USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- Welcome to the AmmoLand News image vault. Here is where we dig deep into some of our collection of historic firearms photos for our readers to enjoy. In this series photographer, Alfred T. Palmer and others take us on a photo tour of a 1940 factory producing M1 Garands under the direct supervision of John C. Garand around 1940 – 45. We believe these photos were taken at the Springfield arsenal.
These images feature the production of M1 Garand rifles as well as some candid photos of John C. Garand himself. AmmoLand Editors have reprocessed and digitally enhanced these photos so you can better see the details and imagery of these important photos. Be sure and click on each image for full-size images views.
This is the first time these images are being seen in print in sixty plus years. If you like this series please leave us feedback in the comments if you would like to see more vintage photo digs like this.
John C. Garand Firearms Inventor 1940: The man behind the gun. John C. Garand, the inventor of the semi-automatic rifle now being turned out in large quantities under the war program, looks over one of the newly produced rifles.
John C. Garand At Work : Invention for defense. John C. Garand, inventor of the Army’s semi-automatic rifle, at work in his model shop.
John C. Garand, inventor of the Garand rifle: Springfield, Massachusetts. 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 the Springfield arsenal. At right is Brigadier General Gilbert H. Stewart, commanding officer of the arsenal.
John C. Garand, Springfield, Mass. between 1941 and 1945:
- (Left) Garand, inventor of semi-automatic .30 cal M-1 rifle, insturcting his children Janice, as she kneels to take aim, and Richard, who sits on the floor aiming.
- (Right) John C. Garand aiming one of the semi-automatic U.S. rifles, the .30 caliber M 1, which he invented, Springfield, Massachusetts.
A Rack Of Garand Rifles: A rack of Garand rifles on their way to the shipping room. Soon they will be playing an active part in our work.
Garand Rifles One Last Checkup: One last checkup. One last checkup is being given these Garand Rifles, following proof firing activity at an eastern armory.
Garand Rifle Assembly Room: Putting them together. A corner of the assembly room at an armory, where war workers are putting together the parts which make up a Garand rifle.
Gauging The Diameter Of The Barrel: It has to be right. Gauging the diameter of the barrel of a Garand rifle following grinding. An eastern armory is turning out these rifles for the war program.
Garand Rifles Being Packed : Garand rifles being packed for shipment to troops in training.
Gun Stock Takes Shape : Out of the rough. A gun stock takes shape under the hands of a skilled workman as the war production goes ahead at an eastern armory.
Testing For Garand Rifle Accuracy : Testing for accuracy. Checking the straight-shooting qualities of one of the semi-automatic rifle which play an important role in our war preparation. Note the ejected cartridge flying through the air in the upper right hand corner of the photograph.
If you enjoyed this look back and want to see more let us know in the comments below. For our next Image Vault we have some stunning color images from the 1940 and the womens war effort. Please Subscribe to our email list so you do not miss the next article in this series.