SA 12-41 Rebuild question

[TheLongshot00]

Gentleman, I started collecting Garands about a year ago when I purchased a 12-41 SA reciever (connected to a 51 Barrel) at a gun show. Im up to 4 rifles now and counting. I have built the 41 up piece by piece to be SN correct and have reached the point where Im short just a few things, the infamous Flush-nut sights assembly (almost impossible to find) and the SA/GHS stock (Which I just havn't worked up the nerve to pay that much for). Just today I recieved the correct barrel which I recently bought online, the throat mesures a 7 (not great) and the muzzle fails the bullet test. Here is the question, which is more important for collectors if I sold it one day? The accuracy of the barrel (as far as shooting)? or having the correct matching barrel for the rifles reciever? Thanks for your answers in advance.

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[browningautorifle]

There are more here I think that would want all period correct parts than a shiny barrel. I personally have a 8-41 LL with all correct and all original parts. Flush nut, round firing pin and all. I MUST have a mint barrel or I'm not interested.

[Joe W]

[QUOTE=TheLongshot00;. Here is the question, which is more important for collectors if I sold it one day? The accuracy of the barrel (as far as shooting)? or having the correct matching barrel for the rifles reciever? Thanks for your answers in advance.[/QUOTE]

A collector would be more interested in having the correct barrel. But the barrel should match the rest of the rifle in regards to wear. You wouldn't want a mint barrel on a rifle that had quite a bit of wear nor would you want a barrel, such as you describe, on a rifle that, otherwise, shows little wear.

[latigo 1]

In my experience most shooters are more interested in an accurate rifle with a perfect barrel than in one that is early, or all correct. An all correct 1941 rifle would probably have more appeal to a collector, who would most likely prefer correct worn parts rather than incorrect parts in perfect condition. A '41 barrel in mint condition might come along someday, but maybe not, so if you want to finish your restoration, you could install the worn barrel now and keep looking for a better one to put on later. Most people I know already have thier favorite accurate rifle, and would only buy an early correct rifle because it is what it is, an early correct rifle.

[Bob Seijas]

I never cared about the bore on a collector rifle. I have one with a 6-40 that is a stove pipe, it's just not my shooter.