Every area of interest has what are considered classics in that arena. For example, if you’re into guitars, you may have a love for Stratocasters or Les Pauls (or Telecasters, for that matter). If you’re interested in computers and their history, you may reminisce about Windows 98 when DOS was still running in the background and the home page and icons were actually running on top of it.
And when it comes to guns, too, there are classics. One of those classics is a rifle that was so well known that it became a symbol of the U.S. military and has remained so in the minds of many since World War II.
That model? The M1 Garand rifle.
And how cool is this rifle? Only this cool: “General Patton said, “In my opinion, the M1 rifle is the greatest battle implement ever devised.” High praise from a celebrated military leader. Travis Pike gives us some history of this rifle:
[John Garand] designed the legendary M1 Garand at Springfield Armory, officially known as the Semiautomatic, Caliber .30, M1 Rifle, and the military adopted it in 1933. Initially, the rifle had some difficulties and issues, and the Army focused on fixing those issues. It wasn’t until 1937 that the rifle began being delivered to the U.S. Army.
There were still some issues, but the kinks were unkinked, and by 1941, the U.S. Army was fully equipped with the M1 Garand. Over time, the weapon made its way to the Marine Corps and Navy and became the rifle of the US Armed Forces in World War 2.
Pike also mentions the following about this rifle:
Pros
– Awesome sights
– Surprisingly soft recoil
– Insanely fun to shoot
– Induces feelings of freedom on contact
Cons
– Expensive gun and ammo
– Heavy
The Bottom Line
The M1 Garand remains one of the coolest rifles on the market. It’s fun to shoot, accurate, and has light recoil for a .30-06. The rifle lives up to its famed reputation and has become one of my favorites. The M1 Garand is truly a unique experience.
You can see a video of this rifle below.
Is the M1 Garand for you? If you’re a World War II history buff who likes to focus on guns or if you like things that are classically American or if you just like something that is kind of cool and different, then, this rifle may be one to consider in your next shopping trip.
Certainly, if you’re looking for some of the more modern technologies included in your gun, this may not be your best choice.
Having said that, there is something to be said for things that are classics, and this rifle has many good things to say about it.
Let us know your thoughts about the M1 Garand in the comments below.
