M1 Garands, new imports?

[swiend]

I just wanna bump this thread up again...hoping for any more details....rumors...just make something up...I can't wait....feeling like a kid before x-mas...in June I hope.

[happydude]

It's Marstar, they don't do prompt dates. Not their fault, just saying.

[Warren]

Lend lease is very involved and I had a copy of the contract some years ago. It appears that the US has written off some the lend lease arms, and I suspect that the UK making the final payment of their war dept had something to do with it. I know where was a flurry of gun import restrictions about the time the final UK payment was made. The warehouses of arms in the UK (of all nations) could choke a horse. I've seen piles of 34's.42's. MP 38's,40's, 41's, Stens, Lanchesters, Beretta SMG's Scorpions, Lee Enfields piled from floor to ceiling for acres. One pile of 25,000 AK's, Vicker Berthiers and another pile of over 5,000 Vickers ...most BRAND NEW, along with tripods in the coffin. Enough to make a man weep, as they were all going to the deac artists and being cut up for side plate guns for the US market. Forgot the warehouse of BAR's in Belgium that was almost the size of 7 Supply Depot in Edmonton. (7 Supply is BIG !!!!!)
Many countries sell of their surplus items to collectors, after museums get first crack. I have done the paperwork for several museums in Canada for items that would "knock your socks off" and the prices are less than scrap metal. I'd give some prices, but probably would have a few dealers sending "Vinney" from Break a Leg Finance to visit me, if I did. The AK's however, were $25.00 US FOB source, and were new in the box.

[stoggie]

I did hear some more, apparently they are still in Europe, and are currently hung up crossing customs somewhere on the way to port, so they haven't even left Europe yet (that should narrow down the originating countries). Once they hit the ocean they should know from their supplier, and they expect 6 weeks to get accross and to get placed into the database. They are telling me to keep saving up my money though, because they expect them during August.

[swiend]

Thanks for the update, maybe by August, I'll ba able to buy a couple!

[Claven2]

Are they USGI or new made?

[stoggie]

I'm not sure if they're USGI, but they did tell me they are military surplus. I hope they're WWII US, because thats what I'm after.

[Claven2]

Well, one thing is for certain, if even 500 or so pieces come to Canada, Garand prices will plumet on the secondary market. Right now a handful of guys are paying premium prices driving up the market value, but new imports will satisfy all the short term demand.

The importers better not be planning to charge mare than about $400 or they'll be sitting on some of these rifles for quite some time IMHO.

We shall see. Reason I asked is that John had been hinting that he was going to have new Garands built for Marstar.

[Stevo]

Well, one thing is for certain, if even 500 or so pieces come to Canada, Garand prices will plumet on the secondary market. Right now a handful of guys are paying premium prices driving up the market value, but new imports will satisfy all the short term demand.

The importers better not be planning to charge mare than about $400 or they'll be sitting on some of these rifles for quite some time IMHO.

We shall see. Reason I asked is that John had been hinting that he was going to have new Garands built for Marstar.

IMO, if they're in VG or better condition, 500 would be sold out quickly at $500 retail. A lot of the examples selling in the $500-600 range right now aren't particularly nice.

Unless Norinco tools up, I can't imagine new build Garands coming in under $1k.

[Dimitri]

I can't imagine new build Garands coming in under $1k.

Well if a company tooled up and worked like Springfield Armoury did in World War 2 depending on what part of the War you want to talk about the rifles adjusted with inflation should be pretty cheap.

In 1945 they were costing 27$ to build a Garand thats just under 300$ today. Realistically it cost Springfield Armoury once it did its expansion in 1940 80$ per M1 rifle produced to cover the costs in one year. Thats 886.04$ today. So I'm sure 1,000$ per rifle can be done. Just need to find a bank willing to finance a loan of about 31,816,779.74$ to produce 1,200 rifles per day.

Dimitri