Pair of M1 Garand National Match - Unfired

[msup13]

Hello. New to the forum. A friend of mine who isn't a gun guy recently inherited some items from his father who was a serious collector of WWII firearms. Among those are what appears to be a couple of unfired National Match rifles. In doing some research the components that make up the rifles look to make them Type 2 configurations but there are some differences that stand out on the one rifle from the norms I have read about that make up a Type 2. So I am not certain if it is an intermediate version between the Type 1 and Type 2 or if it was being built as an NM rifle from a standard service M1.

My friend's father expressed that he was the original owner of the rifles and that they are all original as purchased through the DCI via the NRA. Unfortunately some of his meticulously kept records were mistakenly shredded recently but the original bill of sale for one of the rifles purchased through the DCI program is still available. It does not state anywhere on it, though, the configuration the rifle was originally sent in. It only lists the serial number. I am aware of the records check service through the CMP and will be going that route soon to affirm the original configuration sold for both of the rifles to hopefully add a degree of certainty that they are indeed National Match rifles.

Sorry for the lengthy intro, but that leads me to my inquiries:

1) What current market value would the rifles hold if they indeed end up being immaculate condition, unfired, National Match Type 2 rifles?

2) Please help in determining the configuration for the one rifle that does not have all telltale signs of a Type 2.


Information and markings for the rifles:

# 609xxxx (purchased late 1964 original bill of sale from Erie Army Depot)
Barrel Date: 12/62
Barrel: "NM" left side
Op Rod: "NM" on handle
NM Match Rear Sight: "NM/2A" on base wing
Front Sight (more aggressive bend to the wings): "NM062"
Stock: "Eagle/Stars" "Circled P"

Stock is glass bedded with the last four of the serial number written in white inside. The action has last four of the serial written in white on the underside of the trigger guard plate.


# 541xxxx
Barrel Date: 10/54
Barrel: "NM" left side
Op Rod: "NM"
STD M1 Rear Sight: "NM"
Front Sight (less aggressive bend to the wings): "NM062"
Stock: "Eagle/Stars" "Circled P"

Stock looks to be glass bedded with the last four of the serial number written in white inside. The last four of the serial cannot be found written on the trigger assembly.


I can take and post pictures of any needed areas of interest later today when I have eyes on the rifles again. Please let me know which rifle you would like to see and specific target area for the photo.

Thank you in advance for any assistance given!

Information

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[rcathey]

A couple type 2s sold at Rock Island last December for about $3,900.
However, a premier auction company selling something is not like you or I selling something.

A more accurate representation would be GunBroker. Looking at completed auctions there, I see a couple that have been relisted numerous times and are not selling at $3,000 and $3,500.
I see some type 1s that went for around $2k but that's about all I can gather.
If I had one to sell, I'd list it Buy-It-Now at $3,000. With the paperwork, it might move at that price. If after a month or so I had no interest, I'd start it as an auction at $2,500.

So, adding all that together, if he's looking to sell, I'd suggest consigning to Rock Island. Consignment fees are high at around 25%. But if it sells at $3,500, he'd still walk away with $2,625.

This advice is worth what you paid but I sell about 10 guns a month (I'm an FFL) and this is how I'd tackle it.

Welcome to the forum!!

[msup13]

rcathey:

Thank you for the quick reply and insight. I was seeing the same returns through searches of RIAC and Gunbroker. It appears that the market on Garands has gone somewhat soft over the last couple years. My friend was approached by individuals who were aware of his father's collection and looking to purchase one or both of the rifles for their own. He is in no immediate hurry to move them, though.

It sounds like you have been buying and selling Garands in the market for quite some time now. Historically speaking, do you see this downturn in the market more as a correction of recent inflated values back to actual market value or a natural part of the ebb and flow where demand/supply changes may raise their prices again to a point they've met in the past?

Would one or the other of the rifles have a greater value over the other (if they both come back as being original NM rifles) ?

Thank you!

[rcathey]

It sounds like you have been buying and selling Garands in the market for quite some time now.

Unfortunately, I'm by no means an expert!
I make my decisions, financially, based on research like I laid out above.
Generally speaking, I do see today's prices as a bit lower than a few years ago. Based solely on years-old auction results compared to recent results.

I suspect this has more to do with a dwindling base of buyers than anything else. As unfortunate as it is, folks like your friends father are headed to the big gun store in the sky.
I tend to be the youngest guy at the auction house by 10 or 15 years with a large gap in the middle and a big concentration of the post-70 crowd.

[msup13]

I suspect this has more to do with a dwindling base of buyers than anything else.

Thank you again for the insight. Everything you put forth is sensible.