Mass production of the M1 Garand rifle for the U.S. military (1939-1945)

1. Winchester receives “educational order” M1 contract

   Mar 1, 1939Labels: Winchester Repeating, War Department

   • American Rifleman
   • American Rifleman

2. Springfield Armory begins M1 production ramp

   Sep 1, 1939Labels: Springfield Armory, M1 rifle

   • NPS Garand Production
   • Britannica

3. Winchester awarded larger follow-on M1 contract

   Sep 20, 1939Labels: Winchester Repeating

   • American Rifleman

4. Springfield expands facilities and workforce for wartime output

   Jan 1, 1940Labels: Springfield Armory

   • NPS Springfield

5. M1 design shifts from “gas trap” to “gas port”

   Aug 1, 1940Labels: M1 gas, Springfield Armory

   • American Rifleman
   • American Rifleman

6. First Winchester-made M1 rifles delivered

   Dec 27, 1940Labels: Winchester Repeating, M1 rifle

   • American Rifleman
   • American Rifleman

7. U.S. enters World War II, driving full mobilization

   Dec 7, 1941Labels: Pearl Harbor, U S

   • NPS Springfield
   • Britannica

8. Women join M1 production in large numbers

   Jan 1, 1942Labels: Springfield Armory, Women workers

   • NPS Springfield

9. Springfield completes the millionth M1 rifle

   Nov 1, 1942Labels: Springfield Armory, M1 rifle

   • NPS Garand Production

10. M1 production peaks during major 1944 offensives

    Jan 1, 1944Labels: M1 production, Allied offensives

    • NPS Springfield
    • NPS Garand Production

11. V-E Day shifts demand as Europe fighting ends

    May 8, 1945Labels: V-E Day, M1 procurement

    • NPS V E
    • NWWII Museum

12. V-J Day closes the wartime mass-production cycle

    Sep 2, 1945Labels: V-J Day, Springfield Armory

    • Military com
    • NRA Museum