Follow-up on D-Day Commemorative blow-up with HXP

[Griff Murphey]

RE the previously reported blow-up of the D-Day Commemorative M-1, my friend who owns it called SA Inc. the day of the incident. There was some delay while they figured out if they did or did not make the rifle. However they sent him a FedEx label and that gun is returned for repair or replacement. Another piece of information, BEFORE EVER FIRING the rifle, he had it fully checked by Mr. Mayes, the master gunsmith at the Dallas Beretta Gallery.

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[Bill Hollinger]

Let us hope it all works out for him. Keep us posted.

[Calif-Steve]

Why is anyone shooting a commerative rifle? That can only destroy its collector value.

[snapperm1c]

Why is anyone shooting a commerative rifle? That can only destroy is collector value.

I suppose that explains why the thing blew up. They didn't expect somebody to actually SHOOT the thing and may have used inferior materials...

But if they were to use pot metal, why the incredible expense in the first place??

But it IS a combat rifle, nonetheless. So it should be functional.

Moral of story: Don't buy commeratives...

Pop

[Calif-Steve]

I have a good friend who never took his commerative Win 94's out of the box. I suppose they are functional, but they were made to be looked at, not used.

[Griff Murphey]

Well... I have a Crazy Horse '94 in .38-55 that I shoot, so I can't talk...

[Neal Myers]

It is NOT a combat rifle; it is a copy of a combat rifle, that has been pimped out.

The problem with SA Inc's decision to copy the M1 is that they had to buy cast reproduction receivers; it would have been too difficult & expensive to round up a quantity of original USGI forged receivers. Their first contract was with Lithgow; problems with the first 1,000 lead to a different supplier. We don't know who made the receiver that was on the rifle that failed, but a forensic analysis will be needed to figure out the cause of the failure, & SA Inc is unlikely to conduct one or advise what they think went wrong.

[Maniac]

WWII commemorative or not, there's no way SA Inc. (or any other reputable maker) is going to knowingly market a functional firearm that compromises safety.
Folks normally don't buy a commemorative to shoot but they can do so if they choose. I believe that SAI also has the same lifetime warrantee on their M1 Garands as they do their popular M1A's which also made with a cast receiver. The older SAI M1A's tend to have more USGI parts which are definitely more desirable but to my knowledge there hasn't been any history of their receivers failing at an unacceptable rate.
But I, like many of you, would never buy an SAI Garand for whatever inflated price they might command, commemorative or not, when we can buy or build a better WWII M1 for less money and own a true piece of history. Unfortunately, some folks either don't appreciate or don't know that there's a much better deal available from CMP. JMHO

[farmritch]

A firearm is a firearm
If it's made it's made to shoot weather it's a collector or not

[ltcboy]

A firearm is a firearm
If it's made it's made to shoot weather it's a collector or not

With respect sir, I disagree. I think that the above postings are true in the fact that a commemorative pistol or rifle is meant to be for display. I personally would never buy one of these, I really do not think that they increase in value as compared to a regular firearm.

It takes a special buy to want those types of commemeratives and they are not easy to get the $$ amount that you really want. To me, taking a Garand, Carbine, Colt 1911 or any WWII, Korean era firearm and collecting that will bring collectable value in years to come.


Mike