Hey!
The Garand only has the serial number stamped in one place; on the rear most top portion of the receiver. All the other numbers are drawing numbers. Time and my inability to type prohibit my explaining this in detail in one post, there are books written on the subject
, so let's start from the beginning and take things one step at a time.
What exactly does the area where the serial number is say?
From that information I can get you started. A picture of the heel woukd be even better! Then I could see what you are talking about when you mention the number being removed... Which in of itself is
very strange!
Going from memory here, and as an example, I think Springfield Armory produced the Garands for last block of serial numbers, but I believe that lot was in the 6 million range. The drawing numbers you listed are Springfield Armory numbers, that's what the sa you show means. Another example, that first number looks like and operating rod or trigger group number, but in any event the part would be the -12 (dash twelve) variation of that drawing number, manufactured by SA.
Another thing, since virtually all Garands went through a number of rebuilds, the chances of finding one that is the equivilent of say, an "all matching" Mauser is about... nil.
And don't forget that there is a company out there called Springfield Armory that now produces Garands as well as M1A's. This entity has no relationship to the actual Springfield Armory.
Whew!
I could go on and on but I don't want to take the fun out of it for you.
The best advise I can give anyone is don't buy a Garand, except from the CMP, unless you have invested a good bit of time into the study of them!
