M1 Parts Prices from old DCM

I recently came across and have since mislaid a DCM parts list from 1988. Prices were based on original cost to Government and included: bolt, $1.46; stock, $7.00.

Purchases were limited to 2 of each part per calendar year. I ordered 2 of everything for the Garand; and for the 03/03A3 Springfield every year for a number of years. (New 03A3 barrel was .50 cents.)

Parts trickeled in from Military depots all over the Country and the Govt. routinely paid much more for postage than was received for the parts. For example there might be two springs from one Depot billed @ .02 cents each with more than $2.00 shipping. It might take a dozen small shipments from a dozen locations to fill my annual order.

I once received a stock with hardware that was heavily coated in cosmoline except for an outline of a receiver and trigger group that had obviously been removed. What emerged from the cosmoline was a pristine NFR stock.

I'll come across the complete list again soon (had it on my desk last week) and will post some more numbers for your amusement.

I try not to read those. It is depressing. I should have maxed out every order I sent in. I keep thinking, oh I can get more later. NOT.

Well that was back before my time. Wish it was still like that though.....:banghead:

Reminds me of finding an old Guns & Ammo, or American Rifleman magazine from the early 1960s. I especially like looking at the ads from one of those magazines. For example, the M1938 Italian Carcano (the same rifle supposedly used by Oswald) - $12.50, with a scope. No waiting period; could be shipped via REA (Railway Express Agency- predecessor to UPS) right to your door, etc!!! Ammo was inexpensive too at usually under $1.00/box of 20 rounds. The ads go on and on....
Ohhh, to have my time machine fixed!!!!

The old DCM prices are fun to look at, but not all prices were cheap for their time. That stock price of 7.00 was the same in 1968 when I purchased my first batch of parts. At local gun shows the stock price was 5.00.

You're right, Bill, some prices weren't great, but at least the parts were available. OTOH, some prices have soared since then. I picked up as many spare M14 parts as I could at the time, even though I didn't have one (yet). I still have the 2 magazine packs, unopened. Like mark1, I wish I'd got more. Darn that hindsight!

I don't remember 50 cent barrels ... the two-groove 03A3 barrels were 98 cents until the 80's. A milled 03 trigger guard was 32 cents, and I got a couple that were very nice bright blue. ::sigh::

Resp'y,
Bob S.

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Originally Posted by roland beaver

I recently came across and have since mislaid a DCM parts list from 1988. Prices were based on original cost to Government and included: bolt, $1.46; stock, $7.00.

Purchases were limited to 2 of each part per calendar year. I ordered 2 of everything for the Garand; and for the 03/03A3 Springfield every year for a number of years. (New 03A3 barrel was .50 cents.)

Parts trickeled in from Military depots all over the Country and the Govt. routinely paid much more for postage than was received for the parts. For example there might be two springs from one Depot billed @ .02 cents each with more than $2.00 shipping. It might take a dozen small shipments from a dozen locations to fill my annual order.

I once received a stock with hardware that was heavily coated in cosmoline except for an outline of a receiver and trigger group that had obviously been removed. What emerged from the cosmoline was a pristine NFR stock.

I'll come across the complete list again soon (had it on my desk last week) and will post some more numbers for your amusement.

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It was even better for me.....I would just stop over at the CMSD at Erie Industrial Park on my way home from work and go through the bins with Mark! I don't think I ever spent over $10 on any trip! Got an arm-load of brand-new M-1D stocks, with and without cheek-pads for IIRC, $1.50 a pop....all you could carry! Op-rods were $2.50. The "single-shot" mag for my M14 was picked out of the metal scrap bin at the Det gratis because it had a busted lip (on the correct side!)...I still use it!

Roland Beaver’s reference to the old DCM price lists caused me to rummage through my files and look over some of the older DCM lists. For what it’s worth, if anyone is interested I have included some M1 info from some old lists. These years document the rise and fall of the M1’S as the NM Service rifle.
1956- NM M1 is listed as:
“Rifle, U.S. cal .30 M1 (Serviceable) - $98.00
No Spare parts listed. I believe that this was about the first sale of M1’s thru the DCM
1958-NM M1 still listed as above:
Spare parts now available. Barrels $8.07. The only Match parts are the 0.0595 & 0.0520 (non-hooded) apertures
1961.- NM M1 has now risen in price to $137 (I believe that this is about the time the M1 started being glass bedded and had the ½ minute windage sights)
Parts list included NM rear sight base and windage knob for ~$7.00, Barrel $17.00,
1962 NM M1 still $137
Parts list now included “Stock, routed $6.40”
1963 NM M1 still listed for $137.00
Parts list now included Hooded apertures, both sizes $3.80, Barrel (match grade) $17.00, stock routed $9.41, Front sight 0.062 $3.35.
1964 Jan NM M1 now $148.00 and Barrel (Match grade ) $17.00. In July barrel price increased to $21.95
1967 Only service grade M1 listed for $94.30
Very limited match parts. No barrels of any kind listed
It is interesting to note that at no time were “NM” grade Op Rods listed. Standard Op Rods were available but the price advance from $3.54 in 1958 to $8.40 by 1963.
I did not follow the market much after 1965. In 1965 the army teams that I associated with converted to the M-14. The local team ARMORER gave me a box full of M1 parts, and I bought 4 or 5 NM barrels from him for $20 each. (Wish I had them now) The parts included half a dozen Op Rods (NM), and a couple of NM trigger groups that he had pulled out of NM M1’s prior to turning them in.

These prices are from an undated pricelist. I believe it's from the 20's. It cautions that "This is not a price list for bargain hunters.".

1903 Springfield $33.22
Rifle model 1917 $35.40
1903 Springfield star gauged barrel $35.95
1903 Springfield "specially selected for the National Matches" $41.55
1903 Springfield as above with 1922 pistol grip stock $40.44
Springfield rifle caliber .45 $1.25
Springfield rifle caliber .45 new $1.50
Ross rifle caliber .303 $5.00
1898 Krag $6.00
Russian rifle cal 7.62 new $3.34
French military rifle cal. 8mm $10

Ammo
30-06 National Match 1922 1200/$55.61
30-06 1200/$21.60
.30 Krag 1200/$12.00
.303 British 1000/$8.00



January 15, 1937 pricelist:

1903 Springfield $41.36
1903 Springfield with "C" pistol grip stock $42.22
1903 Springfield National Match star gauged "C" stock $53.10
1917 Enfield $12.50 new $7.50 used



1948 price list:

1903 Springfield "serviceable" $30 "unserviceable" $15
1917 Enfield "unserviceable" $5 "supply of serviceable Enfields exhausted"
1903A3 Springfield used$51.85
IMR 4895 $33.75 for 150 lbs.
M1907 sling .78
M1 sling (webbing) .42
.30 M2 AP (aircraft grade)1500/$60.15
.45 ball 2000/$75.30


1922 prices from DCM letters to customer:

1896 Krag carbine $6.05 -sold out-
.30 Krag ammo 100/$1
1899 Krag carbine $5
1898 Krag rifle $6


April 1957 pricelist: included with paperwork for the purchase of a 1903A3. These are U.S. military firearms shipped from Agusta Arsenal.

Colt .32 auto pistol new $28.75 used $21.56
Colt Commando .38 revolver new $34.00 used $25.50
Winchester 1897 12 gauge Sporter new $28.00 used $2100
Winchester 1912 12 gauge Sporter new $34.50 used $25.88



Anybody want to borrow these to scan them and host them, so everybody can check them out? Does the Merc still post here?