GCA - what's going on?

[bearbadge]

I find this very interesting. Why does the GCA get special privilege to pick over CMP rifles? What do other shooting organizations need to do in order to get this privilege?

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[BadBob]

I find this very interesting. Why does the GCA get special privilege to pick over CMP rifles? What do other shooting organizations need to do in order to get this privilege?

Well, you could start by whining. Complain about how unfair everything is. Come up with some pathetic, lazy excuse about how the GCA members "always!" get special treatment. Ah, and it wouldn't do any harm to actually join the GCA. That way you TOO could all of the special things that we get. Must sign off now. Got a M1C that I cherry picked last weekend at the CMP South Store [$500] that I need to look at.
Point being that the same lazy slugs complain every time the GCA meets, no matter where it meets, and those slugs aren't even members. Pathetic sods that need to get a life.

[Danny]

Well, you could start by whining. Complain about how unfair everything is. Come up with some pathetic, lazy excuse about how the GCA members "always!" get special treatment. Ah, and it wouldn't do any harm to actually join the GCA. That way you TOO could all of the special things that we get. Must sign off now. Got a M1C that I cherry picked last weekend at the CMP South Store [$500] that I need to look at.
Point being that the same lazy slugs complain every time the GCA meets, no matter where it meets, and those slugs aren't even members. Pathetic sods that need to get a life.

I don't think that he's concerned with rifles (though I could be wrong) that are available to the general public through the online sales program or through any of the stores run by the CMP.

Danny

[bearbadge]

Well, you could start by whining. Complain about how unfair everything is. Come up with some pathetic, lazy excuse about how the GCA members "always!" get special treatment. Ah, and it wouldn't do any harm to actually join the GCA. That way you TOO could all of the special things that we get. Must sign off now. Got a M1C that I cherry picked last weekend at the CMP South Store [$500] that I need to look at.
Point being that the same lazy slugs complain every time the GCA meets, no matter where it meets, and those slugs aren't even members. Pathetic sods that need to get a life.

I am a member of the GCA and have been for 5 years. Thanks for your help.

[Joe W]

I find this very interesting. Why does the GCA get special privilege to pick over CMP rifles? What do other shooting organizations need to do in order to get this privilege?

I will try and answer your question staying within the guidelines set by BADGER.

GCA members are not getting any " special privilege". They will be opening crates and sorting rifles. If they come across a rifle they would like to buy they would first have to have CMP grade the rifle. If it a rifle that would normally go to auction, that is where that rifle will go. If it is determined to be a field, rack or service grade, then it MAY (note MAY) be able to be purchased. I don't even know for sure that we will have that opportunity, I have only heard of that possability through the "grapevine". If so, what's the big deal, more than enough to go around. You could take a trip to either the North or South store and pick out a rifle.

As far as "what do other shooting organizations need in order to get this privilege", well the simple answer would be "ASK". I don't know of any other "shooting organization" like the GCA which is devoted solely to the study and collection of the U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1. I do know of many other shooting organizations that most likly would have very little interest in having there National Convention at CMP Headquarters, Anniston Al. I am pretty sure if another National organization such as the N.R.A. or The Carbine Collectors Asso. wished to hold a convention at CMP they would be accommodated, but we will not know unless they ask.

I have only decide to write this as your questions had not been answered.

These are my last comments on this subject. Joe

[bearbadge]

I will try and answer your question staying within the guidelines set by BADGER.

GCA members are not getting any " special privilege". They will be opening crates and sorting rifles. If they come across a rifle they would like to buy they would first have to have CMP grade the rifle. If it a rifle that would normally go to auction, that is where that rifle will go. If it is determined to be a field, rack or service grade, then it MAY (note MAY) be able to be purchased. I don't even know for sure that we will have that opportunity, I have only heard of that possability through the "grapevine". If so, what's the big deal, more than enough to go around. You could take a trip to either the North or South store and pick out a rifle.

As far as "what do other shooting organizations need in order to get this privilege", well the simple answer would be "ASK". I don't know of any other "shooting organization" like the GCA which is devoted solely to the study and collection of the U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M1. I do know of many other shooting organizations that most likly would have very little interest in having there National Convention at CMP Headquarters, Anniston Al. I am pretty sure if another National organization such as the N.R.A. or The Carbine Collectors Asso. wished to hold a convention at CMP they would be accommodated, but we will not know unless they ask.

