ok, I got the word that that "P" stamp is the proof stamp, showing that the rifle was tested and approved. The fact that the stock has only one stamp ether means it was only proofed once and then set aside, or that they changed the stock and then proofed it once. Dave seems to be convinced that it's the original stock, so it looks like it's basically in original condition. He says that the trigger group is not original, but the barrel is. Anyway, I'm happy. That's all that matters.