Jim:
I’d like you advice on buying the Holbrook “Thumb Saver” modification device for M1 Garand Rifles. Do you have any experience with this device or thoughts on it?
The following is John Holbrook’s description of his Thumb Saver Device. It has been advertised in Shotgun News for a long time.
The Device is a replacement for the GI op[erating] rod catch and it stops automatic bolt release when loading a clip. It also prevents auto clip ejection when the last round is fired.
With it installed, the Garand operates much like the M14/M1A. When a full clip is inserted into the receiver it will latch, however you must pull and release the bolt handle to charge the top round. It will operate in the normal manner until the last round is fired and the bolt will lock open but the clip will not eject. To eject the clip you
must push the eject button on the receiver…
With an empty clip latched in the receiver, single rounds can be loaded into the clip, 1 through 8. when you have as many as you wish, just pull and release and away you go…
The rifle is not modified and can be converted back to GI [specification/function] by replacing the Device with the original catch.
The maker of the Thumb Saver is
John Holbrook
2015 24th Street, #57
Bellingham Washington 98225
phone: 1-360-671-8522
E-mail: john.holbrook@comcast.net
Also see: Boston’s Gun Bible (post-2002 edition) page 11/30.
JWR Replies: The Holbrook device works fine, but it is primarily designed for target shooting. I recommend leaving a Garand’s action “as is” for defensive shooting situations. You’ll want automatic clip ejection in most foreseeable self-defense situations, because you’ll want to know when your rifle is empty, so that you can reload quickly. One exception would be if you have a scope-equipped and match-accurized M1Garand that you plan to use as a counter-sniper rifle. For those circumstances, a high rate of fire and rapid reloading are secondary to stealth. That would be where a Thumb Saver would be apropos.
The only real drawback to automatic clip ejection is that if you are operating solo, the bad guy(s) are familiar with Garands, they will wait until they hear “bang-bang-ping!”–the sound of the empty en bloc clip ejecting–and then charge your position. But luckily, as time goes on, there will be fewer and fewer bad guys that have been around Garand rifles.