Phone : 614-409-0244

Address : 2491 Fairwood Ave Columbus Ohio

Columbus Machine Works, Inc. BBB Business Review

Your Trusted Full Service Machine Shop Serving Central Ohio Since 1997

M1 Garand Op-Rod Repair and Gas CylindEr Restorations

Why Live With Your Old, Worn, Bent,
Out-of-Spec or Damaged Op-Rod?

We have the experience and skill to rebuild your M1-Garand op-rod to factory new specs.
We can also build new or repair "Tanker" Garand op-rods, rebuild M-14 and M1 Carbine 
op-rod guide lugs.

Simply ship your op-rod to us. (We highly recommend insuring for full replacement value.) We will inspect it on all points and provide you with our recommended repairs, along with a total cost including insured return shipping.  The decision is yours as to which services you would like to have performed.

So we can offer reasonable pricing, we work on op rods in "batches". We accumulate a practical number of op rods and then work on them all together. Turnaround time may be
up to 8 weeks depending on when your op rod(s) are received for the next batch.
Services Offered

$69.00 ~ Standard (M1 & M1 "Tanker", Beretta BM-59)
$85.00 ~ Demilled*
$105.00 ~ Extended Length (M1, Beretta BM-59)
$30.00 ~ Oversized, reduce to .5260" dia. (M1 & "Tanker", Beretta BM-59)
$110.00 ~ Italian Beretta*

* Demilled Piston Tip
There are surplus op-rods available in the market where the rods have been demilled by cutting through the piston. There will be an extra charge
to fill the notches the cut leaves in the tube. Some of the cuts leave notches which are significantly longer, those tubes can also be repaired for an additional charge.

* Italian Beretta Piston Tip
It is more difficult to replace the piston tips on the Italian Beretta op-rod. These type of op-rods can easily be identified by the holes on the side of the tube.

(M1, M1 "Tanker", M1-Carbine & M14, Beretta BM-59)

$69.00 ~ Receiver guide lug rebuild**

** For guide lug rebuilds, there will be a minimal visibly affected area of Parkerizing. When your rifle is assembled, this is visible to the very rear of the rod where the handle meets the guide lug and is from final hand finishing of the machining. There will be other areas of the Parkerizing affected, but they are to the inside toward the receiver and the very bottom toward the guide lug slot. 

We do not currently offer Parkerizing services.

(M1 & "Tanker" only)

  • This service is performed when mechanical repairs are made to an M1 Garand, or M1 "Tanker" op-rod.
  • This service is not available for the other types at this time.
  • We do not offer straightening, tilt test or adjustments for M-14 op-rods.

    $28.00 ~ following other repairs
    $48.00 ~ without other repairs

  • Remanufactured Op Rods
    Straightening services were erroneously listed as available for remanufactured op rods on our 2026 Distributor Pricing. Per the statement below, we are not performing any services on remanufactured op rods. Please see the information below if you need assistance identifying whether your op rod is a remanufactured op rod.

(M1, M1 "Tanker", M1-Carbine & M14, Beretta BM-59)


$43.00 ~ Bolt cam slot tip repair

(M1 & M1 "Tanker")

$159.00 ~ 1st or 2nd oversize hone out-of-spec gas cylinder supplied, and install new piston tip on op-rod supplied, to match

$159.00 ~ Build "Tanker" M1 op-rod from supplied Standard M1 op-rod

(Op-rods supplied for conversion will need to be evaluated for other repairs.
Other recommended repairs will be in addition to this charge to convert a standard op-rod into a “Tanker”.)

For Beretta-Style Low Gas Cylinder

$55 ~
Literally straighten a standard M1 op-rod for use with Beretta-style low gas cylinder.

Includes tilt test to ensure function with the drop-style gas cylinders.

$15.00 per op rod ~
Over the years, we have been sent op-rods coated in cosmoline, heavy dried grease, and generally heavily soiled oil and grease when coming out of long term storage.
When it is necessary, we are happy to clean op-rods like this prior to repairs, but they will be subject to a cleaning charge.
* To avoid this fee, please make sure the rods are clean prior to shipping to us.

** Remanufactured Op- Rods **

We are no longer accepting remanufactured op-rods. Please see information below to help identify whether your op-rod has been remanufactured.  If a remanufactured op-rod is shipped to us, we will contact you to see if you want it returned to you. You will be required to provide a pre-paid return shipping label. Please examine your op-rod carefully.

Remanufactured op rods are op-rods which have had the original tube replaced with a new tube, then refinished, giving the appearance of a “new” rod. In most cases, these rods are not even close to being able to mount in an M1, so they require more time to properly contour. Pistons also appear to have been left oversized. As a result, completing these rods takes more work than a standard repair, which is why these op-rods incur additional cost for gauge check, straightening and tilt test. The price for sizing an oversized piston for a remanufactured op-rod is the same as for a non remanufactured op-rod.

The photos below provide examples to help identify remanufactured op-rods. The irregular coloring just forward of the original weld adjacent to the saddle is the weld attaching the new tube.
This example has been finished off smoothly in that area and reparkerized.

How It Works

Our Process

Step 01
Download and fill out the Order Form
ORDER FORM
Step 02
Enclose Order form and ship your op rod(s) to:
Columbus Machine Works
2491 Fairwood Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43207
Step 03
Insure your shipment
We recommend insuring the shipment for $250 per op rod enclosed
Step 04
INspection and estimate
Your op rod will be inspected and you will be contacted with an estimate for suggested repairs.
Step 05
Payment
Payment may be made via money order, personal check, or Paypal
 (For Paypal payments, 
include an additional 3.5% of the total to cover the fee).
Step 06
Scheduling
On receiving payment, your op rod(s) will be scheduled for repairs. Turn around time may be up to 8 weeks
(or less), depending on when your op rod(s) are received for the next batch.
Step 07
Return Shipment
Once your
op-rod(s) are completed we will return ship them to you.
Step 08
Leave us a review
Please let us know how we did!
Reviews

Shooters' Tools, Gauges and Accessories

Online ordering is not available at this time - please email or call with your order.
Please be sure to use the SKU number for each product you are interested in.
Testimonials

What Our Customers Say

I received my op rod back. Thank you. Superb workmanship. It is back to original specs. When I installed it in my rifle it "clicked". That was a wonderful sound that my rifle hasn't made in a while. Sadly, I have to wait till Sunday to shoot. I've been cleaning the drool off my shirt since I got it. Send my compliments to the employee that did me.

The operating rods arrived yesterday! They look great! Thank you again! I believe I have two more to send sometime next week!

I will highly recommend you and your company to our club members!

Just wanted to give you the update that the fixed Op Rod has been received, and passes the tilt test on my M1. Moves flawlessly from bolt closed to bolt open position, with minimal tilt. Thanks for the excellent repairs!

Not every item we produce is available thru every retailer.
If you are unable to locate an item, please contact us.

1-614-409-0244

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Phone : 1-614-409-0244

Address : 2491 Fairwood Ave Columbus Ohio

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