Would appreciate opinions on WWII rifle please...

Hello everyone, I'm new to this website and joined specifically to find out information about my Dad. He served in WWII and Korea. In WWII, he was a rifleman with the 77th Infantry Division in the Asiatic-Pacific campaign. He was WIA on Leyte in WWII and again in Korea. My question is this...what is the most likely rifle that a rifleman in the 77th Infantry Division during that time would have carried? I was just given all of Dad's belongings by my Mom....his medals and medal cases and some letters that go with them, his uniform cap, a bunch of war-time photos (some action shots) taken by a photographer who travelled with a reporter named Ernie Pyle who apparently was with the 77th for some reason, old newspaper clippings (local boy wounded, local boy awarded Silver Star, etc). I'd like to make a display in my relic room (I collect, dig for and deal in Civil War relics) and I think a rifle representative of what my Dad carried would be a cool display...I want to honor Dad's service while at the same time preserving what he went through for future generations of my family. My Dad and I were very close but he would NEVER talk about his service. Any opinions would be sincerely appreciated.​

 

He would either have carried a M1 Garand:

M1 Garand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

or a M1 Carbine:

M1 carbine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If you can scan in some of the pictures you have of your dad during the war holding his rifle, I could tell you for sure.

But either of the two rifles I just gave you would be realistic in a display

 

OK...here we go. Not sure if any of these old photos will be much help because they're not closeups. Here's the 1st one...in this photo, my Dad is the one scampering up the hill with his right foot off the ground.​

In this photo, Dad is the one closest to the photographer in the middle.​

Dad is the one closest to the photographer on the left in this one...​

...And the last one I have with a weapon...Dad is on the right in this photo. Thanks for any help...I sincerely appreciate it.​

 

Your dad carried the M1 Carbine

It's possible that he switched rifles at one point throughout the war but he surely had the Carbine at one point

 

Thank you very much!!! Where would a good place be to purchase a nice example of one? ​

 

Hmmm...you got me on that one, I am not a big collector. You might want to just throw up another thread in the militaria section, I'm sure somebody will be able to help you there:

Militaria - World War II Forums

 

Most decent gun stores can sell you a replica M1 carbine. They might have to order it for you though. Actual WW 2 ones are generally collector items and cost more and would be harder to come by. I'd suggest you just get the modern newly manufactured one. It is identical to the WW 2 type except for its date of manufacture.

An M 1 Garand is still manufactured by Springfield Arsenal and you can get one at a gun store also. The Garand goes for about $1000 right now new. Original WW 2 ones are again collector items and generally about $1500 up depending on condition.

 

I think I'd want an original. I understand that originals garner more money than repro's and then that condition comes into play regarding cost as well but everything WWI and WWII that I own is original and I think I'd like to stay with that. I sincerely thank everyone for their input...y'all have been very helpful. Great website you have here!!! ​

 

On two of the pictures it looks like an M1 Garand. The last picture is most certainly a carbine. Here in town our local pawnshop had 3 old carbines for sale. The CMP sells original M1 Garands in various conditions. They,as well as new Springfield copies, tend to be expensive. Upon occassion, Garands can be found on Gunbroker.com. Good luck with your search.

 

The photo at the bottom and the one where your father is behind the tank he has an M1 Carbine. If you look carefully at the tank picture the weapon he is holding has an uncovered front barrel, a hump-like appearance and then drops off just a bit at the breech. That is characteristic of a carbine. So, I would surmise that it is likely that is what he was carrying.

 

Thank you Mr. Gardner...I sincerely appreciate your and everyone elses help.​

 

Good eye, T.A. ..... I agree.

 

I doubt you will find a "real" WW2 issued .30 Carbine for sale at a reasonable price. I had an M1A1 folding paratroop model I had purchased in the fifties that was an original Inland. I bought it as "surplus" for $20, and this came with the canvas leg holster thrown in along with two extra box mags. I only lost it in a range fire here in Montana a few years ago, and the insurance people were NOT happy that they had to cough up the money for an original. They found that one could be purchased for $1600, and that was what they sent me as a settlement. I did find a Carbine for sale online, and it is authentic, whether or not it is still available is debatable. But.

Goto:

http://www.gunsamerica.com/92887551...CARBINE_SAGINAW_SERVICE_GRADE_U_S_ARSENAL.htm

You might like to go to the Fulton Armory site to buy a very nice M1 Carbine, they are completely rebuilt, mostly from authentic NOS parts, and completely usable. If you're just making a "static" display, you might as well mount a non-firing replica. Those are available as well, and used in many movies these days.

Forgot the URL for the Fulton Armory!

Goto:

http://www.fulton-armory.com/

 

Hi Marko, you can get original WWII issed Garands from the US Govt through their resale program for about $350.00 Only one can be purchased per household. These will not be collector grade-meaning mint near-unused all-matching serial numbers. However, they are still great rifles to own, I used to have one and it was marked on its barrel (sadly) with import markings from Korea. This particular rifle first saw action in WWII, through Korea with the American forces, then later on given to the South Korean Govt who used these for God known how long? before being "mothballed" for a few decades before being re-sold the the American market.

PS, I had an M-1 Carbine at one time too. This one cost me only $150.00 but, was made of mis-matched parts but still every part was as good as new and that carbine was fun to take out to the rifle range. Mine even had the bayonet lug on its barrel.

 

Thank you gentlemen. I've received fast, courteous and helpful answers to every question I've asked in the very short time here on this website. I've just noticed the "salutes" off to the right of the top of member's posts. What are they for? Do you receive a salute for a helpful answer or particularly interesting post? If so, I need to know how to do that or notify whoever adds them. I've received a lot of valid answers and certainly want to follow protocol. Any info would be appreciated.​

 

OK...thank you Sir. I need to get busy.​

 

I got carbine about year or 2 ago for around $1,000. It had post war rear site tho. But the carbine runs from $900 to $1,300 depending on condition.
The real war rear site is like a flip between two peep holes. Post war are adjustable.

Gun shows are pretty good place, it not for sure you'll find good one (depending on size of the gun show). If original is what you look for do research before you get one.

 

Thanks...I will absolutely need to do some research. Luckily, this website is apparently a GREAT resource so when I find one in person, I'll take a lot of pictures and ask a lot of questions here. I'm a digger (metal detector) and collector and part time dealer of American Civil War artifacts...that's been my area of study and interest for over 25 years. Although I own a complete & beautiful (to me) WWI belt rig complete with a knuckle duster trench knife and a government issued .45, I've never been a collector of WW items. I see a change in the very near future...just have to figure out how to get more stuff past my wife and into the relic room downstairs.​