John Garand
Encyclopedia
John Cantius Garand (January 1, 1888 – February 16, 1974) was a designer of firearms best known for creating the first successful semi-automatic rifle
to be widely used in active military service, the M1 Garand.
Garand was born in St. Rémi, Quebec
in a French Canadian family, and moved as a child to Jewett City, Connecticut
. He attended school until he was 11 years old, and then became employed in a textile
mill, where he was later promoted to machinist. After gaining the necessary experience, he was hired by a tool factory in Providence
, Rhode Island
.
His fondness for machinery and target shooting
blended naturally into a hobby of designing guns, which however took a more vocational turn in 1917. That year the United States Army
took bids on designs for a light machine gun
, and Garand's design was eventually selected by the War Department
. Garand was appointed to a position with the United States Bureau of Standards with the task of perfecting the weapon. The first model was not built until 1919, too late for use in World War I
, but the government kept Garand on in a position as consulting engineer with the Springfield Armory
.
In this position he was tasked with designing a semi-automatic infantry rifle and carbine
. Designing the rifle took several preliminary designs and quite a bit of detail work stretching over fifteen years to perfect the model to Army specifications. The resulting M1 Garand was patented by Garand in 1934 and began mass production in 1936. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Garand had designed and built a prototype bullpup
rifle. It fired the same cartridge as the M1 rifle, but the magazine, action and shape were completely different. It was a select-fire design, and had a firing rate of about 600rpm. When Garand retired in 1953, the second version of the T31 was incomplete, and remained so. The project was scrapped, and the gun was retired to the Springfield Armory museum in 1961
For his work with the Springfield Armory, Garand was awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service in 1941, and the first Medal for Merit (together with Albert Hoyt Taylor) on March 28, 1944. Garand never received any royalties from his design. A bill was introduced in Congress
to award him $100,000 in appreciation, but did not pass. Garand remained in his consulting position until his retirement in 1953, and died in Springfield, Massachusetts
in 1974.
generally agree that it is the latter, rhyming approximately 'errand.'
Semi-automatic rifle
A semi-automatic rifle is a type of rifle that fires a single bullet each time the trigger is pulled, automatically ejects the spent cartridge, chambers a fresh cartridge from its magazine, and is immediately ready to fire another shot...
to be widely used in active military service, the M1 Garand.
Garand was born in St. Rémi, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
in a French Canadian family, and moved as a child to Jewett City, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. He attended school until he was 11 years old, and then became employed in a textile
Textile
A textile or cloth is a flexible woven material consisting of a network of natural or artificial fibres often referred to as thread or yarn. Yarn is produced by spinning raw fibres of wool, flax, cotton, or other material to produce long strands...
mill, where he was later promoted to machinist. After gaining the necessary experience, he was hired by a tool factory in Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
.
His fondness for machinery and target shooting
Shooting sports
A shooting sport is a competitive sport involving tests of proficiency using various types of guns such as firearms and airguns . Hunting is also a shooting sport, and indeed shooting live pigeons was an Olympic event...
blended naturally into a hobby of designing guns, which however took a more vocational turn in 1917. That year the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
took bids on designs for a light machine gun
Light machine gun
A light machine gun is a machine gun designed to be employed by an individual soldier, with or without an assistant, as an infantry support weapon. Light machine guns are often used as squad automatic weapons.-Characteristics:...
, and Garand's design was eventually selected by the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
. Garand was appointed to a position with the United States Bureau of Standards with the task of perfecting the weapon. The first model was not built until 1919, too late for use in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, but the government kept Garand on in a position as consulting engineer with the Springfield Armory
Springfield Armory
The Springfield Armory, located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts - from 1777 until its closing in 1968 - was the primary center for the manufacture of U.S. military firearms. After its controversial closing during the Vietnam War, the Springfield Armory was declared Western Massachusetts'...
.
In this position he was tasked with designing a semi-automatic infantry rifle and carbine
Garand carbine
The Garand carbine was John Garand's entry during the Light Rifle program. The weapon was chambered in the .30 Carbine round and was fed from a magazine inserted from the right side....
. Designing the rifle took several preliminary designs and quite a bit of detail work stretching over fifteen years to perfect the model to Army specifications. The resulting M1 Garand was patented by Garand in 1934 and began mass production in 1936. In the late 1940s and early 1950s, Garand had designed and built a prototype bullpup
Bullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
rifle. It fired the same cartridge as the M1 rifle, but the magazine, action and shape were completely different. It was a select-fire design, and had a firing rate of about 600rpm. When Garand retired in 1953, the second version of the T31 was incomplete, and remained so. The project was scrapped, and the gun was retired to the Springfield Armory museum in 1961
For his work with the Springfield Armory, Garand was awarded the Medal for Meritorious Service in 1941, and the first Medal for Merit (together with Albert Hoyt Taylor) on March 28, 1944. Garand never received any royalties from his design. A bill was introduced in Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to award him $100,000 in appreciation, but did not pass. Garand remained in his consulting position until his retirement in 1953, and died in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
in 1974.
Pronunciation
Pronunciation of the name Garand is often disputed, being pronounced variably as ɡəˈrænd or ˈɡærənd. Descendants of John Garand and his close friend Julian HatcherJulian Hatcher
Julian Sommerville Hatcher , was a noted firearms expert and author of the early twentieth century. He is credited with several technical books and articles relating to military firearms, ballistics, and autoloading weapons...
generally agree that it is the latter, rhyming approximately 'errand.'