Korean Garands Update

[DaveN]

The ones I saw at the show were junk for $800. HRA's with a 10 muzzle, no lie I dropped my CMP muzzle gauge in and then shook it around after it bottomed out. I was considering a enfield 303 but when the M1 gauged junk I figured the Enfield was junk as well. the gauge fell all the way on that one too. I could put one of my Garands in the local paper for $875 and in 1 hour it would be sold. I've seen only one advertised in the 25+ years I have lived here and it went like that and was nothing special if you know what I mean(SG) at best. Minus $50 for the add. Sell 3 and take the money and buy four more CMP. You see it just goes to support this affliction.........GARAND-ITTIS

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[Brian Dick]

The State Department is not the problem. I've worked with them getting retransfer authorizations in the past and they are courteous and fairly quick about it. They had already issued the retransfer authorization for both the Garands and Carbines with the stipulation that they be imported over time and not all at once which would dessimate the market, (some common sense IMHO). BATFE put a stop to it. I was at the FAIR trade group, (import watchdog organization), meeting at SHOT in January and the Deputy Director of the BATFE told us that they were worried about the Carbines winding up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels. You know, evil magazine fed semi-automatic rifles. We all knew it was a load of crap since cartels most likely get real full-auto military weapons from Venezuela and Nicaragua but I suppose he had to tell us something. I hope Congress can straighten it all out but I won't hold my breath. To counter some of the comments here, (no offense), I had a 1944 M1 rifle that came in via Arlington Ordnance in the 1980's that was one of the most original rifles I've ever had. It was in nice shape too and the only thing it needed to make it complete and collector grade was a properly marked buttstock. There's always gold in these shipments so lets hope they do manage to come back home where they belong.

[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.