Who'd pay $3995 for THIS??

[Bodyman]

A double sized cutaway training rifle - not all that rare and I have had several opportunities to buy one over the years for under a grand (well under ... and just when did they start doing 24 day auctions - can you say 'fishing' ...).

I spoke with one fella that had all four (I think they are the Garand, Thompson, Carbine and BAR). The Garands also come with clips and ammo that are usually missing, and there is even a neat box (with a manual) that everything fits into when it is disassembled. The box also doubles as a display stand for use during instruction.

The problem is once you have one of these (or all four), what the heck do you do with it? The thing is absolutely HUGE.

http://cgi.ebay.com/M1-Garand-Cutawa...item3a5deabd96



Heck, I thought it was neat to just get an original WWII instructional chart (I still think it is neat, and much easier to store ...). These are about 3 feet by 4 feet and you will all recognize the various pages because the different pictures are sold in high quality reproductions now.



Personally, if I had 4 grand I think the gastrap kit would be about as slick as all getout - it looks like a very high quality reproduction (where many of the repopped gastrap parts are not all that special), and you could shoot it if you wanted. Very impressive accomplishment. Imagine what the guys at Perry would say if you showed up at the matches with a gastrap ...

Now for those of you that made it all the way thru this little tome, if you want a gastrap picture then here is a gastrap picture for you.



I got to study and disassemble two of them side by side and it was an advanced lesson in original gastraps that I doubt I will ever get to repeat. But 7 - when is the last time this many were all together at the same time! No idea who might own them or what serial numbers they might be, I just got it on email. I do not think there are even museums that can manage this many - maybe SANHS, but that is about it (that is a good question - how many does SANHS have in their collection?). Heck, I think even Bob would have to call a few friends over, ...

Man, the second one even has finish on the cylinder still ...

[Bill Hollinger]

Looks like all seven have the later flared sight guards. That is way cool seeing all those together.

[RCS]

Billy Pyle had a rifle match in Texas where only gas trap rifles were used, there was an article in The American Rifleman and in Pyle's newsletter "The Garand Stand Report". The only thing changed was the firing pin for the match.

[Bodyman]

50k entrance fee ...

Of course you get to keep it, but you still have to pony it up to play.

[RCS]

Gas trap serial number 34765 just sold on an auction for $8050.00. A vague description followed the few photos, example:" the barrel may or may not be original" also had a revision 6 op rod and a revision 12 bolt. It costs someone $8050.00 to find out if the stock and barrel are original !

[Bill Hollinger]

What auction site?

[cgroc09]

Rock Island Auction. The barrel was reproduction, not sure about the stock.

[P-07ShortLee]

So these are the only "shootable" repro's out there?

And I suppose only one type of front sight is available with this one.