Match Garand Question

[GeorgeG]

I'm considering the purchase of a match conditioned .308 M1 Garand. It's built on a Springfield 2.8mm receiver and has a barrel marked SA11686514 3 66 MD61 P, with 7.62 MM low and to the left. It has the NM/2A rear sight with hooded aperture, a .062 NM front sight and a NM marked op-rod. It's in an unmarked glass bedded USGI walnut stock and has the rear handguard glassed to the ferrule. The front handguard seems to be screwed to the ferrule. Overall workmanship is very good. The shop wants $1400 for it, which I thought was a little steep for a used civilian conversion, but very reasonable for something that's been done by a US arsenal. Is there any way to verify the origin of this rifle? Thanks for any advice.

Information

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[Bob Seijas]

It has the characteristics of a "team rifle" -- built to NM specs, but not by SA. Very hard to verify GI origin versus one recently built by any of the armorers who built them while they served. That's why they don't command the same prices that collectors pay for SA NM rifles in 30-06. With those guns the value is how well they shoot. Maybe you should try it first.

[GeorgeG]

Thanks for the information Bob. Jim Adell checked the serial number against his lists of Navy rifles, and it isn't one of those. There was nothing obvious indicating Air Force origin, so I guess I'll have to assume that it was done commercially.
George

[Rick Cummelin]

It may have been "converted" by a commercial firm, or it may simply be something that was converted by Bubba in his basement. 7.62 NATO barrels were readily available as a surplus item back in the day, and lots of folks made the mods you described to their rifles as they were looking for better shooters.

On many occasions, I have looked at M1s offered for sale at gun shows and discovered home-done glass bedding in what would have been a collectible rifle. I always passed on these because the collector value had been seriously diminished if not destroyed.

Without some provenance/documentation, that rifle is worth the sum of its parts, which is a LOT less than $1400 IMHO--more in the $850-950 range. OTOH, it might be a great shooter, but don't forget that 7.62/.308 ammo costs more than .30-06 the last time I looked.

[coalgeo]

I went to the shop with George this evening and inside and high in the barrel channel is the following stamping - full serial number followed 10-90 AEB/PH. Any help for anyone out there?

[gulliver62]

Sorry, I don't have anything that shows those numbers.
If you are looking for history, there doesn't seem to be enough documentation to justify. If you are looking for a great shooter, you could do better with less money.
CMG SG - $650ish
Commercial Douglass Match .308 barrel $300 or probably $200 if you go with something lesser.
SA NM sights new are about $125 (I bought a set at Perry last year for that, you would have to drill for the ball and detent or not use it). That GI original NM-2A base is an expensive one to get. Commercial is cheaper and just as functional.
A really nice stock is $300 or you can get CMP wood or the equivalent for $150.
Just my $0.02
I have one 30-06 and one .308 matching set of match guns that started life as CMP H&R recievers several years ago. I will try and post some pics.