**Winchester Pre-Production U.S. M1 Garand Rifle
.30-06 caliber, 24" barrel, no S/N. Parkerized finish, smooth, pistol-gripped walnut stock. Receiver marked: U.S. RIFLE / CAL. 30 M1 / WINCHESTER / TRADE MARK. No serial number is present. Barrel is unmarked except for the Winchester factory proof. The op-rod is uncut, all internal parts are correct, early drawing number WRA marked parts, with the exception of the bolt, which is D28287-1. That number indicates the bolt was produced by Springfield ca serial numbers 15,000-55,000. This would be completely correct if Springfield provided the bolt to Winchester for sample gun assembly, as it places the bolt circa September 1939-August 1940. Flush-knob rear sight. Correct, earliest style WRA / RS block cartouche in box and {circle}-P inspection in pistol grip. Solid buttplate without trap, stock drilled with two holes for cleaning accessories and lightening.
Accompanied by a Peter Cardone letter describing this as a pre-production Winchester "Tool Room"-made Garand, produced as part of the training process for Winchester to manufacture these guns during late 1939 to early 1940. Based upon the fact that the first 500 Winchester made "Educational Guns" (S/N 100,001-100,500) were produced during the summer of 1940 and were roundly criticized for the poor quality of the stock work (with some comments including the stocks appeared to be hand-finished) it is likely that the earliest pre-production, pre-educational production, tool room-made guns were made using stocks provided by Springfield. That would explain the presence of the two holes under the Winchester solid buttplate, as Winchester would not start routing stocks with holes and adding the trapdoor to the buttplate until approximately serial number 1,240,000. Rifle is accompanied by a near mint condition UFH marked, 1943 dated M1905 Type IV (M1942) bayonet in a similar condition M3 scabbard. Interestingly the bayonet does not fit the lug of the pre-production rifle, as the lug is not within specifications for size! This is an extremely rare opportunity for the advanced M1 Garand collector to obtain one of the very first Winchester produced M1 Garands. This would be a centerpiece gun in any museum quality collection.
Condition:
Fine. Retains most of the finish, all markings clear, mechanically functional, fine bore. Throat measure "3", muzzle "2". Stock with light handing marks and clear cartouche. Bayonet and scabbard about excellent.
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