SA 12-41 Rebuild question

Gentleman, I started collecting Garands about a year ago when I purchased a 12-41 SA reciever (connected to a 51 Barrel) at a gun show. Im up to 4 rifles now and counting. I have built the 41 up piece by piece to be SN correct and have reached the point where Im short just a few things, the infamous Flush-nut sights assembly (almost impossible to find) and the SA/GHS stock (Which I just havn't worked up the nerve to pay that much for). Just today I recieved the correct barrel which I recently bought online, the throat mesures a 7 (not great) and the muzzle fails the bullet test. Here is the question, which is more important for collectors if I sold it one day? The accuracy of the barrel (as far as shooting)? or having the correct matching barrel for the rifles reciever? Thanks for your answers in advance.

There are more here I think that would want all period correct parts than a shiny barrel. I personally have a 8-41 LL with all correct and all original parts. Flush nut, round firing pin and all. I MUST have a mint barrel or I'm not interested.

[QUOTE=TheLongshot00;. Here is the question, which is more important for collectors if I sold it one day? The accuracy of the barrel (as far as shooting)? or having the correct matching barrel for the rifles reciever? Thanks for your answers in advance.[/QUOTE]

A collector would be more interested in having the correct barrel. But the barrel should match the rest of the rifle in regards to wear. You wouldn't want a mint barrel on a rifle that had quite a bit of wear nor would you want a barrel, such as you describe, on a rifle that, otherwise, shows little wear.

In my experience most shooters are more interested in an accurate rifle with a perfect barrel than in one that is early, or all correct. An all correct 1941 rifle would probably have more appeal to a collector, who would most likely prefer correct worn parts rather than incorrect parts in perfect condition. A '41 barrel in mint condition might come along someday, but maybe not, so if you want to finish your restoration, you could install the worn barrel now and keep looking for a better one to put on later. Most people I know already have thier favorite accurate rifle, and would only buy an early correct rifle because it is what it is, an early correct rifle.

I never cared about the bore on a collector rifle. I have one with a 6-40 that is a stove pipe, it's just not my shooter.