GIs from Normandy to Pork Chop Hill carried it. Patton called it “the greatest battle implement ever devised.”

Here’s a close-up look at the U.S. military’s first-ever semiautomatic rifle.

By Robert Sadowski

December 12th, 2016

The M1 Garand means different things to different people, and since some 6.5 million of them have been produced, the M1 Garand has a lot of meaning:

GIs were issued canvas ammo belts with 10 pouches; each pouch held 8 rounds for a total of 80 rounds.

Collectors covet the M1 Garand, with not just one specimen satisfying a true enthusiast’s passion, since different model variants and rifles from completely different manufacturers are out there.

To those who shoot competitive service rifle matches, the Garand is a tool they use to hit 3-inch bull’s-eyes at 200 yards with open sights.

For those older few who used one in service of our nation, the M1…