What’s an M1 Garand Buttstock Cleaning Kit?
The M1’s buttstock hides two tubular compartments engineered to hold a six‑piece maintenance set that keeps the rifle mission‑ready with no extra baggage. A complete WWII‑pattern kit typically includes:
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Four threaded steel rod sections – assemble into a full‑length .30‑cal bore rod.
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M10 combination tool – serves as rod handle, gas‑plug wrench, and bolt‑takedown aid.
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Bronze bore brush & patch loop – scrub fouling, then apply solvent or grease.
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Dual‑reservoir brass oiler – one side for bore cleaner, the other for rifle grease.
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OD canvas sleeve – silences the parts inside the stock.
Stowed in the stock’s hidden wells, the kit adds almost no weight yet ensures every Garand goes on patrol with everything needed for quick bore scrubs, gas‑system service, and emergency repairs.
What’s in the WWII‑Issue Kit?
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Component |
Purpose |
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Four blued‑steel rod sections |
Screw together for a 26 in. bore rod |
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M10 combination tool / handle |
Rod handle and bolt, screw, gas‑plug tool |
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Patch loop tip |
Holds cotton swabs or flannel patches |
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.30‑cal bronze bore brush |
Scrubs fouling without marring rifling |
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Dual‑reservoir oiler |
Carries bore cleaner & rifle grease |
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OD canvas sleeve |
Slides into buttstock, stops rattle |
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All six pieces nest in the stock so nothing jingles on patrol. |
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Step‑By‑Step: Field Cleaning Your Garand
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Chamber Safe: Clip out, bolt locked.
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Assemble Rod: Three rod sections plus the M10 handle.
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Wet Patches: Soak first patch with bore solvent from the oiler; push muzzle‑to‑breech.
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Brush Passes: Two or three strokes with the bronze brush.
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Dry & Grease: Run dry patch, then light coat of rifle grease on a patch loop.
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Stow Gear: Break rods, seat oiler first, then rod bundle and tool—no rattle.
Why the Buttstock Kit Beats Generic Cleaning Gear
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Correct rod diameter: The kit’s .30‑cal rods fit the Garand’s 0.30″ bore exactly; oversized “universal” rods can scrape rifling or nick the crown.
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Sectional length: Four GI rod sections plus the M10 handle extend just past 26 inches—long enough to clean from the breech without removing the operating rod. Many one‑piece rods force you to go muzzle‑first, accelerating wear.
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Brass oiler & bronze brush: The original non‑marring metals protect the Garand’s chrome‑moly steel bore; stainless or aluminum aftermarket rods can gall against chamber walls.
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Integrated tool: The M10 doubles as a bolt takedown and gas‑plug wrench—capabilities no off‑the‑shelf cleaning kit offers, sparing you extra gear.
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Stowability: Everything nests in the buttstock, so the kit is always with the rifle—no range‑bag rummaging required.
Variants & Collectibility
|
Era |
Tell‑Tale Signs |
Collector Value |
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Early WWII (1940‑42) |
Rod sections marked “M3,” one‑piece bolt tool |
$$$ |
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Late WWII (1943‑45) |
Dual‑reservoir brass oiler, canvas sleeve marked “FUNGUS PROOFER TYPE I” |
$$ |
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Post‑War (1953‑55) |
M10 combo handle, Parkerized rods |
$ |
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Condition rules: look for intact threads, straight rod sections, and legible maker marks. New‑old‑stock kits command a premium among collectors and Garand match shooters alike. |
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Build a Complete Garand Range Kit
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M1 Garand Buttstock Cleaning Kit – https://www.armynavysales.com/m1-garand-buttstock-cleaning-kit.html
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M1 Rifle Sling (OD Cotton) – https://www.armynavysales.com/rifle-sling-m1.html
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.30‑Cal Bore Cleaner (GI Issue) – https://www.armynavysales.com/gear/field-gear.html
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M1 Tool Roll – https://www.armynavysales.com/m1-garand-tool-roll.html
Why The M1 Garand Buttstock Cleaning Kit Still Matters in 2025
CMP match shooters swear by the original kit because sectional rods and brass oilers won’t scratch match‑grade barrels—and they store right in the rifle, not your range bag. Collectors prize complete WWII sets for the same reason art dealers love provenance: originality equals value. If you own “the greatest battle implement ever devised,” give it the maintenance gear it was born with.
Our latest reproduction batch of WWII‑pattern buttstock kits is manufactured to USGI spec. Grab yours now before this production run sells out:
https://www.armynavysales.com/m1-garand-buttstock-cleaning-kit.html