M1 with Swastika

[Jersey Devil]

This photo shows an M1 with a swastika engraved on the stock.

Photo courtesy of The Garand Stand Report, Winter 1994, No. 13. Not to be reused with expressed written permission from Mr. Billy Pyle.

Thanks to Mr. Pyle for continuing to share covers of his publication, The Garand Stand Report, with our community here.

[RDS]

7.62mm Selbstladegewehr 251

[m14brian]

Is that rifle in a museum now?
m14brian

[Jersey Devil]

Is that rifle in a museum now?
m14brian

I'm not sure to be honest. I don't have the full magazine to read the article on it. Interesting conversation piece, that's for sure!

[Phos Boss]

Effing insulting....

[Phil McGrath]

Effing insulting....

What's so insulting? Like it or not its history and maybe there is a legit reason for it. As a side note did you know that the swastika flipped backward is a sign from the America Indian's..

[FlyJS41]

It's likely a "kill" marking, in the same style as the aircraft of the time.

[Government Issue]

I think it's neat personally. I always like seeing where soldiers did something with their rifles. It adds more character. Although a lot of people believe things like this happened very little, I keep seeing more and more evidence of soldiers personalizing their weapons. Howard Mullins had every right to put whatever he wanted on his rifle as he likely dropped nazis with that weapon. I don't consider the swaz insulting or shocking. If anything, it's ironic and insulting to the national socialists he used it against.

However, it's hard to tell from the photo, but was it engraved or painted? I know the caption says it was carved, but I've been seeing more evidence of soldiers personalizing their stocks with white paint during the Normandy landings. I'm not saying he didn't carve it, but it seems more crisp like paint.

[Phil McGrath]

Maybe it was originally carved, and later highlighted with paint for the picture?

[m1sniper]

The early unit insignia for the US 45th infantry division was a yellow swastika on a red background.

[Jersey Devil]

The early unit insignia for the US 45th infantry division was a yellow swastika on a red background.

Early and late insignia of the US 45th infantry division attached.

[Prince Humperdink]

I'd actually read this story many years ago,but have totally forgot the reason for it?!!

[Tom in N.J.]

flyjs41 +1

[Thomas Mullins]

Effing insulting....

It is shocking certainly but "effing insulting" may be a bit too far. Howard is my late Grandfather. He did not modify his rifle. This rifle was indeed used to kill Nazis December 27th, 1944, an entire plane full of them in fact. This rifle shot down a JU-88 with 3 shots. The story was that he was not supposed to be firing his rifle for some reason but based on the situation he made the call to fire on the JU-88. The leadership then took his rifle from him and he had assumed he was in trouble for violating an order. The rifle was then presented to him in the photo shown by an unknown brigadier general. Here are some better photos including one I took last year. The rifle is not in a museum but in the possession of his nearest living relative who also served in the military (not me). The rifle is in new condition and will never be for sale.

[Jmd62]

Fascinating background Thomas, thanks for sharing! That is quite the family treasure for sure. : )