M1 Garand Blue Sky Imports....questions???

[bb1]

TRhat's too bad. I've never seen a Bluesky that didn't need its barrel replaced.

[Calif-Steve]

My club got 5-6(?) Blue Sky imports many years ago. We had to replace each and every barrel. I fully expect the same for the next batch of Korean imports.

[campperrykid]

The Garands seem to have been in rougher shape than the Carbines . Not a huge surprise given corrosive 30'06 ammo and the humid summers in the ROK. OTOH , both Blue Sky Carbines that I own have excellent tight bores , and shoot well.
The first Carbine had truly horrible oil-soaked , battered wood and had been re-parked in the US.
The second was apparently a ceremonial gun and was 99% like new from rebuild -- including a Trimble TN highwood stock , various blued parts etc , etc. Metal markings and corners were very crisp . I had no idea at the time , but the Carbine was ( in some ways ) comparable to some of the US white bag guns ( after they were cleaned-up) . When I heard "Blue Sky " , my tunnel vision kicked in and I just checked it mechanically as a shooter.
Had no clue about what it was till I got it home and started doing my homework.
We shall see about the spectrum of conditions in the 700 thousand (plus )
Carbines and Garands coming in the years ahead....

Whoops , 800 thousand (plus).
And ammo , tools, accessories , etc , etc....

[Ramboueille]

I want to know why someone can't re-barrel a Blue Sky myself. If I found one cheap with a bad barrel, I wouldn't worry about changing it. As long as I don't try to chisel a possible buyer by claiming the rifle is all original, I don't see a problem. Now, if 'blue shy' is stamped on the receiver, Federal law says you can remove NO METAL from any semi auto receiver.

Charlie,

Blue Sky barrels: Change 'em if you got 'em. Nobody cares, not even BATF.

[mdoerner]

(k) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to transport,
ship, or receive, in interstate or foreign commerce, any firearm
which has had the importer's or manufacturer's serial number
removed, obliterated, or altered or to possess or receive any
firearm which has had the importer's or manufacturer's serial
number removed, obliterated, or altered and has, at any time, been
shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

No problem here guys. It's saying importer or manufacturer's SERIAL NUMBER shall not be changed. The import stamp does not ADD or CHANGE the existing serial number of the gun. If you feel really bad about it, make sure the "Blue Sky" marking is highlighted in white lettering as you discard the barrel.....

Mike D

[bb1]

Thank you for that. I have a Blue Sky that I bought sight unseen. I ordered it through a local dealer. When it showed up the dealer was embarasssed. He offered to buy it back. It had to have Audie Murphy's. No other gun could have been beat so much. I steamed out the dents I could, sanded others and just left the worst ones. I was afraid to remove the bbl. I didn't want to be a test case and have the BATF make a project out of me.
Maybe i'll make a donation to Obama and then go for it.

[mack]

Do what you want with the rifle, but remember that NO rifle should have a serial number obliterated or altered in any way. Barrels DO NOT count. Change 'em all day long. Simple, end of statement. NO one will ever know or care.

Apparently, some folks here can't recognize "tongue in cheek" comments. And, apparently, some of those making those comments can't resist making them, even at the expense of the truth and accuracy.

[Johnny Peppers]

The local gun shop bought about 20 of the Blue Sky M1 Rifles when they were imported. To a rifle they were all virtually worn out. The bullet test revealed that some would take the bullet and part of the case, while a few would only go up to the cartridge case. It was a daily operation to put the op-rods back in their track, as most would jump out when pulled back by customers.
The M1 Carbine barrels must have been much softer, as was previously posted, some of the barrels were "egged" by the stamping process.

[ltcboy]

The local gun shop bought about 20 of the Blue Sky M1 Rifles when they were imported. To a rifle they were all virtually worn out. The bullet test revealed that some would take the bullet and part of the case, while a few would only go up to the cartridge case. It was a daily operation to put the op-rods back in their track, as most would jump out when pulled back by customers.
The M1 Carbine barrels must have been much softer, as was previously posted, some of the barrels were "egged" by the stamping process.

A friend of mine has/had a Blue SKy Garand. The barrel was literally guaging at an "8" on the Stoneaxe. It had that hideous stamping on the side of the muzzle. He had an IHC oprod on it, so we sold that and, at the time, were able to buy a decent USGI barrel & post war oprod. The "new" barrel was at a 3 for both MW & TE. So, he was a happy camper when he got his rifle back.

Do I think the ATF will come after us for replacing a used, worn out barrel with a Blue Sky mark on it. I doubt it. This was over 4 years ago.

MIke

[Calif-Steve]

Sure odd how rumors get started. Swap out the barrel, no problem. Swap out the serial number, big problem.