Correct grade or not correct grade that is the question...

[HILLBILLY-06]

You don't have to go to Anniston, you can do this by mail. Send a check for $ 25.00, give them the serial number of the rifle and ask the grade the rifle was sold as. Mark the envelope " Request for Research"

I didn't know that, and didn't ask on the phone at the time, but I live very near there and the eye candy is hard to pass up. Plus I usually find something I overlooked before. So I love going down to the store, thats no problem at all. When they'er not real buisey, you can do a lot of looking around in there and its lot of fun. I see more stuff when its less crowded too, so I dont like to go during the rush, or stand outside and wait in line. I just wait till the crowd's all gone if I can before I drive down there, I think it's awesome.

[bob seijas]

The only reason the type of preservative is important is to help guess at originality. Real Cosmolene suggests it hasn't been changed in a very long time.

[HILLBILLY-06]

Cosmolene
The only reason the type of preservative is important is to help guess at originality. Real Cosmolene suggests it hasn't been changed in a very long time.

Now I really wish I had paid attention to that one detail, but when I got it all over me, all I could think of was getting thay junk off again, I never looked at what color it was. I remember getting it all over me, and wiping it on my old work shirt but it's been long since washed. I will know better next time, and when I am free and got time, I will go back down there and see if they still have it. But the good stuff usually always stays lokcked up. It only comes out when the owner is there, and even then usually upon request. I have seen some other high priced Garands there before, but they are out of my price range, so I don't ask about them very often. That one I spoke of is the only "un-issued one" that he spoke of with me at the time, I don't know where he got it? It was very good looking, I couldn't afford it at the time, and I wanted to mention it here, in case I see it again someday I will know what to look for, (Color of Cosmolene) Sorry, I must have miss- spelled that about six time already....LOL and I will have maybe some better questions to ask him, based on the good bit of info I keep getting here "Thanks to everyone" here who provided the info...
Thanks again, now you got me wanting to see it again.

[Aguila Blanca]

If you had gotten real Cosmoline on your hands, I don't think you would have wiped it off your hands without some kind of solvent, like paint thinner.

As to grades, note that the photo of the certificate several posts above specifically states it is "Unissued" -- the words "Correct Grade" do not appear on the certificate. Without seeing any other CMP certificates in the higher grades, my guess would be that the gun shop is blowing smoke. If the rifle is a CMP rifle and is unissued, it would be graded as "Unissued" and not as "Correct." If it's Correct Grade, it's probably not unissued.

Current CMP price for Correct Grade is $1150 ... except that they've been sold out since March.

[bob seijas]

Yes, CMP follows the traditional terms: "Correct" means all the right parts, but not necessarily the original parts. They are usually guns in excellent condition that have had a few parts replaced by CMP armorers, but sometimes they are original guns that have a non-standard part on them like the HRAs with IHC sights. Originals are usually called "Collector" grade.