CMP M1D - To leave sealed or not

[Fred G.]

Did you buy the rifle to shoot or to sell again? You will be missing out on a great opportunity to enjoy the rifle to is fullest if you are just a timid admirer from a distance. Take photo's of the thing, unwrap it and shoot it. The rifle isn't mint and unfired. It was cleaned, packaged and delivered to your address. What are you waiting for? What's wrong with you? Step up to the plate and swing the bat. Play ball or get off of the field and let somebody play. If you aren't going to shoot it, then sell it as it is and be done with it. It was not made to be a Safe Queen.

[jjjxlr8]

I was facing a similar dilemma not too long ago. I purchased a NIB M1D from a local collector and was having a tough time deciding on whether to open it up and enjoy it or preserve it in wraps for the next owner. Since I purchased it to enjoy, not to make money, I ended up taking mine to the range. Glad I did, but I suppose that first shot was an expensive one.

NIB M1D went for over $7800 a few years ago:
M1-D (Like NEW) SN-2743270 Auction

I suppose a gently used, well documented M1D from the DCM is still going to be worth a bit more than the sum of it's parts, and it will certainly be worth much more than what you paid for it back in 1996! Do what makes you happy - sell it and make some $$$ or shoot it and enjoy it. They really aren't that much fun sitting in the box. Take some photos so you can remember the way it was, though.

If you decide to shoot it, you may end up having to buy a new cheek pad. The leather on the one that came with my rifle was dried up and a few of the eyelets tore when trying to install it.

[rayg]

This is from CMP not the arsenal.

Aren't they shipped as packaged from the arsenal to CMP? That was my understanding. Ray

[Patrick Chadwick]

Once you open it, it is impossible to "return it to the same condition". An example such as this has a desirable quality that a few collectors will pay a premium for. if you're not going to shoot it, why would you destroy the inherit value of it? It's yours, do as you like. But know that once you break the seal, it's lost something that you can't get back.

This is not a true factory-wrapped "mint" rifle.
The "seal" is already broken. I.e. the package is not airtight.
All rifles must be maintained - repeat all. Even museum display objects must be checked from time to time. And even if it is in a vacuum-packed bag straight from the factory, the original grease will break down and penetrate the wood. And the wood will dry out and shrink. Takes more or less time according to storage conditions, but it happens..

So I suspect that some of those rifles uselessly (IMHO) preserved "in the wrap" will turn out to need serious maintenance before firing if they are ever removed from their wraps.

---------- Post added at 04:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:35 PM ----------

Play ball or get off of the field and let somebody play. If you aren't going to shoot it, then sell it as it is and be done with it. It was not made to be a Safe Queen.

Expresses my sentiments exactly

---------- Post added at 04:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:38 PM ----------

I opened one of the packets with the new leather cheek rest and guess what? It was dry rotten beyond repair and had to be replaced.

Only just read this, but it confirms what I already posted.

---------- Post added at 04:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:40 PM ----------

If it was me I'd shoot the snot out of it,,,but that's me..

A barrel full of snot could cause ringing. Clean it first

[browningautorifle]

OP no longer cares, he was last on here the 12th of May...now 9 June...

[Bob Seijas]

That's OK, we enjoy chatting among ourselves, he just got the conversation started

[browningautorifle]

That's right...

[SA M1Dom]

I never saw the need to keep something like this tucked away. I too would shoot the snot out of it.

[browningautorifle]

To be honest, I'd love to put one together from parts so I COULD shoot the sh*t out of it. Problem is, if you don't do everything just right, you won't hit a barn flying...I'd come close, but getting the mount parallel might be a trial for me.

[HD-Ghost]

As previously mentioned, the value in this gun is to remain in the original packing. This means $1000s to a Garand or sniper rifle collector. If you are very rich, take it out of the USGI packaging and go shoot it. If you are poor, sell it as is, buy a used M1d to shoot and a pickup to drive you and your used rifle to the range.