I have only decide to write this as your questions had not been answered.

These are my last comments on this subject. Joe

Pretty good answer. My concern is how my club is perceived. As a GCA member I do not want the perception that our club is cherry picking rifles. I believe that the perception is both valid and worth addressing. Perhaps the NRA isn't doing the same because they do not want to wear this perception? If I were a board member of the GCA I'd run very far from the idea that a small group of members were getting a pick at extra special rifles from the CMP. If I were Orest Michaels I'd run just as far from granting clubs special impromptu crate opening events. When you own the keys to the kingdom you need to go above and beyond any appearance of special favors. This type of thing does the opposite and I find it to be in poor judgment.

[Ramboueille]

Pretty good answer. My concern is how my club is perceived. As a GCA member I do not want the perception that our club is cherry picking rifles. I believe that the perception is both valid and worth addressing. Perhaps the NRA isn't doing the same because they do not want to wear this perception? If I were a board member of the GCA I'd run very far from the idea that a small group of members were getting a pick at extra special rifles from the CMP. If I were Orest Michaels I'd run just as far from granting clubs special impromptu crate opening events. When you own the keys to the kingdom you need to go above and beyond any appearance of special favors. This type of thing does the opposite and I find it to be in poor judgment.

Bearbadge,

For your information, we were invited, no one asked and all the activities were offered, no one asked for anything.

Orest Michaels, as Chief Operating Officer of the CMP, obviously wanted to show off his facilities and organization personally which is First Class along with a staff that is second to none. It would have been an insult to decline the invitation regardless of anyone's perception.

If you were going to the convention your tone would be much different.

[mack]

I believe what was asked concerned the wisdom of letting groups go through cases of rifles and select ones for purchase. That smacks of favoritism and that is the one thing that no organization open to the public wants to stand accused of.

I think Orest Michaels is an outstanding administrator of the CMP, but such a convention perhaps never should have been held. The "cherrypicking" that was so rampant some years back is well known. I have talked with some folks there at the time and I saw the cherrypicking wars on the old Jouster forum. Those were brutal and long lasting affairs. People are now bitter enemies as a result and much of the information needed by the less experienced collectors was never discussed as informed posters left the site rather than be accused of various misdeeds. There was even a time when some posters attempted to only discuss collector information by PM's so the general public couldn't access the details of fakes, markings and details. Duff's informational texts help immensely, but there is new information almost daily. Still, there are some who want to keep these new bits to themselves. You can see this if you look around.

The only real way to have this convention is to restrict the sale of these rifles and that's exactly what the CMP doesn't want to do. These rifles need to be moved along into private hands, but some perceptions will be the result of having a convention that allows some to have access while denying it to others.

[bearbadge]

I believe what was asked concerned the wisdom of letting groups go through cases of rifles and select ones for purchase. That smacks of favoritism and that is the one thing that no organization open to the public wants to stand accused of.

I think Orest Michaels is an outstanding administrator of the CMP, but such a convention perhaps never should have been held. The "cherrypicking" that was so rampant some years back is well known. I have talked with some folks there at the time and I saw the cherrypicking wars on the old Jouster forum. Those were brutal and long lasting affairs. People are now bitter enemies as a result and much of the information needed by the less experienced collectors was never discussed as informed posters left the site rather than be accused of various misdeeds. There was even a time when some posters attempted to only discuss collector information by PM's so the general public couldn't access the details of fakes, markings and details. Duff's informational texts help immensely, but there is new information almost daily. Still, there are some who want to keep these new bits to themselves. You can see this if you look around.

The only real way to have this convention is to restrict the sale of these rifles and that's exactly what the CMP doesn't want to do. These rifles need to be moved along into private hands, but some perceptions will be the result of having a convention that allows some to have access while denying it to others.

Exactly. Orest has said repeatedly that he does not collect M1 Garands or any of the rifles the CMP sells, smart. The CMP extends an invitation to the GCA for a special Crate opening and the GCA accepts? No sirs, the GCA should have been lilly white and declined. Image accounts for too much.