*SOLD* 1956 International Harvester M1 Garand .30-06 24" *CMP "RACK GRADE PLUS"*

Springfield Armory ramped up its Garand production line, but additional sources were required. The government turned to civilian firms, including International Harvester Co (IHC), to produce military items, including firearms. In June 1951, the Ordnance Dept. granted a contract for 100,000 M1 rifles to IHC to be manufactured at the firm’s Evansville, Ind. plant. Deliveries were scheduled to begin in December 1952.

International Harvester’s selection was interesting as the company had never made firearms before; however, the plant’s location was a major factor. All of the more than 4 million M1 rifles that had been previously made by Springfield Armory and Winchester were manufactured within a radius of about 60 miles. The Department of Defense established a policy of geographic dispersion of vital defense production to mitigate vulnerability to a nuclear strike. Therefore, the distance between Evansville, Ind. and Springfield, Mass. was important in selecting International Harvester.

During World War II, nine out of ten prime contractors that manufactured the M1 carbine had never produced firearms before the war. As was the case with the carbine manufacturers, IHC planned to utilize subcontractors to assist its Garand production program. The serial number ranges assigned to IHC for M1 rifle production were 4,400,000–4,660,000 and 5,000,501–5,278,245. To augment Springfield Armory’s and International Harvester’s M1 rifle production, a contract was also granted to the Harrington & Richardson Arms Co. on April 3, 1952, to manufacture 100,000 Garand rifles, with additional contracts to follow. 

Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.