WRA Educational Contract Garand

[Nodak71]

Just came up on the auction this morning, WRA 100184. Is already at $3K and reserve not met. Beautiful rifle and fantastic looking stock BUT is a later GHD with the trap. Should be a RS no trap. The only one Duff shows in his data sheet book is 100001 which was retained by WRA. That one has a square wire operating spring, 100184 has a standard round wire spring. Wonder how CMP got this one? Donation? Would be interesting to get Bubba's take on this rifle.

[7,62x51mm]

Nice anneal color too !

The owner of WRA 100180 sent me an email last year when he bought it at Tulsa.

There are quite a few three digit Winchester rifles that are known, origial color was DuLite

[T38Carbine]

I hope it finds a good home...amazing!!

[Hunter Mag]

One of the nicest heel stamps I've seen on a WRA.

[mtlucas0311]

Is this rifle as close to original as I think? I don’t have all the small parts committed to memory, but aside from the stock, the only things I see that I would want to look up is the front sight, op-rod spring, and clip latch. Even the hand guard hardware seems original. I’ll be very interested to see how much this goes for.

[Pederson]

Not even remotely close to original. Some nice early parts, and many correct early parts, big dollar items missing. Unmodified RS stock (hard to find), solid butt plate, early WRA follower rod for comp spring (hard to find), comp spring, keystone spring and there are many small parts visible that are incorrect and several small parts that can't be seen well enough in the photos to verify.

[mtlucas0311]

The stock is what it is, but this seems like a pretty legit rifle to say that it isn’t remotely close, don’t you think? You’ve got the barrel, you’ve got the sights, you have the bolt, handguards/hardware, uncut op rod, gas cylinder, and maybe most (if not all) of the trigger group? Am I assuming some of those are correct when they are not? Obviously there’s a lot of parts left, but the big pieces all seem to be there. If one were inclined to correct this rifle, it’s in a pretty good starting point, don’t you think?

[Pederson]

Based on the photos the barrel is not correct, elevation knob is not correct, can't see the rest of the rear sight base to determine if it is correct or not, firing pin is not correct, ejector spring is not correct, can't tell if the trigger guard is correct from the pictures (proper view isn't included) but I doubt as the salient feature has never been published, trigger does not appear correct, rear handguard clip is not correct, bullet guide is not correct, follower slide is not correct, to confirm the handguards would best be inspected in person, plus all mentioned earlier missing parts such as RS stock, follower rod, comp spring, keystone spring, solid butt plate and so on. If you can find the RS stock, early WRA follower rod, comp spring and keystone spring, those four items in sum are pushing 5 figures today.

WRA Educational Order M1 Rifles are very unique. There is so much to know about these rifles, very little of it has ever been published. Is the Gas Cylinder correct and nice, you bet. Op Rod also, early WRA bolt, EO safeties have been published and without the hammer released it appears to be correct and several other pieces.

Original, not close. Correct? As you point out, some nice pieces to start with and work from, my experience indicates that the hardest to find parts for this period are not on the rifle. Mtlucas0311, please take me in all respect, just laying it out as I see it. Yes, this is nice piece... as is yours, the most important part being the receiver.

The best information source to date has been The Garand Stand (not my publication, for the record). For as much has been published, just as much hasn't been published about this group of M1 Rifles.

[mtlucas0311]

No worries on my end, I’m just chatting. I know a little, but far from an expert. I am curious what you don’t like about the barrel? There seems to be so many fewer variations of WRA parts than Springfield, when I see early numbered parts together I generally assume they’re original. Like you mentioned, the stock is a huge hurdle, and even if you cough up 6 or 8 grand for one, everybody knows it’s not original because anyone who is serious enough to be a player on this level of rifle seems to know where the others are and what condition they’ve been in through the years. I’ve been waiting a long time to see one of these pop up on auction, I thought for sure one would come out of the Philippines.

Mike.

[Pederson]

100202 sold on CMP Auction in 2017, a very nice receiver.
https://cmpauction.thecmp.org/detail...ice-WRA-100202

The one before that, 100038, sold for $4001 in April 2014. (don't think the auction link works anymore)
http://forums.thecmp.org/showthread.php?t=135110

Nice cadence they have going every three years, just realized that. Will be interesting to see how this ends.