"Big Five!" most collectable M-1s

[Griff Murphey]

I'm not familiar with "Big Five" sporting goods stores. When I originally saw the recent post about "Big 5 Garands", I figured it was about the five most desirable M-1s to collect, sort of like big game hunters' terminology. Granted #1 would perhaps be the Gas Trap or even the Japanese Navy Grand copies, but I left those out because they are not available in collectable numbers. So, here are my nominees:

1). M-1 C or D sniper rifles
2). NM rifle, Type I or Type II
3). SA WW-II with SA GAW stock
4). Winchester
5). SA 6 million

What do you say?

Information

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[Snafu]

Gas Trap
SA 1million John Garands rifle
Win Ed order
USMC M1C Kollmorgen
Not sure of #5
Maybe JFKs?

[1-12 INF (M)]

To bring this in the more modest range of us non-millionaires, my big 5 would be - original or nice restorations (Not the reparked and restamped hump jobs, but 'correct' parts matched to finish and wear):

M1C
Pre-WWII SA
WRA
National Match
M1D

Next 5 would include WWII SA, IHC, HRA and Post-WWII SA...and a Breda.

[RCS]

It took many years to restore this gas trap (41xxx serial range) with correct non repro parts. I do not think this kind of restoration is possible today.

My favorite rifles are the 1940 and the Winchester 1941 rifles

[Bill Hollinger]

Gas trap ----- don't got!
Prewar SA --- got
Winchester -- got
IHC --------- don't got!
S/A GAW ---- got

I'm getting there!

[RCS]

Can not just say Winchesters, too many variations from the Education Order three digits, the 1941's , the 1.2 variations, the 2.4's and the Win-13's

photos: left is WRA 111xxx with WRA RS stock

right is WRA 128xxx with WRA WB stock

both rifles are without the anneal color

[M1Riflenut]

Only 5?
Thats a tough call and leaves many very desirable ones out,but.....

Original gas trap
Original pre war SA
Original pre war WRA
6.10 mil SA
6 mil HRA

The beginning and the end.
And no, I don't have any of these.
Original ones that is.....

(please please can I add 20 more?)

[Joe W]

It took many years to restore this gas trap (41xxx serial range) with correct non repro parts. I do not think this kind of restoration is possible today.

My favorite rifles are the 1940 and the Winchester 1941 rifles

Great looking gas trap.Congratulations on having the foresight to do the restoration when you did. I was collecting / shooting Garands at the time it would have been possible but to dumb to think ahead I guess.

My noinations, and of course it's just a personal choice, would be:

USMC M1C Sniper
Type 1 National Match
Type 2 National Match
Winchester
original SA 4.2 mil

No way can I stop at five.

IHC Arrowhead
6 mil SA and on and on and on

[1-12 INF (M)]

After I got one from each of the 4 makers, I started with the idea of a SA in each number range - 1m, 2m, etc. Seemed like a good idea at the time, but restoring these was getting pretty expensive.

Then, I found I just couldn't pass up a plugged receiver/'52 barrel combo. I was going to pull the plugs and mount an M1C bracket on it, but I think I'll save up and leave this SA-52 rifle as a example of a plugged receiver in the collection and save up for a good M1C.

[Milsurp Collector]

After I got one from each of the 4 makers...

Six makers. You forgot Beretta and Breda.