2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 26, 2016 16:59:20 GMT -5
Over the years I have built about a dozen of these mostly as a way of using up scraps and otherwise unusable components that accumulated in the parts bins and are left over from other projects. The main component is the take off receiver groups from projects using the M14 as a base. My recent G43 project is an example although other builds where the M14 receiver group was removed were my homemade BARs and my machine gun M1919 and M1917 builds and a couple SKSs.
The receiver group, sight and charging handle operating rod and bolt were just too nice to waste. These parts are marketable on EBay but sales there of anything gun parts related are a real hassle. Also for most of my custom builds the receiver group was cut up front to maintain the hop up housing and stability. Hence really only usable on a Dummy build.
The other key parts needed are derelict M1 Garand stocks and handguards and a few key bits for the gas assembly like the front sight and locking lug. Where ever possible other take off bits from the base M14 can be used but most have to be modified a bit to look right. Sling hardware from the M14 saves in acquiring actual parts.
Some resin paste is required and quite a bit of minor fabrication as well. Since I still have several M14 receiver groups laying around and just sourced another from the G43 build I am going to throw together a couple more dummy M1s this weekend and will document the process for others. Once done these will most likely get served up on eBay where they sometimes sell for embarrassingly high prices!
Look for progress posts along with production steps so you can build your own and use up any scraps you might have laying around. Keep in mind these builds always require more effort or time than you anticipate but hopefully my posts can help minimize some of it.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 26, 2016 20:23:51 GMT -5
Critical to these dummy Garands is ensuring proper dimensions and that everything lines up together with minimal gaps. The goal is a proper size, proportionate replica that is solid, can withstand field abuse and looks and feels correct. I add weight to complete the illusion and artificial aging to convey a field combat rifle that will display well in film, static displays or photographs.
Build time has to be kept to a minimum as seldom do they sell for much more than the materials costs to build although in my case I stick with almost entirely on hand, take off parts so sales are almost entirely found money over and above the odd item I use up in their production. (Resin paste, dremel wheels, sand paper, masking tape, brackets, a little hardware and stains and paint)
In the case of these current builds I bought a couple used cue sticks at a Thrift shop for $3.00 each which once cut down and painted will serve nicely as a substitute barrel. I slid the Garand upper handguard down the cue stick until the handguards tapered inner channel fit snug over the shaft and then cut off the protruding end at a length of 6 1/2 inches beyond the nose of the handguard. I cut it from my newly established muzzle at around 29 inches in length. That's longer than a Garand barrel because I am extending that length well into the receiver group to provide a slide base for the thin M14 bolt. To get the M14 charging rod to fit and slide easily the Garand Gas channel needs to be dremeled out a bit and the pool cue has to be grooved in a few places where it enters the receiver group at what would be the chamber. Once insuring fit and alignment I mask everything firmly into place, turn the rifle over and flop dynaglass resin paste in from the opening for the trigger guard and Garand magazine plate hole adding steel rod weights in with the resin paste. If you wish to build so the upper assembly on your Garand disassembles from the lower stock wrap cardboard walls in wax paper to insure the paste will stick to the bottom of your pool cue but not to the walls of the Garand stock. Once hardened you can separate the two assemblies, remove the wax paper barriers. Complete your resin fill in areas you couldn't access and then sand and reassemble. I typically mount the components permanently so as to simplify the build, make it way stronger and often times with builds like the G43 and BAR the M14 trigger housing wasn't surplus to the project and available. On projects like the 30 cals where the trigger assembly wasn't used I find the part always sells on EBay for 25.00 to $30.00 and I can fabricate a convincing trigger housing and base plate for a couple bucks in materials. In fact I can cosmetically create an authentic looking early war machined part rather than the M14 housing that looks post war.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 27, 2016 0:50:06 GMT -5
The cut off tip from the pool cue with an additional 1 inch cut off and painted black worked perfectly as the gas tube to fill the lower channel in the large upper handguard. I just resin pasted it into place. The inside the stock resin paste has hardened and is both securing the weights I added firmly into place and securing everything nice and snug.
Tomorrow I will secure the lower handguard and fill and fabricate the cut away gap in the receiver group. From there I will do the necessary cosmetic work to make the M14 receiver look more Garandish and start in on the gas assembly. Though far from done in whipping them around and shouldering and aiming them they are super solid and nicely balanced. The weight I'm guessing will be around 71/2 to eight pounds. That's lighter than an actual Garand but so is a Buick!
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Mar 30, 2016 21:40:14 GMT -5
In following a tip from Volksstrum (on this board). I took a couple left over M14 heatshields and cut them down to the length of an m1 Garand lower handguard (the skinny, smaller one). I then applied self adhesive Walnut veneer to the outside and clamp into place to dry overnight. The next morning the parts looked convincingly like the Garand handguard and without having to buy one for $25.00! I wish I had discovered this approach 300 Garand builds ago!
Since I had a bazillion m14 heatshields and plenty of Walnut veneer left from the patch I bought I made five of them. I coated them in brown shoe polish and the finish matched my stock almost perfectly. I then resin pasted this pseudo handguard into place and with the dremel cut out the section for the handguard clip which in this case is visual rather than functional.
The only steps left now is the trigger housing and gas assembly.
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2nd Bat
Master sergeant
Posts: 11,813
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Post by 2nd Bat on Sept 30, 2016 14:31:24 GMT -5
I think I still have five take off M14 receiver groups so time permitting I'll try to get around to building some more of these. They seem to always bring $150.00 to $185.00 (occasionally more) on eBay and since most of the materials are on hand items the projects are worthwhile and help fund other Airsoft related needs. Truth be told I enjoy knocking them out since by the time I find derelict Garand stocks, handguards and the assorted bits and supplies I probably have $70.00 in materials?
If anyone wants to buy the take of bits I use to create these (M14 receiver groups, bolts, heat shields etc) just let me know. I'll sell em cheap just to clear out the garage.
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