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



Assigned S/N Ranges
IHC Receiver Logos, Manufactures. & Variations

Serial Number Ranges of Interesting Variations:

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


[1] It is interesting to note that this "voluntary contribution" of SA numbers immediately precedes the unexplained and unauthorized use of the SA serial numbers by Winchester to produce the Win-13s! Speculation (however unlikely) might lead to the hypothesis that Winchester simply (or deliberately) misinterpreted the intent of the "Voluntary Contribution" of serial numbers, and started a test run of the Win-13 modification, perhaps anticipating further "voluntary contributions" in this serial number range.

[2] "Arrowhead", "Postage Stamp", and "Gap Letter" s/n ranges from Garand Collectors Association Newsletter, Winter 1994. Article by Dave McClain. Numbers verified as still current as of early 1999.

[3] While serial number 6,084,405 was the last OFFICIALLY accepted SA serial number, it was simply in the last batch to be assembled. The rifles were serial numbered in exact order, but not necessarily assembled and accepted in the SAME order.

[4] These were made very late in production, having been assembled after many rifles with a higher s/n but with lower heat lot numbers. Possibly a block set aside as a "contingency reserve" and the serial number range perhaps being overcome by events. The "X" was no doubt added to preclude creating any duplicate numbers, and was apparently hand etched with an electric pencil, indicating having been added after the receiver(s) were serial numbered and heat treated. From Garand Collectors Association Newsletter, Winter 1995. Article by Dave McClain. Data verified as still current as of early 1999.



IHC Receiver Logos, Manufactures. & Variations

Drawing & Heat Lot Numbers


Receiver Horseshoes


Comments








S/n range 4,440,001 to 4,445,xxx





SA/IHC Arrowhead


The first batch of IHC M1s produced were probably Arrowheads, followed by SA Postage Stamps. The receivers were bought from SA as an interim measure to meet production schedules while IHC solved the "failure to feed" problem. A number of these will have SA barrels furnished with the receiver. Both the Arrowheads and the SA/IHC Postage stamps were produced in 1953.

Roughly 1500 (?) guns in this range


SA/IHC Postage Stamp


The SA Postage Stamp production seems to be intermingled with the Arrowhead variation and the early generic IHC Postage Stamps with no true pattern. The SA/IHC Postage Stamp is considered to be the rarest variation, with the SA/IHC Arrowhead running a very close second. Except for the very experienced eye, the SA/IHC and the IHC/IHC Postage Stamp must be removed from the stock for positive identification.

Roughly 1100 (?) guns in this range

All but SA & HRA mfg. S/n ranges



IHC Postage Stamp


Generic IHC Postage Stamp Logos, most common of all IHC variations. Note that the heat-lot of the IHC receivers is a letter following the drawing number. Easily told from the SA receivers due to the lack of the SA style heat-lot number/letter sequence. The earliest of these guns were apparently produced concurrently with SA/IHC Arrowheads and SA/IHC Postage Stamps during the production of the first 5000 to 6000 Rifles. Produced from 1953 to 1955

Approximately 292,380 guns


S/n range 4,638,xxx to 4,660,000


4 Million Gap Lettered IHCs


This is the most common of the "Gap Letter Guns". Approximately 22,000 guns in this sequence. Note the SA heat lot number. IHC was randomly stamped in front of the 4 million serial number range drawing number. The IHC was dropped for the 5 million Gap Numbered Guns. The 4 M Gap Lettered guns were produced (approximately) between Nov. 1953 and Feb. 1954.

Approximately 22,000 guns in this range


S/n range 5,198,034 to 5,213,034


5 Million Gap Lettered IHCs



Essentially the same as the 4 million Gap Numbered Guns. The "IHC" was dropped from the Drawing Number of the 5 million Serial Number Range Guns. More rare than the 4 million guns, this range is more clearly defined, and consists of 13,243 rifles. Produced from 1955 to very early 1956.



13,243 guns in this range



S/n range 5,213,035 to 5,217,xxx


HRA/IHC Postage Stamp



HRA manufactured receivers purchased by IHC at the end of IHC production. Notice the widely spaced typical HRA marking on the receiver leg, along with the separate heat-lot letter. End of the range is not clearly defined. Produced from 1955 to very early 1956.

Approximately 5000 guns in this range