HRA M1 Garand "Collector Grade" Worth

[Amsdorf]

How much do you think a fair price would be for a HRA M1 Garand, certified CMP "collector grade"?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Rick Cummelin]

Collector Grade M1s came from the CMP in a variety of conditions. Current rifles are virtually new & unissued. Older ones from years ago are mostly original, but could be quite ugly & beat-up. Therefore, an asking price would be impossible to determine without knowing the condition of the rifle. Values are usually based on originality and condition. A Collector Grade certificate provides some assurance of originality, but does not address condition. Your post does not mention condition.

This is one of those situations where a picture is worrth a thousand words.

[Amsdorf]

Thanks, and I take your point.

Here is a photo album of the Collector Grade I'm talking about.

Garand pictures by BloodofTyrants - Photobucket

[Charlie59]

Check here: Civilian Marksmanship Program They sell "correct grades" for $1100. Not quite as nice as the one you showed, but close. Then there's the "service grade special", they have collector grade metal, but new mfg. stocks. They don't usually have collector grades, but I think when they do, they're around $14-1500 bucks. They also have new ones in original factory wrap, on their auction site. They sell for over 5k.

[Amsdorf]

So, the guy selling this for $1900 is, well, screwing buyers over?

[Rick Cummelin]

Very nice rifle, and great condition--about right for a rifle sold in 2006. I would put its value at about $1300 or so, + or - a couple of hundred, possibly a slight premium if it has an LMR barrel. The reason I didn't place a higher value on it is for two reasons: 1) there are a ton of CMP Correct Grade HRAs out there that are in similar condition and they were sold by the CMP for $1100. 2) The M1 market is flooded with nice HRAs at the moment, due to the plethora of HRA M1s that came back from Greece and sold by the CMP. This has reduced the scarcity of HRAs and consequently reduced the values.

---------- Post added at 05:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:56 PM ----------

So, the guy selling this for $1900 is, well, screwing buyers over?

A seller can ask anything he wants. Any knowledgeable buyer would just say "thanks" and walk away. Why pay an $800 premium? That doesn't make sense.

[Charlie59]

I think the sheet had HRA 4-55 as the barrel info. The higher the price, the more one should check the rifle out in person, or have some who knows Garands well to do it. You should, IMO, check out the forums on CMPs' site. I would pass at that price. It seems like you're anxious to get a M1. IMO it's still a buyers market. Like Rick said, lots of extra nice rifles are being sold now at decent prices. Are you looking for a rifle you can shoot, or one you have to wear linen gloves to handle? If it's strictly an investment, I'd still pass, or get him to lower the price.

[Amsdorf]

Thanks for your comment. I have two M1s.

I'm in the market for WWII era shooters.

I'm glad I did not buy the "Collector Grade" the guy selling it had no history on CMP.

No harm, no foul.

[mack]

Unless the rifle falls in the serials that have a Hart trigger group, $1900 seems about $200-300 high for that piece. Very nice rifle though. And it does come with a sales certificate that classes it as a "Collector's" and not simply a "Correct." Check for barrel measures. The Collectors should probably not have been shot very much to maintain their value and that one looks like it may have some rounds through it.

[Amsdorf]

Well, all's well that ends well. I picked up a much nicer looking Springfield Collector grade for $400 less than this joker was selling his for.