International Harvester

Battle Rifle: The M1 Garand

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International Harvester

International Harvester Post War Production

Common Post War Parts

Op Rod Catch Late

International had letter coded parts after late 1953

Follower Assembly unmarked

International had a extra milling mark early production. Letter codes later.

Late Follower Arm Pin

No rebated head

Clip Latch Square Front

International had letter code on back after late 1953

Follower Rod Long Fork Riveted

Late Stamped Flat Lower Band

Lower Band Roll Pin

Handguard Clip Stamped

Rear Sight Aperture

Front Sight Screw Cross Hatched

International Harvester Barrels were marked LMR with a month and year of manufacture. Early barrels had a small ordnance mark after the date. Later rifles had a proof punch mark next to the LMR. There have been original International rifles discovered with Springfield post war dated barrels.

International Op Rod were the late flat side type with the relief cut. The earliest rifles had op rods with the drawing number D6535382 IHC. Early rifles that were rejected and mid production rifle's had the D-6535382 IHC and later rifles had the 6535382 IHC. D6535382 op rods don't have heat lot codes on the bottom of the arm, while most D-6535382IHC and 6535382IHC op rods do. These letter codes weren't added until late 1953.

Late IHC op rod catch letter code F

International used the late style op rod catch, however their catches were marked with a single letter A through L on either the top or back after late 1953. The early catches were unmarked.

Late IHC clip latch letter code C

International used the late style square front clip latch however they too were marked with a single letter on the back., usually A through C. There usually won't be any casting numbers or letters and the finish is usually very good.

Early International follower assembly

International used the late type follower assembly. These were marked with a single letter A through L after late 1953. The early assemblies are unmarked but have a milling pattern of the bottom. You can see the little notch on the two ribs. These were used on the first International production and have no letter code on the end. These notches are on the early letter coded parts into the early letter D production.

Some very late production rifles could have these earlier parts marked with a larger handstamped L.

International hammers were marked C5546008 IHC, C-5546008IHC and 5546008 IHC and a letter heat lot code.

International used two different cartouches on their rifles. The first had the ordnance wheel but it was on the "wrong side" right. The later rifles had the 1/2 inch DAS. IHC stocks have numbers, believed to be a type of Julian date, in the barrel channel. All but the earliest rifles also have rear handguards manufactured by Overton. these are marked.

IHC follower arm lugs

International used the late no bevel follower arm. International follower arms differed from HRA and Springfield in a couple ways. Springfield had the beveled bottom lugs and HRA/IHC were flat on the bottom. IHC usually had the top edges dressed up with a file or two square punch marked on the side. HRA had sharp top edges. Early Internationals used a follower arm that was probably supplied by Springfield and had the beveled bottom lugs. SA looking follower arms have been found on original 4.44M up to 4.55M International rifles.

IHC follower arm punch marks

It should be noted that earlier International production used parts that were only used for a small number of production rifles. As International continued to have production and acceptance woes, original rifles were "rebuilt" by International to try to meet production and acceptance numbers. Low serial numbered rifles could therefore be found with their true unmarked parts or later letter coded parts. The letter coded parts would only be present on rifles that failed intial acceptance testing by the miltitary and were therefore run back through to correct problems.

International trigger groups. Pictured is a early production group with the drawing number IHC D6528290. These groups "as issued" from IHC, had early C5546008 IHC hammers, IHC marked safeties, stamped IHC trigger guards, without the dimples and IHC pins. These groups were used from serial number 4,400,000 to approximately 4,600,000.

Later IHC D6528290 trigger groups had C-5546008 IHC hammers, IHC marked safeties, IHC stamped trigger guards, without the dimples and IHC pins. These were used after testing failures late 1953.

The next IHC D6528290 trigger groups had C5546008 IHC hammers, F marked safeties, stamped IHC trigger guards with dimples and dimpled IHC pins. These were found used during the end of 4.6 "Gap letter" production.

