Scott, American .30-06 M-1s were also issued in some quantities to the British Army but I do not know how many and to which units. A friend of mine has one of those M-1s. It has a red band painted around the stock to alert the soldier to the different caliber. These rifles were a stop gap measure and not used beyond the island defenses. Chris
Hello Mate, this is actually another area which I am very into: M1 Garand rifles and more specifically British Lend Lease rifles. I can 10000% confirm through countkess hours of research that no M1 Rifles were every issued to any British troops during WW2. There is a photo of a Welsh Guard soldier with one which was taken however of we go by this rule then there were US and Britsh issued with MP40s!
These rifles remained in shipping crates and the majority were sold back to Sam Cummings and several other Arms dealers in the 1950s and 60s. So far there is no evidence photographic or other to suggest that Amy British units were issued these rifles during ww2. Post War is a different issue as there were British Comandos in Korea issued them.
Yes you are correct on the red band to denote a different calibre ther than .303. However there are several other Markings and other ways to tell that is a true British Lend Lease (BLL):
1. Ths rifle serial usually falls between 300k - 750K and all were made by Springfield Armory.
2. Upon leaving the UK, the rifles were stamped in 3 places with Briish proof stamps from either the London or Birmingham proof house. These stamps of 'TONS' or 'TONSPER' can be on the barrel behind the op Rod- pull back and look where M1 Rifle barrel date is to see. Or at front of barrel between Gas Cylinder rear Ron and Front sight - usually on left side of barrel.
3. There should also be a stamp on the receiver crown and also on the front Sight of the bolt.
4. These rifles should exhibit period correct parts - No parts later than 1941-42 depending on serial. Also all the inish should be the same as the rifles were never used.
5. The aforementioned red band.
6. A small amount were coated in black Suncorite finish - the black paint we Brits used on our own weapons firing ww2.
I will pm you mate as I am working with several experts in the M1 world to create a database of known BLL m1s by collating collating the serial numbers and pictures of them.
I have had the luck and pleasure of owning one myself and although deactivated it is a very interesting one as I live in UK so the rifle has been sent over in late 41/earl 42, sent out of UK (where it got its stamps) then come back into the UK. Mien also has the black sucorite finish.
Sorry for going off topic but M1 Rifles is another of my passions almost more than toy soldiers!
Scott
*edit - I should probably also mention mention there are pics of 'British commandos after the Dieppe Raid' showing a couple with M1 Rifles. These are infact not commandos, but US 1st Rangers attached to Commando units for training an experience. There were also come attached to the Canadian Regiments.
Scott
