A WWII era double scale cutaway demonstration model of a Garand M1 rifle. USA, circa 1940.

The model was made in the 1940s to train United States military personnel in the use of this rifle. The model has all the same moving parts as the original rifle and is cutaway so these parts can be shown, allowing observers to understand the working of the firing cycle, as well as demonstrating how to clean, maintain or repair the rifle whilst in combat.

The model is mounted on a polished aluminium base, with the original National Guard of the United States and Office of Naval Research label.

The M1 Garand (officially designated as U. S. rifle, calibre .30, M1) is a semi-automatic rifle designed by John C. Garand in 1928. It was the first standard-issue semi-automatic rifle. It was called “the greatest battle implement ever devised” by General George S. Patton. The M1 was the standard-issue service rifle of the U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and also saw service to a limited extent in the Vietnam War. Most M1 rifles were issued to U.S. forces, though many thousands were also lent or provided as foreign aid to America’s allies. The Garand is still used by drill teams and military honour guards. It is also widely sought by the civilian population as a hunting rifle, target rifle, and military collectible.

The M1 is an air-cooled, gas-operated, clip-fed, semi-automatic, shoulder-fired weapon. This means that the air cools the barrel; that the power to cock the rifle and chamber the succeeding round comes from the expanding gas of the round fired previously; that it is loaded by inserting an en-bloc (i.e., it goes into the rifle’s action and functions as part of the rifle) metal clip (containing eight rounds) into the receiver; and that the rifle fires one round each time the trigger is pulled. After the eight rounds have been shot, the empty clip automatically ejects with an audible “ping”.

Height: 40 cm. – 15.75 in.

Width: 220 cm. – 86.5 in.

Depth: 30 cm. – 11.75 in.