Beautiful hunk of wood! Would really respond to some light sanding and a few coats of boiled linseed oil!

It actually is finished in tung oil by the CMP armorers, no stain. Actual appearance is richer. Metal parts are newly parkerized. A nice little CMP cartouche on the left side of the stock.

Everything is very stiff to work, from the sight knobs to the action itself; presumably because of having a new stock and refinished metalwork, and built tight for competition.

My plan is to work the action a couple of hundred times, clean the bore, then shoot a couple boxes of ammo.
Any advice on breaking in the action?

Get you some grease.

Garands are designed to use grease for lubrication, not oil. (Though a thin coat of oil can be used for external rust prevention on exposed metal.)

You don't have to get too fancy with expensive gun-specific grease either. Lubriplate 130A is what was originally used, but basic white lithium grease works great, as does any quality modern synthetic grease. So you likely have something in the garage that will work just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
It actually is finished in tung oil by the CMP armorers, no stain.

Which is period correct. But it does look a little dry in your photo. If you want to add some more coats, 100% pure tung oil is fairly widely available online. Just make sure you don't use a "tung oil finish" from the hardware store, which will be a little bit of oil mixed with a bunch of additives like petrochemical thinners, varnishes, and drying agents.

Similarly, the cans of modern boiled linseed oil sold in hardware stores aren't actually just pure linseed oil that has been heated, like was used back in the day. Instead, it's (you guessed it) a little linseed oil mixed with a lot of chemicals. Authentic old school boiled linseed oil is available, mainly at places like art or high end woodworking retailers where it's sold as "polymerized linseed oil", but can be tough to find.

Thank you both.
The CMP armorer said he greased it and it was ready to shoot. However because the action is so stiff I may field strip it and grease the bolt, op rod channel, etc.
I have some Lucas high-temp high-pressure grease and plan to use that. From my reading Lubriplate was good in its day but modern grease is better.

I am fairly certain the stocks on my CMP Specials had some tung oil on the stock when I bought them from the original purchaser, unused and as purchased from the CMP 10-12 years earlier. A bit of light sanding with fine and very fine sandpaper, and then with a fine scotchbrite, followed by a half dozen lights coats of BLO really made a huge difference and brought out the grain of the wood.

Just an aside, I had always wanted an M1a but wasn't really impressed with how rough the action seemed as compared to my well used M1s. Finally made the plunge and was amazed at how much of a difference proper lubrication made. Similarly, my CMP Specials, even when properly lubed are nowhere as smooth as my well worn Garands. A fresh parkerized M1 is pretty rough compared to a well worn one. Just think how much fun you'll have smoothing out your M1 over time though!

quote:

Just think how much fun you'll have smoothing out your M1 over time though!

That’s what I wanted to hear. Thanks! I’ll have lots of fun if I don’t get arthritis in my hands first.

sjtill, are you seeing my posts? I've tried twice to give you some Garand stuff and have not yet received your address in my email.

M1Garandy:
My email address is in my profile. I don’t see your email message in my inbox.

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
M1Garandy:
My email address is in my profile. I don’t see your email message in my inbox.

He wants you to email him your shipping address lol.

Yeah, Duh!! I finally realized that the other night.
I have sent him my shipping address.

You have a package inbound.

Thank you! Look forward to it!

Thanks Rogue,
I remember it being a wonderfully fun gun to shoot.
Albeit just a wee bit on the heavy side.

quote:

Albeit just a wee bit on the heavy side.

A Garand was the first real gun I ever shot. I was 11 and a family friend took my brothers and I out to his pasture and we got to shoot his Garand, .357 and .44 Ruger Single-Actions, and a 10 gauge shotgun. I remember thinking how heavy that Garand was, and how tough it must have been to carry one around and fight with it. I've grown into it a bit since then, but they're still definitely no M-16!

M1Garandy--

I got your package today.
Thank you!
The chamber brush is for .308, and the two enbloc clips appear to be for 4 and 5 rounds, respectively. Is that right?

Thanks again!

When I get the chance to get this baby to the range, I'll send some pix.

Stan

Chamber brush is in .308/7.62 NATO. I think it is actually for an MG rather than the M14, but it ought to do the job. Screw a length of GI steel cleaning rod into it so it'll rotate when you use it.

I actually forgot what I sent you, but I believe I sent a SLED (single Load Enhancement Device) and a two round clip. It'll hold 4, but you only load one end or the other before inserting into the action with the loaded end up.

Enjoy.