Archive for the ‘M1 Garand’ Category

Texas, we are just not trying hard enough.

Thursday, October 29th, 2026

Everytown for Gun Safety, a national research and advocacy organization, ranks Idaho 50th in the country for the strength of its gun laws. State law allows most adults to carry concealed firearms without a permit, does not require background checks for gun sales between private individuals and does not require gun owners to secure their weapons when children are present.

Don’t get me wrong, folks. I loved Idaho when I was there, and would move there if my Austin privileges were revoked. But we can’t let them beat us, Texans. At worst, it should be a tie for last place.

The article I’m quoting is tied to an Idaho ballot measure to name a state gun. It is a particularly annoying article, not just because of the above quote.

The six firearms on Idaho’s ballot have looser connections to the state. The Winchester Model 1894 is a popular big-game hunting rifle. The Colt Single Action Army is an enduring symbol of the American frontier, and the M1 Garand was the standard American infantry rifle of World War II.

And the other three? The NYT does not see fit to share that information.

However, Ballotpedia does. The full list, for your enlightenment, education, and entertainment:

  • Winchester Model 1894 (.30-30)
  • Winchester Model 1873 (.44-40)
  • 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver (.45 Colt)
  • M1 Garand rifle (.30-06)
  • Colt M1911 .45 automatic Colt pistol (.45 ACP)
  • Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle (.30-06)

The calibers were specified in the bill that put this measure on the ballot.

Also:

Ballotpedia has not located arguments in support of a particular option for the advisory question. in support of the ballot measure. You can share campaign information or arguments, along with source links for this information, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
The North Idaho Republicans PAC endorsed a vote for the 1873 Colt Single Action Army Revolver “Peacemaker” (.45 Colt).

Personally, I think I would abstain from voting if I lived in Idaho. All of these guns are fine (or at least okay) choices, but none of them has enough of a unique Idaho connection for me.

Posted in 1911, Colt, Guns, M1 Garand, Texas, Winchester | 1 Comment »

This Old Gun.

Thursday, April 11th, 2024

You know, if my local PBS station ran that as a regular series (like “This Old House”) I’d give them money.

I don’t know who would be a good host for it, though.

Anyway, just a quick update: I got my Colt historical letter on this old 1911.

It shipped March 12, 1918, to “Commanding Officer, Springfield Armory, Springfield, Massachusetts”. There were 2,900 guns in the shipment.

This Springfield Armory should not be confused with the current manufacturer. The neat (to me) thing is, I’ve actually been to the Springfield Armory National Historic Site. We had a tour arranged for us when I went to my first Smith and Wesson Collectors Association meeting in Sturbridge. I’d love to go back and spend some more time there.

My CMP M1 Garand (wait, I haven’t told you guys about that yet, have I?) is also a Springfield Armory gun: from the table of serial numbers on their website, it looks like the receiver was produced in March of 1944. (I put it that way because the CMP M1 was an “expert grade” gun. CMP says the expert grade guns have new commercial stocks and barrels, so it isn’t all original. But I bought it to shoot, not to collect. At some point, I’ll post pictures.)

I just think it’s kind of awesome and fun to have two guns with historic ties to a place I’ve actually visited and walked around in. I wonder how much it’d cost me to make a trip up that way again.

Posted in 1911, Guns, History, M1 Garand | Comments Closed