Whether carried in combat overseas or subjected to use by recruits in stateside training camps, virtually all M1s were eventually shipped to an ordnance facility for rebuild at some point, sometimes more than once. From its adoption in 1936 until production ceased in 1957, well over 5 million M1s were made, and the majority saw widespread service during World War II and the post-war era.
military arms were manufactured in greater numbers or saw more extensive use than the venerable “U.S. If more extensive work was needed, the arms were sent to an arsenal or ordnance depot, usually in the United States, for overhaul, which was officially referred to as “Fifth Echelon Maintenance Responsibilities.”įew U.S. Such work was referred to as “Third or Fourth Echelon Maintenance Responsibilities” in Ordnance manuals. Most routine repair and maintenance procedures were performed by military ordnance personnel in the field or at rear echelon ordnance facilities. Whether mishandled by careless recruits or subjected to hard use without cleaning or maintenance on the battlefield, virtually all military rifles require varying degrees of repair and maintenance during their tenure of service.īasic cleaning and simple maintenance were the responsibility of the soldier, but often a rifle needed repair or maintenance to a degree beyond the capability of individuals. Such low-level repair and maintenance activities were very common, but substantial repair and modification required the services of a well-equipped ordnance depot or arsenal.Īny mechanical object eventually requires some form of repair or refurbishment, and few objects are subjected to as much use and abuse as military rifles. Army Ordnance unit during World War II is cleaning and repairing stacks of salvaged rifles, including many M1s. To subscribe to the magazine, visit the NRA membership page here and select American Rifleman as your member magazine. This article, "In the System: M1 Garand Rebuilds," appeared originally in the December 2003 issue of American Rifleman.
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