The last IHC D6528290 trigger groups had 5546008 IHC hammers with the heat lot code, F marked safeties, IHC stamped trigger guards with the dimpled lugs, and dimpled IHC pins.

The 6528290 IHC trigger groups were used next. All have 5546008 IHC hammers with the heat lot letter, F marked safeties, dimple lugged IHC stamped trigger guards, IHC triggers and IHC dimpled pins. Used throughout the rest of IHC production.

IHC had dimples

The International stamped trigger guard lugs that lock up into the reciever usually have a dimple in the middle. The hammer and trigger pins have this same feature. Early IHC D6528290 trigger groups will not have the dimples on the trigger guard lugs.

International used three different drawing numbers on their bolts. The first bolt was marked D6528287 IHC, the D-6528287 IHC is believed to be a revision of the D6528287IHC bolt and the last 6528287 IHC. Heat lots were usually AS, B12, C19, D19, U and X. Others do exist. It is being researched that the D-65 bolts were a revision to the D65 bolts.

Late production IHC sight base letter code C

International used the late rear sight base. These too were marked with a single letter A through C after late 1953. Most 4.4 millions would have unmarked bases unless they failed testing and the base replaced by International in late 1953.

International used the late round safety throughout their production. The early rifles had safeties marked IHC on the side. The mid and late production rifles had the safety marked F. The U marked safety was believed used by both Springfield and International in early 1950's production.

International follower arms are of the no bevel type. The lugs that the pin goes through are flat on the bottom and the edges of the arm are rounded from filing or being touched up with a grinder. Earliest IHC producton had bevel bottomed SA looking follower arms. If an IHC arm is present the rifle more than likely failed testing and should have some of the other revised parts.

IHC bullet guide "seashell" swage

International bullet guides

are of the post war type that is stamped with the one notch on the side. The swage for the timing leg is very pronouned and looks like a large deep camila, sea shell or star.

Early IHC gas plug on right, late type on left

International used two different gas plugs. The first were marked IHC and O in serifed letters, the later IHC and NHC in san serifed letters. The early IHC and O marked are rare and hard to find.

Rick Berecky has discovered that rear handguards manufactured either by or for Overton were marked in the rear corner with a little O. After looking at many original mid through late production IHC rifles it has been determined that this was a handguard used by International. Early IHC production might not have a o marked rear handguard. It cannot be determined why, the number of truely original rifles is very small. Most are restorations and so are a tainted collection of parts only as accurate as the current books in use at the time of their rebirth. The accepted theory is that Springfield provided a vast amount of parts to International and were instructed to helped IHC with production woes. I can back this theory with early IHC parts that I have discovered that are obviously Springfield manufacture but have been marked with early International codes which started in late 1953.

In recent posts, handguards from all manufactures and contractors, were packaged in wrap dated 1961 and boxed in boxes marked 1956. I can't see how this could effect the origin of the o mark. It just proofs the boxes were made in 1956 and used in 1961. Springfield provide replacement parts to depots. These parts were gather from stores of parts. Springfield contracted many of the same contractors that manufactured parts for the other M1 manufacturing Companies. The recent W in a hex with the arrow being another example. Weatherhead manufactured early IHC elevation pinions, lost the contract with International and started manufacturing them as replacements for Springfield. New Haven Clock (NHC) elevation pinions, windage knobs and gas plugs. Overton also manufactured replacement stocks for Springfield after production of new rifles ceased. It would be reasonable to assume that they manufactured replacement handguards as well.

G.Wayne Bradford is trying to document as many untainted rifles as he can find. We understand that this is going to be very hard to determine and so the line of what is truely original to International early production will be gray, not black or white. Collectors need to understand that M1 data is dynamic and changes as more data is collected from incoming original rifles. The CMP Greek rifles included many original unissued post war rifles from Springfield and HRA. For many years a small number of collectors have written the data we all have used as fact. Time will show that some of this data was theory and some of the data was written from "corrected" rifles.

Battle Rifle: The M1 Garand