Korean Garands Update

[DaveN]

I'll second that , bring them home.

[Midmichigun]

Cali Steve and Brian hit the nail on the head.
I would consider most of these to be "fixer uppers" which translate well into the parts market. If the price is right, these would be great "entry level" guns for beginning collectors/ shooters. I also think that there will be some gold in the shipments.
What I hear from people, is the complaint that "good parts" which could be used to restore desirable rifles are used to fix these up instead...
LOL! And sorry, while having "big hopes", my budget is rather small... I would welcome some "cheap" M1's that I wouldn't be afraid to use for fear of loosing collector value! JMHO!

[threepdr]

I had two of the the late 1980s Korean import Garands. I only bought the ones with original finish and stayed away from the slate gray sand blasted ones.

The best one I purchased had its original Nov 1943 barrel and lockbar sights. I was in the Army at the time and in uniform. The store owner let me go through about 25 guns, switch parts and build the rifle as correctly as I could for Nov 1943. $217 out the door.

I only sold it after I started buying non-import marked CMP guns.

[Calif-Steve]

Update- I spoke with a dealer-buddy. He was at the Shot Show and agrees that ATF has stopped their import. He says State Dept. has agreed to a limited import license and forwarded it off to ATF. They will not allow importation as ATF has concluded they will all go to Mexico for use by Drug Lords. There is sits.

[Brian Dick]

There's allot of mythology flying around in the rumor mill as always. State Department has nothing to do with import licenses. They only issue the retransfer authorizations that are necessary for any U.S, military curio and relic firearm that's to be submitted on a BATFE Form 6 import permit application for approval. Their job is to check and see if the weapons were supplied as part of a MAP, (military assistance program), or purchased outright using national funds from an allied nation. I'm actually in the process of trying to import a collection from Canada for an heir in Illinois that has an original Carbine that was picked up by his deceased father, ( a Canadian Army officer), while in Holland during WWII. I'll keep you posted on whether it's successful. The retransfer will be here tomorrow and then I have to submit the Form 6 to BATF&E for approval. Fingers crossed. I was also told that the Garand import from Korea was still up in the air. The large Carbine import from Korea is null and void at this point. Apparently small imports weren't supposed to be affected by all of this but BATFE Imports Branch have been disapproving all Carbine imports, large and small. It's that evil clip fed semi-automatic weapon thing again. Time will tell.

[frankderrico]

BATF should know that .30 carbine ammo is in low supply, and expensive. I would think the drug lords would want to equip their armies with rifles that they can readily get ammo for. JMT.....Frank

[Calif-Steve]

Again second hand info here, but this is what I was told- ATF has not been denying import permit applications. They sit on them for a period of time and then return them via mail with no action taken. Not denied, not approved, nothing done with the import permit application. Very difficult to get anything done.

[Brian Dick]

No offense Steve to you or whoever is telling you that but it's simply not true. A Form 6 has five boxes and one has to be checked before it's returned. Download one from the ATF website and you'll see what I'm talking about. Action is always taken one way or the other. I got my retransfer authorization today from the Office of Regional Security and Arms Transfers, Bureau of Political and Military Affairs, U.S. Dept. of State for the "one off" Carbine in Canada. I'll be submitting the Form 6 by week's end along with the State Department letter and we'll see what happens. BATFE Imports Branch usually have my Form 6's back inside of a month. The examiners there are actually quite good and work well with me. Stay tuned.

[mack]

In light of recent events, I can't imagine the Washington political machine approving the import of any number of firearms. And, particularly military surplus firearms. The Carbines are a dead fish I think because of the ease of conversion to full auto. The BATF must surely be aware of this situation. The M1's are a little more likely but only marginally so, in the best of times. This isn't the best of times by any stretch of the imagination.

Figure at least two years to change the administration even if the conservatives can win. With the recent actions of the conservative state legislatures, this is by no means as likely as it was in November.

I will apologize in advance if this violates the "politics" restriction on this board, but this IS a political matter. Either we face that fact or quit discussing the re-importation of these old firearms. Again, my apologies.

[Calif-Steve]

Brian-all second hand stuff. I don't import so really have no first hand experience. I wish you well with the import.