Some information that may help a few of us gain some provenance

[Gunrunner]

I wrote a question under the WW2 Garand area and found my answer. It may even help a few of us, at least some, find provenance on Garands. Here was my answer, thought it may be of interest here:

I found my answer and a good thing to know if you collect M1 Garands. If you see a number etched (with an electric pencil) on the left side of the breech just under the rear sight, it's an old number dating back to WW2 when we defeated Japan. One of the M1's I have has "US 73623". After the battles on the Pacific islands, there was no form of government except the US military presence. The U.S. didn't want to govern the islands so in 1947 the United Nations formed the Trust Territory (search Wikipedia, it'll take less time). Once the islands formed there own governments, they kept any weapons left behind. The numbers simply show the Garands were US property on that particular island from the date the battle ended until they formed a government of their own, in which the Garands became theirs. So any Garand, with an etched number and/or metal tag, has a provenance of being part of the Pacific Theater. Pretty cool I think.......

[Orlando]

very interesting, thanks for posting

[TJT]

Just curious what the source of the info is.
Jon

[Gunrunner]

I bought several Garands from the government in Saipan but couldn't figure out what the etched numbers were. I finally spoke with someone in Garapan, Saipan that knew the numbers were part of a number of items left behind by the US military after the battle (boats, bulldozers, planes, weapons, etc.) the United Nations had U.S. inventory numbers placed on all items given to the islands. The source of this information are current government officials on Saipan. You can check Wikipedia (it would be faster) for Trust Territory. These Garands were part of the gifts given by the US to help them rebuild. They were in need of money and I just happened to be the lucky guy they mentioned the guns to.

[Gunrunner]

They are sending me the inventory paperwork (for prominence sake) showing the transfer from military to United Nation and finally to the sovereignty of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Most of them will be for sale soon. In about a month or so you should be able to Google Saipan Garands and find them. I will put a web page together to explain it all. Each rifle will come with all the paperwork from the CNMI government establishing its prominence.