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LOT 1293
Exceptional Documented U.S.
Springfield Armory 1962 Type 2 National
Match M1 Garand Semi-Automatic Rifle with U.S. Army Rock Island Command
Headquarters Letters - Serial no. 705640, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized finish,
walnut stock. Receiver manufactured in July 1942 and subsequently built up by the U.S. Springfield Armory to “1962
Type 2” National Match specifications. Reference pages 555 to 556 of Bruce Canfield’s “The M1 Garand Rifle” for more details on the 1962
Type 2 National Match M1 rifles. Features a “NM/062” marked front sight, “N M/2A” adjustable peep rear sight assembly with “595” peep hood, “N M” wide-base gas cylinder,
“-12SA/S-A1” bolt, along with a “RA” (Remington Arms) and “NM” marked operating rod. The “S-A-10-51” barrel is marked “NM” on the left, marked with “T”, “P” and “heart” stamps under
the operating rod, and has a bright chamber ring. The trigger housing is marked “6528290-SA,” with a “SA D5546008” hammer, “T” safety, and stamped trigger guard. Fitted with a pair of walnut
handguards (with the front handguard glass bedded to the lower band), and a walnut stock (glass bedded to the receiver and trigger guard) with a boxed “DoD eagle” acceptance stamp on the left of
the wrist and circled serif “P” firing proof on the grip. The last four digits of the serial number “5640” are correctly marked on the interior of the trigger housing and stock channel in white paint. Includes a
consignor provided data sheet, a September 28, 1977, dated U.S. Army Armament Material Readiness Command response letter addressed to the consignor verifying the rifle by serial number as originally
sold through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) as a National Match rifle in 1965, another May 10, 1978, dated U.S. Army Armament Material Readiness Command response letter addressed to the
consignor stating that its ownership status was updated in the Small Arms Weapons Registration files, an unmarked M1907 pattern leather sling with steel hooks, and tools in the butt trap.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retaining 98% arsenal applied parkerized finish with some light scuffs and handling marks on the receiver, some minor cycling wear, dried grease in protected areas, a
few scattered small minor patches of spotting/freckling, and some minor handling wear. The stock is exceptionally fine as re-oiled and glass-bedded to the receiver and trigger guard with some minor
compression marks, clear stamps, and attractive grain patterning. Mechanically excellent. Overall an attractive example of a 1962 Type 2 National Match configured M1 Garand rifle!
Provenance: The Billy Pyle Collection.
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1294
Historic U.S. Springfield Model 1903 Bolt Action Rifle in Sporting Configuration Documented to
World War II Ordnance Officer and American Major General Earl S. Gruver, with SRS Letter and Provenance Letter
- Serial no. 1300755, 30-06 Springfield cal., 24 inch round bbl., parkerized finish, walnut stock. Manufactured in 1928 and later
refitted in “sporter” configuration, this rifle is identified by serial number in an included Army shipping form/invoice as having been sold from
Springfield Armory inventory on July 28th, 1954 to Major General Earl S. Gruver. Earl S. Gruver (1898-1963) was born in Easton, Pennsylvania in 1898, was a West
Point graduate, and entered the Army in the inter-war years as an Ordnance officer, performed gunnery testing at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, supported mechanized
cavalry operations in Fort Knox, and served as an ordnance/gunnery instructor at West Point. In 1942, he was appointed the Ordnance Officer for the U.S. Military Mission in
Cairo. Gruver and his team were also responsible for getting British forces up to speed on American-made Lend-Lease equipment. Later in the war, he was stationed in England, performed
additional Ordnance work, including as the Ordnance Section Chief of the Planning Division. Afterwards, he served as Chief of the Industrial Activities Division and as ordnance officer for the Panama
Canal Department and the U.S. Army in the Caribbean. He eventually retired in 1955. The rifle is fitted with hooded blade front and Lyman peep rear sights, with a “5-42” dated Springfield barrel,
polished “NS” bolt, an unmarked pistol grip stock with a checkered steel buttplate. Also includes a Springfield Research Service letter indicating the rifle was first sent to the State of Massachusetts
on February 20th, 1933, and another included letter dated March 19th, 1968 from the son of Major General Earl S. Gruver confirms this rifle was procured by his father in 1954 and indicates this rifle
was sold to an individual name Jerry Pregenzer in February 1968.
CONDITION: Very fine as arsenal/armorer refurbished, with 95% of the parkerized finish, showing some light handling marks and edge wear overall, and some light corrosion on the rear sight. The
bolt has been polished bright. Stock is very fine with a few light dings and scratches, a small hairline crack on top of the wrist behind the receiver, and defined edges overall. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
Major General
Earl S. Gruver