One in a million, hidden message in my stock.

[Churro]

Through the years of collecting surplus I have heard stories of people finding personalized equipment, names, or even notes left behind by the soldiers who carried them. Carving or writing a name on equipment is one thing, but leaving an entire note so hidden that it would be missed by the next few service men is something entirely in its own category. I do not consider myself luck but I guess I hit a second lottery this one.

I purchased two M1 Garand stocks from ebay, both had rack numbers and one had a Turkish inspection stamp. I briefly communicated with the seller who told me he purchased a massive lot from a gov auction many years ago and ended up with over 1500 stocks. Everything from WW2 stampings, rack numbers, and European made replacements. I assume that the the complete rifles ended up at the CMP, the actions removed, and the stocks were considered rejects. Eventually being auctioned and purchased by the ebay seller.


When cleaning the first stock I found an old rage covered in cosmoline which I threw away. In the Turkish stock I found a wad of paper pressed all the way back (where you store the cleaning rod) and recovered the note. I assume its either in Turkish or Croatian as that is what Google is telling me but here it is.

 

[Churro]

About a week ago someone on YouTube posted some Spanish guns he bought from Hunter lodge and had something very similar in the back of his rifles buttstock.

 

[Freetureless]

Have you been a like to determine what it says?

 

[Freetureless]

This is Google's best guess.

 

[sjb323]

That's pretty cool! It's too bad that it would be next to impossible to find the living relatives of the man who wrote that note. Being in another country doesn't help...

 

[Churro]

This is Google's best guess.

According to my butchered translation I think the soldier is try to say. Take care of this weapon as it has been good to me. Don't understand estimate the NCOs as they are always listening and if they offer a smoke stare at a rock instead

 

[BigBossman]

I recently nabbed a Winchester model 12 at a local auction, and found some interesting things under the butt plate.

 

[Churro]

I recently nabbed a Winchester model 12 at a local auction, and found some interesting things under the butt plate.View attachment 31865View attachment 31866

Whoa that is cool

 

[AsianPersuasion]

That is really neat. I love it when you get a glimpse of the journey/story that firearm went through before getting into your hands

 

[Striker62]

Awesome stuff. Once in awhile, folks in the CMP forum post information such as this. I'm sure they would love to hear about this story.

 

[Enfielder]

My son in law is from Izmir Turkey. If you can scan it and send it to me, I'll have him translate it.

 

[Deleted member 9396]

According to my butchered translation I think the soldier is try to say. Take care of this weapon as it has been good to me. Don't understand estimate the NCOs as they are always listening and if they offer a smoke stare at a rock instead

that is far out! awesome

 

[Churro]

My son in law is from Izmir Turkey. If you can scan it and send it to me, I'll have him translate it.

That would be amazing! The pictures I posted can be clicked on, opened and should give you an option to download the image. This morning I was attempting to boot up my companies old laminator but it gave me problems right before having to start my shift. I will give it a second go tomorrow, once it is laminated I plan to put it back into the stock with my own note of when and how I acquired my M1. Hopefully in another 100 years someone else will open the stock and find two notes instead of one.

 

[Freetureless]

If you're going to laminate it I would suggest using archival grade pouches.

 

[Enfielder]

That would be amazing! The pictures I posted can be clicked on, opened and should give you an option to download the image. This morning I was attempting to boot up my companies old laminator but it gave me problems right before having to start my shift. I will give it a second go tomorrow, once it is laminated I plan to put it back into the stock with my own note of when and how I acquired my M1. Hopefully in another 100 years someone else will open the stock and find two notes instead of one.

Waiting to hear back from him.

 

[joefrank64k]

I recently nabbed a Winchester model 12 at a local auction, and found some interesting things under the butt plate.View attachment 31865View attachment 31866

Love his phone number, haha!!

 

[Enfielder]

Here is the translation and notes from my son in law via my daughter.

 

[Freetureless]

Amazing! What a story!

 

[Churro]

Here is the translation and notes from my son in law via my daughter.View attachment 32561View attachment 32562View attachment 32563

This definitely adds to the mystery and I am incredibly appreciative of your help!
I laminated the note and returned it back to the stock where I found it. I guess what is next is to shoot with good old Murty.