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I've been looking for a nice M1 Garand, one that I can go out and shoot and still say it was in WWII. Is it OK to buy a restored one? I found this one on GB and was hoping to get an honest opinion of what it's worth and if it would be a good buy? Also wondering what the hand written numbers could be on the trigger housing, thanks
Springfield M1 Garand...30 cal. w/bayonet : Semi-auto at GunBroker.com
It sold for $1350. Given the mania these days, maybe that's an OK price, but it seems about $200-400 high to me.
Specific things I didn't like:
TWO electro-pencil marks indicating TWO arsenal rebuilds. These are on the receiver leg & look like scribbles. No photos of the trigger housing.
Cleaning kit was 1950s vintage--NOT WWII.
Modified Op Rod with relief cut.
Lots of obviously refinished parts, but it sure wasn't advertised as original, was it?
Repro sling? Never saw that stamp before.
Wrong scabbard for the bayonet. Scabbard is for a cut-down 16" bayonet.
Things I liked:
Looks like original GAW cartouche on the stock.
Interesting serial number.
Not enough detailed photos, but the parts I was able to see looked like possibly WWII-era parts. Hard to tell.
Maybe a decent barrel.
Did you buy it????
No, it didn't meet the reserve and it's been relisted. Thanks for the information, I need to learn alot more before I buy one!
A well used early Winchester (restoration) with a WRA WB no-trap stock was sold at the last Baltimore show for over $4000.00
That would likely be a safe queen and not a shooter:D
To me it is fine to buy a restored Garand. I believe I have only really seen one or 2 that were not restored to some degree no matter what anyone says.
You have a lot of options and I would think that you could get a nice example for $1100-$1400 and it would go up from there.
Depending on how much restoration you require, you could get an original barrel and receiver combo with a GI replacement stock. The marked WWII stocks add significantly to the price.
The other issue is that many of the original WWII barrels suffer from significant use and may or may not shoot as you would like.
The absolute best deals are those that went through a rebuild and got a new barrel, replaced any worn parts and probably a 1950's era stock. Can have a very nice one for around $800.
Still looking for one?
James River does a nice job.
Have you considered going to the CMP South Store in Anniston, AL? NC is not far away. The CMP has many WWII vintage Garands for sale in their "Field Grade" and perhaps "Service Grade" selections. M1 Garand Sales
The armorers behind the counter are very helpful; if you explain what you want, they will help you find it. The CMP rifles will not be in as good condition (unless you buy the better grades but those are not WWII rifles) but will be $495 or $595 and authentic. Plus you can buy surplus M2 Ball ammo & bayonets there as well.
Rick, The first electro-pencil marking "BA4" "9-65" is Anniston rebuild but the "scribles", if enlarged looks more like someone scratched their name on the receiver than a 2nd rebuild mark. As far as the scabbard, it would not bother me. The M3 scabbard was cut down to be used with the 10" bayonet. In service you would find either the M. 1905E1 or the M1 Bayonet in this scabbard. Ordnance made no distinction between the M7 scabbard or the converted M3 and either could be issued with either bayonet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Cummelin
Strange that the seller raised the "BUY it Now" on the second auction from $ 1675. to $ 1699. Makes me think his reserve is pretty high.
In my area, "slightly battered" with a good barrel goes for near $1k. I got mine for $800, but then I turned around and did close to $400 worth of work on it to bring it up to the level I wanted. At the same time, I was building a shooter, not a safe queen. Keep in mind what you want to make out of it while you are shopping.
That rifle was on my short list! WAS because I forgot to bookmark it and could never find it again. Glad I didn't, it sold for $1699...Quote:
Originally Posted by Darkwolfe
From the way things are sounding on this board and a couple of others, the CMP is kicking out some awesome rifles right now. Price tags are great, but the wait stinks. Take a road trip?
Definitely worth a road trip! Mapquest says it is 750 miles from Kansas City, MO to Anniston, AL & 742 miles to Port Clinton, OH so it is a a toss up as to distance. Being from Alabama, I am biased in favor of the South Store. Having been to both, I am still in favor of the South Store since it is right next door to the warehouse where they process all the goodies.
At either store, you get to hand pick your rifle. You will find friendly, helpful armorers there who will help you find what you want. Just tell them what you want & they will do their best to find it. Plus, there is ammo, bayonets & other stuff for sale. The only downside to going to a store is the sales tax. In Anniston, it is 9%; once you select a rifle, you can have it shipped to your home and not pay the tax.
I was there a couple of years ago doing research for the GCA Journal and stopped at the South Store to help a Marine vet pick out a rifle. The Correct Grades were priced at $995 and there was a row of about 35 of them. What bargains! We narrowed it down to three late SA finalists, and finally chose the one that had the nicest stock by a narrow margin. They all looked almost new with only a few VERY small dings in the wood.
I always wonder why people pay those high prices at gun shows when gems like that are available at CMP.
CMP also has beautiful Service Grade Specials, which if they had real good USGI wood, they would be sold as Collector Grades. They're $895. They are all HRA an SA. I've noticed before, some guys telling me they had problems getting their money out of rebuilt rifles, when they decided to sell.
Charlie
Why would you expect to? I don't know of anything you can buy, use for a while, and then expect to sell it for what you paid for it. It is not a loss, it is just the cost of the enjoyment you got out of it. My motorcycle is worth $2000 less than I paid for it, and that does not include the cost of the gas, tires, and maintenance. I don't care because I have derived so much pleasure from it. Same thing with most of the brand new guns I have bought. I don't understand why people think Garands should be different.Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie59
So will somebody tell me where the dealers get their nice Garands??? Do they drive over to the CMP South store with their wife and but the annual max for 2 persons?? Dealers wouldn't do that, would they? Guys if you are looking for a nice shooter, please drive to CMP South and ask for help. On my 3 trips there I have helped several guys pick out keepers. People are very friendly and will help you in a New York minute. Make the drive, skip Gunbroker, OK?
Every gun I've ever had, I've used and later sold at a price at which, I not only got my money back, I made a profit. However, I once bought a nice commercial Colt 1911A1(1950s' mfg.) from a shop and rebuilt it. I put target sights on it, a Bar-Sto stainless barrel, had the front of the frame stippled, and had work done to tighten the frame/slide fit. I have over a grand in it, and I doubt I could get over 6-700 bucks if I tried to sell it. The last time I saw one of these, in original condition, the guy had it priced at $1500.Quote:
Originally Posted by latigo 1
CMPs' North Store is the place to get a M1, if you live in that part of the country. The service there is excellent, and the customers usually will help you pick out nice rifles as well. I saw "the husband/wife" thingy once. CMP had just got a load of SA service grades in, the first ones they had in a while. They looked at each rifle for a few minutes, took them to the counter, and bought them. It's really something to see. The person at the counter later told me that lots of people get their limit in one trip. I was at a gun show recently, and everywhere I looked, I saw decent looking Garands, priced in the 7-8 hundred dollar range. A person can save a lot, buy buying from CMP.Quote:
Originally Posted by Calif-Steve