M14 to M1 Garand

Steel tube as outer barrel, going in. Of course it’s coming out again to fit sleeving for inner barrel and the inner itself, just making sure it sits straight.-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --

I’ve done a bit more to this today, first chance I’ve had for a while, fitted barrel, hopefully hasn’t got to be removed again. Then made gas return tube, following along the lines of an original, the piece that goes into the stock is wider to accommodate the spring and return tube for the charge handle, so that still works.
Thought I might as well make a bayonet fit it properly, mainly because I can, but also a resounding “ yes!” To all those who’ll ask “ does a bayonet fit”. This could all be made from aluminium tube, or plastic and I believe it would still be a steady and firm job, seeing as most of it will be covered by the fore stock. In the pics you can see the c02 tube spacers, as I said before I use these quite a lot.
Got to find my measurements list for the front end, I’ve put it somewhere safe again, just wish I could remember where that was!
Andy-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --

Looking good mate, keep up the good work!

All looking good , the " safe place " is directly linked to the black hole down the back of the sofa , sort of like Schrödinger's cat , things may or may not exist there depending on who is looking and how many times they look for them , you all know its true

Dadio, in my experience the black hole you speak of is in my wallet and it's more like Schrödinger's bank balance...

Andy, is your gas cylinder/front sight assembly measured off of a real one?

Found said list this morning, whilst looking for a spare soldering iron, and the list was exactly where I don’t remember putting it!
Still have access to the ics Garand I sold earlier this year, I work with the guy that bought it so no probs with checking details, I also search out photos on google and copy from them, there’s plenty out there.
The gas tube on real M1’s does rise up toward the barrel going forward, but a lot sooner than my effort, they rise immediately from where the sling band is, I’ve had to compromise a bit to make room for the slide / spring affair that works the charge handle. God only knows why the makers of these replicas do such elaborate nonsense for a piece that doesn’t do anything. I was thinking of scrapping the whole affair, and replacing it with something more simple, but that would take more time and effort, and this is a cheapo conversion .
It won’t be seen when the forward hand guard is made.......which is the next bit to do. Sorted the first top hand guard, and primer prepped the “gas” tube last night.-- attachment is not available --

Here’s my take on sheradising the metal work,, will probably apply some matt lacquer, also started on front hand guard, rather than make it from one piece, plus the fact I don’t think my woodwork routers go that deep, I’m trying a three part “U” shape, I’ve done this before on AK’s with some good results, using ply.......we’ll see what happens .......-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --

Did a bit more this evening, first plough down and shape up of wood, it’s come out quite good, but I got my orders from my “five foot fuhrer” of indoors land, that I must go ahead and attack the garden, as well as stack wood for the winter. So might not do anymore to this until next week.-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --

1st staining on woodwork, 1st band made, there’s a bit more to do beneath the band, the 2nd half band bit is meant to clip onto the full band, so I’m going to have to make some sort of anchor plate to the plastic stock, otherwise the sling band is just hanging onto the front hand guard, which wouldn’t matter if I wasn’t going to use a sling, .....but I am.
So I’m going to attach it to the stock and “gas” tube which is already banded to the barrel, hopefully making it supportive to the sling.-- attachment is not available --

That's not a bad colour match for the plasti-wood

Yes it’s not a bad colour match.....in the beginning, the other piece has darkened down a bit since putting on a bit of beeswax, and of course my grubby mitts all over it so that piece will probably go the same way.
Made the sling hanger piece fit with a little piece underneath that has 3mm dome head bolts in it also started front barrel mount/ ferrule type of thing these would be separate on real steel, but much stronger this way.
A friend of mine has just got a 3D printer, so he copied me some bits for the M 1 for me to copy in metal, good old George! Fine fellow.
Not far off making the sight section.-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --

Instead of going to work today, I thought I’d finish off the front piece to hand guard, I’m sick of working there anyway so I might look for another job next week ( so I might try and finish this completely this weekend)-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --

Cracking work there! Do I spy the gas cylinder in white there too? How did you fabricate that?

These are the parts my friend printed for me, as I said he is just having a practise, but I can copy from these.
Andy-- attachment is not available --

If the offer is still there, I'd be interested in a cylinder assembly I'm almost done fitting the receiver/barrel assembly into the stock parts and I was going to buy an ICS cylinder set but I'm put off by how oversized they are compared to the real ones (and since the rest of the metal work I have is real, it would be a shame to mix and match!)

How are you going to make the actual sight post?

Sorry to have left this but been looking for a new job, I did say I’d make two sight sections not a gas tube, the trouble is it probably won’t fit unless I have the item with me, a sight section will just be a tube section with metal sight blade and protectors that could be fitted to most barrels. It will be the same pattern as the M1.
Here’s the one I’m making for my effort.-- attachment is not available --

That 3d printed front hand guard is crying out to be printed in wood filament !
All looks good , coming on nicely .

You can have it to copy if you wish, it seems a bit undersized to me, but is the right shape.

Took a break from job search and looking for paperwork, ( have to prove I’m ENGLISH!, what next!) and welded on little protector wings to the sight, also fabricated a gas pipe plug, from a 6mm bolt and a filed out washer.
When everything has been fettled and fits nice, an application of resin filler in the welded gaps and sprayed, shouldn’t look too terrible.-- attachment is not available --

Not too far from finish on this, ponced about with the two fittings and put them in primer, best give them 24hr to dry before flat sanding, got to do bayonet mount as well, but I’ll probably screw that on as welding into a channel is a nightmare to straighten up.
Did some antiquing on it as well as “oil staining” the plastic stock, really just to make it look as a used weapon.-- attachment is not available ---- attachment is not available --