Dan Shapiro
05-16-2017, 08:27
Springfield Daily News - 17 May 1957 - "GARAND SEES LAST NAMESAKE ROLL OFF ARMORY PRODUCTION LINE
Modest John Garand, the Springfield man whose genius attracted world wide attention through his contribution to military small arms, today termed the adoption of the fully automatic T-44 to replace his Garand rifle 'as a fitting and necessary step.'
He attended with a group of officers and top civilians the turning out of the last M-1 rifle for general field purposes at the local gun plant.
A soft spoken man, immaculately dressed, and quick on his feet, Mr. Garand refused to make any comment on how much of a part he played in the development of the T-44, fully automatic rifle which is to replace the M-1 for use of American and NATO troops.
If the almost legendary gun maker refused to discuss his role in making the new rifle possible, others close to Armory production claimed that the part he played was a significant one.
Ninety-per cent of the assembly line making the Garand can be converted to make the versatile T-44, it was pointed out.
Mr. Garand in brief comments while he waited for the photographer to take pictures of him holding the last general purpose M-1, said that the need for a smaller cartridge was obvious and was now being fulfilled by the new weapon.
The T-44 rifle which can fire a clip of 20 rounds without reloading, uses a smaller bullet and smaller sized parts to cut down on the rifle weight."
40786
Modest John Garand, the Springfield man whose genius attracted world wide attention through his contribution to military small arms, today termed the adoption of the fully automatic T-44 to replace his Garand rifle 'as a fitting and necessary step.'
He attended with a group of officers and top civilians the turning out of the last M-1 rifle for general field purposes at the local gun plant.
A soft spoken man, immaculately dressed, and quick on his feet, Mr. Garand refused to make any comment on how much of a part he played in the development of the T-44, fully automatic rifle which is to replace the M-1 for use of American and NATO troops.
If the almost legendary gun maker refused to discuss his role in making the new rifle possible, others close to Armory production claimed that the part he played was a significant one.
Ninety-per cent of the assembly line making the Garand can be converted to make the versatile T-44, it was pointed out.
Mr. Garand in brief comments while he waited for the photographer to take pictures of him holding the last general purpose M-1, said that the need for a smaller cartridge was obvious and was now being fulfilled by the new weapon.
The T-44 rifle which can fire a clip of 20 rounds without reloading, uses a smaller bullet and smaller sized parts to cut down on the rifle weight."
40786