Key facts
- Manufacturer
- Springfield Armory and other U.S. contractors; later commercial makers
- Model
- M1 Garand
- Type
- Rifle
- Action or operating system
- Gas-operated semi-automatic
- Chamberings
- .30-06 Springfield for the standard U.S. service rifle; later variants differ
- Introduced or adopted
- Standardised and adopted by the U.S. Army on January 9, 1936
- Status
- Historic service rifle; collector and reproduction variants exist
What it is
The M1 Garand is a gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle chambered for .30-06 Springfield in its standard U.S. service form. Collectors and later manufacturers produced variants and rebuilds, so individual rifles need their own provenance checks.
Development and history
John C. Garand’s rifle was standardised and adopted by the U.S. Army in 1936. It served through World War II and the Korean War era and became an important case study in military small-arms development.
Why it matters
The M1 connects engineering, industrial mobilisation, service history, and post-service collecting. It is also a direct bridge to TRGG’s John C. Garand Hall of Fame profile.
Safety and owner resources
Use an authoritative manual and have a qualified person inspect a surplus or modified rifle before firing. Record the maker, drawing or part information, and any later alterations when documenting a specific example.
Sources
Each source is linked to the facts it supports.
- U.S. National Park Service Springfield Armory history
- Type
- Government or military
- Reviewed
- August 7, 2026
- U.S. Army Ordnance Corps Hall of Fame: John C. Garand
- Type
- Manufacturer
- Reviewed
- August 7, 2026
Reviewed August 7, 2026 Version 1
Report an error
Send a source for an incorrect or missing fact. Changes are reviewed before publication.
Use the current manual for the exact firearm. Follow all safety and legal requirements.