M1 Garand U.S. Cal. .30 Rifle

The first production M1 was successfully proof fired, function fired, and fired for accuracy on 21 July 1937. Thus began manufacture of what was to become the greatest production effort in the history of Springfield Armory. Production continued through 1957, by which time more than 4.5 million M1 Garands had been produced.

US Rifle, Cal. .30, M1.

The "US Rifle, Cal. .30, M1", or M1 Garand as it came to be known after the name of its inventor, John Garand, held many advantages over the M1903 Springfield rifle. The semi-automatic operation and reduced recoil allowed new troops to achieve a higher degree of accuracy with a shorter period of training than was previously possible. The sighting system was superior under actual combat conditions. Ease of disassembly, cleaning, and oiling were also a great advantage. Most important was the increase in rate of fire, limited only by the proficiency of the soldier in marksmanship and his dexterity in inserting eight round clips of ammunition into the weapon. In the face of overwhelming odds, the capability of the M1 rifle to deliver superior firepower would most often carry the day.

M1 Garand Rifle diagram

The M1 was 43.6 in. (1103 mm) in length. Any soldier who carried one will tell you it weighed a ton, but its actual unloaded weight was "only" 9 lb 8 oz (4.37 kg).

M1 Does My Talking Poster
Click on image for more information and larger size.

General Douglas MacArthur reported on the M1 to the Ordnance Department during heavy fighting on Bataan that:

Under combat conditions it operated with no mechanical defects and when used in foxholes did not develop stoppages from dust or dirt. It has been in almost constant action for as much as a week without cleaning or lubrication.

General George S. Patton Jr. reported to the Ordnance Department on 26 January 1945:

In my opinion, the M1 Rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised.

John C. Garand, inventor of the Garand rifle, pointing out some of the features of the rifle to Major General Charles M. Wesson during the general's visit to Springfield Arsenal (MA) in July 1941. At right is Brigadier General Gilbert H. Stewart, commanding officer of the arsenal.

Shipping M-1 Garand rifles from Springfield Arsenal (MA) in 1942.

M1 Garand Bayonet

The first bayonet used for the M-1 Garand was the M-1905 bayonet, same as used for the M-1903 Springfield rifle. During World War II the shorter M-1 Bayonet was adopted.

Recommended Books about the M1 Garand Rifle

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M1 Garand Rifle

The origin of the M1 Garand rifle goes back to 1901 when the Ordnance Corps began developing a semiautomatic rifle. That work was interrupted by World War I, but began again in 1919 when John C. Garand was recruited by Springfield Armory, MA. The resulting rifle bears Garand's name and was recognized as one of the most successful designs in firearms history.

Infantryman sights his M1 Garand
Ft. Knox, KY, June 1942

More M1 Garand photos in the Gallery.

Garand put in many years before the development effort on the new M-1 .30 cal. rifle was completed, chambered to fire the the Army's standard .30-96 round, fed from an 8 round en-bloc clip. The U.S. Army adopted the M1 Garand as the standard infantry weapon in 1936.