M1 garand questions

[ponycarman]

Thanks sooo much Sgt. Rob! Now I think I have a better understanding of what to expect. I may take a ride to the shop again and look it over thoroughly if Im allowed to haha. This is probably one of the oddest gun/ pawn shops Ive seen. They dont appear to sell or stock any amunition. One of the shop keepers knew a little about the rifle but didnt seem to be up to collector type of knowledge. I was told 95% of their sales come from a local auction. I would love to order a rifle from the cmp but they offer no lay away program and I usually make good use of them haha. It will most likely take longer for me to save up the money to order from them. Which isnt a problem but I get impatient sometimes with it comes to purchasing firearms

Thanks again!
Mark

[Junk Yard Dog]

Rob, the M1 Garand community is unlike any other collecting community out there, they do not see the Garands an ancient relic of a bygone era, but as a current issue service rifle. While I am not planning to start rebuilding any Garands I also look at them as current issue and very much a choice for a defensive weapon today. I have one on my ready rack all the time with a can of loaded clips right under it. I don't look at Mauser's or any other bolt rifle that way, and wouldn't think of picking a bolt rifle over my M14 if the shit hit the fan, but the Garand I just might. Some would say that the Garand should still be the current issue service rifle.....

[pacanis]

Mine sits right ON the can

[Junk Yard Dog]

Get a proper rack for that weapon before it ends up falling on the floor.

[pacanis]

OK dad

[Junk Yard Dog]

A secure crate would do it

[pacanis]

With a Caucasian Ovtcharka chained to it

[Junk Yard Dog]

Nice puppy

[Sgt. Rob]

Rob, the M1 Garand community is unlike any other collecting community out there, they do not see the Garands an ancient relic of a bygone era, but as a current issue service rifle. While I am not planning to start rebuilding any Garands I also look at them as current issue and very much a choice for a defensive weapon today. I have one on my ready rack all the time with a can of loaded clips right under it. I don't look at Mauser's or any other bolt rifle that way, and wouldn't think of picking a bolt rifle over my M14 if the shit hit the fan, but the Garand I just might. Some would say that the Garand should still be the current issue service rifle.....

I think alot of it has to do with the budget of the given collector vs. the availability of "correct, as issued, original unaltered M1 Garands". There just ain't enough out there, as the vast majority have been arsenal rebuilt several times over during there service life. And although the prices on WWII parts is climbing, the "hobby" of restoring a WWII era receiver to a complete M1 of its WWII time of manufacture is still heavily pursued. Add in the huge following of Match shooting and the (as I see it) parallel historical use in this venue, and it all adds to many M1's needing to be maintained by there civilian owners. There is just a wide variety of collector / shooter use of these rifles and a diffrent mind set about them. In a way, there history is still ongoing in civilian marksmanship circles. Just check out the popularity of CMP Garand matches! This is happening in a smaller scale with The M14 "clones" as well. The very fact that a semi-automatic rifle will wear parts out faster then a bolt action means if you shoot them, at some point you must repair them. Personally I could not stomach turning my M14 into a wall hanger. Or an M1 Garand. Or even a Mosin Nagant. They need to be fired, and cared for.

Semper Fi, Rob

[target]

Mine sits right ON the can

I almost had one of those. Slipped by me.

[ponycarman]

I went again tonight and checked out the rifle. I looked it over, checking the trouble area's you described Sgt. The op rod was fine and stayed where it should, the bolt looked good, and the gas system parts werent cracked. The barrel appeared to be pretty worn however. I didnt have a round to check it with though. It had rifling still but it was pretty light toward the muzzle. I wasnt able to take it apart to check the end of the op rod. So I dont know of its condition. When the rifle bolt was locked open I could make out what looked like corosion on the rod toward the end. The price was $699. The rifle was nice still from what I could tell. Wood still had the stampings. The deal breaker to me though was this wasnt a sale by the show. I didnt notice it before but it is a consignment sale for a collector that works with the store keepers son. So I assumed layaway was out of the question as well as negotiating the price some. I think Im just going to save and hold out for a cmp rifle. But I would like to gather some parts for my other firearms before I continue purchasing new rifles, pistols, and shotguns. Also would like to get some reloading equipment. Haha Im never without something to save for.

[hudson29]

A Garand has been very high on my want list for years. I used to see reimported beaters for $350 in the racks at local shops but passed on them as I didn't know much about them and they looked pretty rough. Here in SoCal where I live, gun shops & gun shows have become rare and it is hard to find a place that has a good selection of rifles to look over. There is always the internet but I'm wary of buying from an source where I have to trust the rifle will be as it should be.

Any suggestions as to where to look for a good Garand? I would like one in WWII spec but a restored or rebuilt example would be fine. There must be reputable online sellers who have a range of rifles to offer.

My dad was a WWII Marine and could still sound off the number of his Garand until shortly before he passed a year and a half ago. The rifle made quite an impression on him!

Vintage Paul

[RazorBurn]

As stated above in the previous couple of posts, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a great way to get a USGI Garand that has been properly checked over and guaranteed original that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

[Junk Yard Dog]

As stated above in the previous couple of posts, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a great way to get a USGI Garand that has been properly checked over and guaranteed original that won't cost you an arm and a leg.

"original" is rarely a term applied to US milsurps after 1900 or so. Most countries refurbished their military's weapons only when they got so badly worn that they fell apart, and even then they would take extraordinary measures to avoid replacing the more expensive parts, this is were counterbores come in. Uncle Sam had a different attitude about that sort of thing, in our military individual marksmanship was trained and encouraged, the issued weapons had to be able to shoot straight. Periodically, no matter if they needed it or not, rifles were recalled from service and sent for refurbishment and inspection. Barrel replacement was a matter of course, and rifles such as the Garand were designed for the easy removal and replacement of the barrel ( if you had the machine for it) This is why you so rarely see M1's with original barrels even from the later dates, and of course the smaller parts would get mixed around during these refurbs as well. You will find Garands with worn bores, counterbores, and other problems, but this is the result of their being sent to some foreign country with lower standards than ours.