Weathered M1 Garands

[Guinness]

Just finished working on my Garands to make them look more 'battle hardened' ;D

My original M1 Garand with previous sanded and too light stain-


The new broken Garand I bought for parts and wall-hanger goodness-


And now, both with that 'years on the line' look-




I'm torn because I usually don't like the dark look, but the new one came out looking so good I may switch wood and put my rifle in that furniture- But my stock looks quite good in person as well.....

[Nimlas]

Noice!!!!

[Ersatzjack]

They both look good. Are those airsoft 2d Bat guns? How do you like how they shoot? FPS/magazine capacity that type of info. I'm jealous. I wan't a semi-auto rifle for the German side. - Otto

[Guinness]

Those are actually both 'real' Garands

er uh...I mean Marushin Garands

So unlike 2nd's which use real-steel front grips etc, these have been aged by moi

The darker one I bought -cheap- to use as a parts gun for mine, which is the lighter colored one. But after I worked on them both I think I may swap furniture because it came out so well and make a wall hanger out of the spare.

[Nimlas]

I'll take the other one since its 'broken'!!!


;D

[Guinness]

Of course you will Jack, of course you will

[click]

So.....How'd ya do it?

Click

[Guinness]

Well, there I was dug-in in my foxhole up on the ridge see- me and my squad were pinned down. There were Nazi's to the left of us, Nazi's to the right of us, when all of a sudden..... ;D

Actually I have been threatening to write a how-to for some time now huh

I completed all the work and took all the prep and process photos this weekend, I just didn't have it in me to sit down and write the dang thing, so I will begin this evening- I want it to be good.

[2nd Bat]

That enhances the look enormously. I was worried about your impression when I first saw your beautifully finished, blonde Garand iteration. It looked how do I say it...Too "after market sporterized" for WW2. Something you'd see in a boutique sportsmans gun shop or a Cabellas catalogue back in the 60s.

Those look awesome. Great job!

[Guinness]

Thanks John! That in fact means a great deal to me

I have to tell you that ever since you mentioned that way back when I initially did the refinish, it has stuck in the back of my mind

But it took me a while (a year) to be comfortable with taking the next step and well....beating the hell out of the furniture to get that 'veteran' look. After seeing your M14/M1's and how good they looked, I finally overcame the fear of 'abusing' the wood and well the rest is history. The whole time I was working on them I was picturing your guns though- so credit where credit is due and all that

That's why I started with the MP40, I wanted to test my ability on something 'cheap' so I wouldnt feel all that bad if I really mucked it up, then I did the Carbines and Thompson next, and finally I was ready for my 'pride and joy', 'Ol Betsy. I think they turned out well and actually, the pictures kind of don't do them justice- the 'dark' one is sooo dark and reddish that is still makes Betsy still look light- but in real life she is very pleasingly dark.

This weekend I think I'm going to swap the top handguards and front end wood around like a lot of the real-steel's (and yours) for that extra authentic 'veteran with replaced bits' look!


Thanks again for the inspiration!

[2nd Bat]

Not everyone agrees with my mindset about giving our guns the look of a field weapon and it's counter intuitive to human nature where we like our new toys to stay looking new. Honestly I think the created character adds alot. Glad you're delighted with your efforts. You should be! When you did the Thompson I wondered how long it would be before you took on old Betsy. I didn't know you had another Garand. They both look great. Blonde now has a dark enough finish to represent a GI field weapon and will enhance your impression alot. Thank you for sharing your work.

Great job!!!!!

[gunfreak]

I to love the look of a used weapon, i'm thinking about doing it to my cyma thompson.

on my modern weapons I give them a once over with Krylon and file the paint down in the apropriate places to give the used battle weapon feel.

[2nd Bat]

Here are some deliberately aged airsoft guns.



Yes they are all airsoft guns. All AEGs except the Springfield which is a Springer. The Grease gun was a custom effort by Schmitty (I love it) The Garands are AEGs in assorted finishes.

[click]

Wait, you got one of the AEG BARS too?

Click

[Jager.Drü]

Resin Prop gun.

[2nd Bat]

Actually no. I married a Resin Prop gun I bought pretty cheap at the gun show (as it was kinda beat up) with an M-14 gear box and created the BAR shown above. Iit is functional and while a little hokey works and looks pretty good. It's no VFC but it didn't cost me much aside from minimal materials and a lot of sweat equity. I'm planning to perfect a few things, use real wood and make some more although not for commercial sale as the time and expense involved will make them as expensive as the VFC which is already excellent and far superior to mine.

These will just be for our local events and my personal use. I'm anxious for the day we had a viably equipped US squad with Garands, carbines, Thompsons a Bar or two a Grease gun AEG as well as 30 Cals. The Grease gun is an AEG that I got from Schmitty.

[TommyGunner]

Very nice looking BAR there from where i am standing it does nto look hokey at all. I have started a similar project that invloves a kit BAR gun. Im expecting my end cost to be about $200 for the entire gun. I will be using an AGM M-14 as my base gun and taking an M-14 highcap and installing it into a reall steel BAR mag. I have yet to decide if I wil attempt at making a BAR type mag release or going with two other options I have for the mag stuff.

Tommygunner

[Tough Ombre]

tommygunner said:

Very nice looking BAR there from where i am standing it does nto look hokey at all. I have started a similar project that invloves a kit BAR gun. Im expecting my end cost to be about $200 for the entire gun. I will be using an AGM M-14 as my base gun and taking an M-14 highcap and installing it into a reall steel BAR mag. I have yet to decide if I wil attempt at making a BAR type mag release or going with two other options I have for the mag stuff.

Tommygunner

^My Idea and our project^

-Cary

[TommyGunner]

Well we both are gonna by a kit each and each build one if thats what you mean.........while we need at least one BAR for the unit....I want one for myself too lol

TommyGunner

[Tough Ombre]

Ya, i found a great place for real steel parts, and looking at it i will be able to build a Bipod for under 50 dollars, and then i plan on getting other real steel parts for it hopefully, But first i must buy my M1 parts.
-Cary

[101steasykid]

Very cool. I know this is off topic, but if you guys look into marketing them, I am very interested. Nice work Guinness, and same to you 2nd Bat!

[YankeeDiv26]

Cary knows who gets the first for sale or trade . don't ya cary. What happened to keeping this on the down-low?

[Tough Ombre]

Ask Tommy gunner lol
-Cary

[sharpshooter]

2ndbat, the guns look amazing! If only I had money to spend........
GREAT JOB! And Cary and Tommy Gunner, keep up the awesome work on expanding the allies arsenal. First the bazooka, now an inexpensive BAR!!!! Its about time the allies fought back!

[Guinness]

....and in conclusion, here is the 'final' configuration of the Garands, I took the butt sotck portion from the broken rifle and mated it with the lighter brown of my top end and vice versa- It gives the rifles that authentic 'mix-n-match' appearance that battle vets would have.












Slainte!