Help with M1 Garand Prices please????

[Patrick Chadwick]

...Did you show it to Scott Duff, or are you fishing in the dark with him same as you are with us? ...

He's fishing. Note:
"I understand pictures helps but I have none at this time."
and
"I would post pictures if I had them but I don't."

from which one can deduce that ScottDuff hasn't seen anything, not even photos.

This thread is going nowhere without photos.

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[mdarnell19]

He's fishing. Note:
"I understand pictures helps but I have none at this time."
and
"I would post pictures if I had them but I don't."

from which one can deduce that ScottDuff hasn't seen anything, not even photos.

This thread is going nowhere without photos.

Man you guys are tough on a new guy to the forum. Do you believe I am trying to do anything other then what I stated? Let me make it abundantly clear, my intention is to purchase a original M1 Garand. In my search I contacted a gentleman that I have purchased from before and he mentioned the rifle in question. I have been studying what makes a rifle original and have been on conversation with Scott Duff, Bob Seijas and Rick borecky about this subject matter. However, these three men have admitted that they are not up to date on the current prices of M1 rifles. This is why I posted this thread, to see what those who are update have to say about values. I feel though that I have not received any help and that my character and intentions have been called into question. Perhaps I am mis-understanding peoples responses. Please correct me if I am wrong. I see many members here are from other countries and communication can be difficult and tricky.

If I receive pictures I will post them, I guarantee this. I sure do not want to make a uniformed purchase. I thought it possible to determine by price only if I should even pursue it further to get pictures. But perhaps this was a unrealistic goal.

[Patrick Chadwick]

Man you guys are tough on a new guy to the forum. Do you believe I am trying to do anything other then what I stated?

It's nothing to do with being a new guy. So please do not take it personally. "Tough" tends to have a negative flavor - I would prefer "rigorous". And the rigor is in the interest of your wallet!

You did the right thing in coming to this forum, as the collective eyeballs of forum users will often pick out aspects that a single person might overlook. But to make use of that collective experience, photos are of the essence.

And please beware of the word "original". The swapping out of parts to create what is presumed to be an original configuration for a particular date or number range is so easy that it is not possible to guarantee that a rifle is original (in the sense of being the same assembly of parts as left the factory) merely because the parts match the approved configuration. In this matter one must be rigorous - even tough - and inspect the rifle minutely for signs that parts have been retrofitted. This is often revealed by differences in wear, scratches, dirt etc. All aspects that require no particular knowledge of the type of rifle, but a sharp eye for material inconsistency.

So in the end, even with the best photos, no-one will be able to guarantee that the rifle is original. All we will be able to say is that (hopefully) nothing is visibly wrong. Considering that the price that the seller is looking for is 8 times the price of my 1943 original-enough-for-me Garand, you certainly should be rigorous in evaluation - of the rifle and the seller!

At the price level that you are considering, one should a) have the rifle examined by an acknowledged expert and b) obtain a written guarantee from the seller that he will take back the rifle and return the money if the rifle is subsequently proven not to be as he claims. Remember the old saying: verbal claims are not worth the paper they're witten on!

[mdarnell19]

It's nothing to do with being a new guy. So please do not take it personally. "Tough" tends to have a negative flavor - I would prefer "rigorous". And the rigor is in the interest of your wallet!

You did the right thing in coming to this forum, as the collective eyeballs of forum users will often pick out aspects that a single person might overlook. But to make use of that collective experience, photos are of the essence.

And please beware of the word "original". The swapping out of parts to create what is presumed to be an original configuration for a particular date or number range is so easy that it is not possible to guarantee that a rifle is original (in the sense of being the same assembly of parts as left the factory) merely because the parts match the approved configuration. In this matter one must be rigorous - even tough - and inspect the rifle minutely for signs that parts have been retrofitted. This is often revealed by differences in wear, scratches, dirt etc. All aspects that require no particular knowledge of the type of rifle, but a sharp eye for material inconsistency.

So in the end, even with the best photos, no-one will be able to guarantee that the rifle is original. All we will be able to say is that (hopefully) nothing is visibly wrong. Considering that the price that the seller is looking for is 8 times the price of my 1943 original-enough-for-me Garand, you certainly should be rigorous in evaluation - of the rifle and the seller!

At the price level that you are considering, one should a) have the rifle examined by an acknowledged expert and b) obtain a written guarantee from the seller that he will take back the rifle and return the money if the rifle is subsequently proven not to be as he claims. Remember the old saying: verbal claims are not worth the paper they're witten on!

Thank you Patrick, great advise! I understand the extreme difficulty of authenticating a rifle as "Original." Which is why I have not yet purchased anything. Good pictures will be a start and I would be willing to send the rifle to a expert to get a opinion. Scott Duff does not do this any more, do you know of anyone else who does? If so please let me know. I am trying to talk to as many knowledgeable individuals as I can before making a purchase. Again, the seller and I have not talked about a confirmed price yet, I will not be interested unless he is willing to come down considerably. I still haven't even seen any pictures so the rifle may be no good.

I really do appreciate the opinions on value but at the same time I believe many I have spoken to have been buying M1s since the 1990s and are not aware of the value these rifles now have or a outraged by what they sell for today. You said this rifle is priced 8 times what you paid for a 1943, that's $500. There are no M1s for sale for $500. Unless you are willing to sell your rifle for a profit? I'd give you $700 for it? See what I mean. Prices have changed. I don't want to get ripped off (which I understand anything near $4,000 is too high) but I understand that am not going to pay 1997 prices. This was why I posed this question here so that those who still go to the big gun shows and buy and sell these can tell me what they are seeing nice M1s sell for. I hope this makes sense. Thanks