Garand Original vs. Mod at Will Continuum

[Bob Womack]

What an interesting and bewildering are the many options available to the new Garand owner. As a newbie, I'm beginning to see a continuum represented various courses I could take with my rifle. So far, here's what I've figured out:

THE GARAND OWNERSHIP CONTINUUM

-------------|----------------|--------------------|----------------|------------|-----------|-----------------------------
Condition-|-Original-----|-Near-Original-|-Mixmaster-|-Shooter-|-Beater-|-Match
-------------|----------------|--------------------|----------------|------------|-----------|-----------------------------
Stock ------|-Don't Touch-|-Don't Touch-----|-Refinish?----|-Optional-|-Replace-|-Replace
-------------|----------------|--------------------|----------------|------------|-----------|-----------------------------
Metals-----|-Don't-Touch-|-Don't Touch------|-Optional----|-Repark---|-Rebuild-|-Replace as needed
-------------|----------------|--------------------|----------------|------------|-----------|-----------------------------
Add Parts--|-NO!!!---------|-A Few------------|-As needed--|-Yes-------|-Please--|-Liberally
-------------|----------------|--------------------|----------------|------------|-----------|-----------------------------
Shoot???--|-NO!-----------|-Optional---------|-Yes-----------|-Yes------|-Repair?--|-Match and practice only

Of course, then there is the question of the age of the rifle, with the continuum being ocupied on the left by early 1930s and spanning to the 1950s on the mid-right. Rifles on the far-right, in the match column, can come from just about any era except the early era of Winchester production when there were dimensional issues.

The key is figuring out where your rifle fits on the continuum, no? That's not so easy. It is a combination of originality, condition, serial, and owner's intent. An obsessive/compulsive might worry about the periodicity of every part on a commercial re-patriot such as a Blue Sky. A fun-only type might rebarrel, restock, repark, and mix-master-ize a five-digit Garand and break hearts throughout the community.

Frankly, from what Ive seen, the majority of us live somewhere in the middle-to-middle-right of my continuum. There, we get many opinions, possibly too many: Some say the patina is where the real character lies in these rifles. Don't touch all that "mojo" in the stock. Some say refin and steam out the nicks. Others say, "Life is too short to shoot an ugly rifle." Repark if you want. Others say enjoy your rifle. Me, I'm in it both for the connection to history and because I simply like the looks of the rifle. I look at the pictures of the guys in the 1940s as they we issued their rifles for war, and those rifles are all new. But the rifles have been through years worth of life in the interim and have become something else from what they were at first issue.

I'm having to kind of create my own little road to walk in this case. Perhaps that's half the fun? So I'm thinking I'll largely be keeping my field-grade rifle as-is or at least keep anything I change out. The metal is in great shape with a little wear from use. Oh, the stock and hand guards are pretty beat so I'm going to replace them and then see what I can accomplish on the originals. I've found a period sling (web) but may go with a leather one because they appear more comfortable for shooting and look like they don't encourage buckle rash on the stock. I'll pick up period tools and accessories. But the longer I know the rifle, the more I like it as-is.

Bob

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[Ben Hartley]

Bob...

Finally, some real guidance! Sure, sure, many won't agree with it, but it's at the very least a place to start. Um... can we now start rating our Garands on the "Womack Scale?"

Ben Hartley

[0311Shooter]

I just don't get it. You get a Winchester Garand that you know is 55-65 years old and you know it hasn't been sitting in a vault since being Lunch-boxed out of the Winchester Armory. Sure it looks like it came off the line yesterday, not a speck on the stock, the parts "all match" in color. Well, HELL, I bet it's NEVER BEEN SHOT.

So what do you do? Oh, you just discovered that one tiny little part is not a Winchester, but an HRA. Oh well, it probably got snuck into the parts bin somehow and surely it's the CORRECT PART, even though it was made 10 years later. Never mind, I KNOW it's an all correct Garand and I better not SHOOT it.

In the words of David Huddleston in "Blazing Saddles", commenting on Gabby Johnson, "how can anyone argue with that Original Frontiere Gibberish?"

You can't, you shouldn't, you will never win.

Finally, I recall 10-12 years ago at a local Gun Show a guy had an 03 packed in grease and he claimed it was just as it came from the factory. He said it had never been fired and he wanted $900. I told him if I bought it the very first thing I would do is clean it up, and SHOOT IT. He said I was crazy, that it would lose all value. I said "then why buy the da*m thing"????

Just my not so humble opinion. Yes, I have one too.

[musketjon]

+1 on the shooting. Why own the toys if you're not going to play with them?
Jon

[Lancebear]

Hey Bob,

I knew nothing about M1's when I bought my first one. Got lucky with a purchase from a trusted dealer/friend. Of course I broke it down the same day and detailed it. Bought Scott Duff's book and did a data sheet. Yes, it is a rework but in my opinion, a collector rework. It has beautiful park and the wood has been around but matches well and has no cracks or major dinks.

Well... after reading the book and doing a data sheet I realized that I owned a 1947 rework with many great things. Small cut op-rod, arsenal matched receiver and barrel and over fifty percent correct parts for the period of manufacture, February 1943. Bore is good. Probably EMcF stock (Which would be correct). Wouldn't dare change a part. It's a beaut and a "Correct" 1947 rework. Shoots like a champ.

I have nothing against guys restoring firearms but I lik'em just the way they are if they are "Right". Don't buy anything that I won't shoot.

Sounds like you did ok. Keep it like it is unless something is broken. Then again, don't buy any rifle that doesn't shoot as is.

You sure don't write like an M1 rookie, enjoyed your post. Good luck!

By the way, my '43 is all SA.

Death to bad guys,

Lancebear