Restoring beater M1s

[Remo]

Gents,
Want to throw a pitch to James River Armory. I had a pair of rack grade mix -master born in 1943 Winchesters done up for my Grandsons to start shooting. I sent James River the metal only, some odds and ends of Winchester parts correct for the receiver.
The result was absolutely great, new black walnut stocks, car-touched to match the receiver, correct WWII gray finish, (these had the nearly purple Greek bluing) correctly timed and headspaced. I was a little leery but I gave them a shot, my boys could not be happier. So if you have a beater you want to make a shooter I recommend James River. If you send some collectable rare item he will call you/tell you the rifle should not be touched- great guy. They come back in a hard case, and ready for the range. Grandson #1 was grouping at 100yds right out of the case. Price depends on what you want I got the basics and am very satisfied.

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[alex124485]

NICE!!! any pics. JRA seems like a good company to deal with. i have delt with tim shuflin and he is IMO the best hands down

[Remo]

I will try and upload some- I had a problem loading pics. I will tell you both turned out really nice and look and shoot great.

[Remo]

Here is the forum link to the James River Garands enjoy REMO
Remo’s Military Surplus Collectors Forums Photo Gallery

[Bob Seijas]

"new black walnut stocks, cartouched to match the receiver" What's that all about?

[browningautorifle]

I'd say it's just about what you think Bob...here we go again!

[Remo]

Gents,
Hold your jets-these are not made to fool collectors or to sell to purist M1 Garand fans. The stocks are done to replicate what time period the rifles are from, be safe and to look good and they have the James River stamp also clearly burned onto the stocks so there is no doubt they are refurbs and not intended to pass as real. Any Garand man or woman can take a 20 second look and tell they are repro. I had these two rifles with bad stocks, one with a bad barrel that my grandsons wanted to start shooting, they are and never will be museum pieces, they were mixmasters they are to use, a lot, they are to build memories. I looked at Boyds, CMP, and this forum for stocks, and several gunsmiths, for the money I think James River was the best bet. The guns were restored to a safe, shootable status that will allow participation in John C. Garand matches. I was trying to pass that info along to any forum member in the same boat. I love the purist that wants to snidely critique without the story. I am trying to keep a sport alive and pass down to the next generation and you two seem to be worrying about somebody selling repros as the real deal, crooks will fake anything as we all know and have seen. I think you know as we die off a lot of what we know will go with us and it is critical to pass on the history, the reason we love these old rifles, and to keep alive the people who died using them to preserve our way of life and try to preserve that history as best we can through our family and friends . I thought that was what this forum was all about. I thought we were better than that - you tell me.
Remo

[Joe W]

It is good to hear that James River does stamp there stocks in a way that the cartouches are identified as fakes. Most stocks that have fake cartouches are not so marked. It is not only the "purist", but also most average collectors that have a problem with this. Reason being, it is not just fake cartouches but also the many other M1 rifle parts that are now being faked, and the main reason is to deceive. It is starting to really effect the collecting hobby in that many are afraid to purchase a "collectable" rifle, stock or parts without first having a true expert pass judgement and this is not always possible. Most find out they bought a rifle with fake stock or parts when it is to late. I am in need of a nice SA/GHS stock. Years ago I would have felt fairly safe buying the stock as, even though some fakes may have been around, not many were and the cost was no where like it is today. Today a nice SA/GHS stock would cost about $ 600.00 or more and a large number of them would turn out to be fake. Some I would be able to identify as a fake but many I could not. It just takes alot out of the hobby and makes it alot less enjoyable.

[Bob Seijas]

"the main reason is to deceive"

That's the total concern, as Joe says, not any purist elitism. MANY new collectors get turned off the hobby when they are rooked out of hundreds of dollars by a faker. I'm happy to hear that your outfit brands their stocks, that's a good thing. Even repros that are so advertised become "original" after a couple of ownership changes. I think we all owe it to the fraternity to try to protect the new guys just getting into Garands, they are the future.

[mannparks]

It is good to hear that James River does stamp there stocks in a way that the cartouches are identified as fakes. Most stocks that have fake cartouches are not so marked. It is not only the "purist", but also most average collectors that have a problem with this. Reason being, it is not just fake cartouches but also the many other M1 rifle parts that are now being faked, and the main reason is to deceive. It is starting to really effect the collecting hobby in that many are afraid to purchase a "collectable" rifle, stock or parts without first having a true expert pass judgement and this is not always possible. Most find out they bought a rifle with fake stock or parts when it is to late. I am in need of a nice SA/GHS stock. Years ago I would have felt fairly safe buying the stock as, even though some fakes may have been around, not many were and the cost was no where like it is today. Today a nice SA/GHS stock would cost about $ 600.00 or more and a large number of them would turn out to be fake. Some I would be able to identify as a fake but many I could not. It just takes alot out of the hobby and makes it alot less enjoyable.

joe, and you also bob i agree .
as i e-mailed you bob about a early winchester m1 stock ,is a jungle out there .---charles