2 Garands?

[TXoperator]

I have purchased 2 rifles from the CMP and I am gonna trade one of them to a friend. They are both in about the same condition. One of them has a serial number of 6710xx, the other is a 57954xx. Which one of these weapons would be a better choice to keep. I know the earlier one has been rebarreled. The other one I dont know it has a 3 55 code on the barrel. Which one would be more desirable?

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[browningautorifle]

Personally I would keep the early number but that's just me. It all depends where you're going with this thing. If they're just for bangin then what difference does it make? Just look them over and you may find one has wood you like better or swomething like that. OR you could shoot them both and see which one groups better...

[onlycrimson]

Whichever one shoots better That's what I did when I bought two and then my cousin decided he wanted one.

[Kirk]

Assuming they are in similar condition & shoot well, I'd keep the 5.79M Garand. SA reached 5.79M in 1955 so it has it's original barrel. There are relatively few SA 5.79M Grands - simply because of where the assigned S/N range started - and therefore command a slight premium price. See http://web.archive.org/web/200311121.../assigned.html and M1 Rifle Serial Numbers

[DaveN]

If you can post some pictures it would make it easier to help(and more fun). If the 5.7 is all or mostly original or if the 1942 has lots of old WWII parts? Are the stocks walnut or cartuoched or brand new CMP? The WWII rebarreled,What year is the barrel. I have a 1942 Winchester with a 51 barrel and a newer than WWII stock that's old enough to have been in Korea? Maybe? Just some things to be consider.

[TXoperator]

Thank You

[gulliver62]

Post pics. I agree with 'onlycrimson' that the one that shoots better is more desirable. All being the same, my next point would be which sports better wood and the original finish rather than having been reparked (likely more black).
MW and TE numbers also help (which has lower numbers, likely a better shooter but that is not always the case).