Deactivated US M1 Garand Rifle

This is a US M1 Garand rifle that was manufactured by the Springfield Armory. No single small arm is more closely identified with the U.S. World War II infantryman than the rifle sometimes called "the last true butt stroker." The M-1 Garand's sturdy, 10-pound stock- unlike those of its successors-was heavy enough to deliver a lethal blow to an adversary. During WWII Japanese forces whilst engaging US troops armed with Garands came to recognise  the distinctive metalic sound made by the Garand's clip popping out after finishing a clip of ammo. On hearing this sound they would then charge or engage the US riflemen. The US soldiers soon cottoned on to this and would instead drop an empty clip fooling the Japanese soldiers into thinking he was out of ammo and reloading. The Garand saw service during WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars. The initials AA on the stock are those of the Augusta Arsenal who were contracted to maintain and service US M1's.

This example dates to 1955 and is from the very last batch of Garand's ever made before production ceased in 1957. Springfield made a final 306,057 Garand's using serial numbers 5,793.848 to 6,099.905. This one is number 5,869.263 from that final batch.