How to do it right, 2x M1?

[BVZ24]

I'm starting my first from the ground up Garand assembly after tinkering with nearly correcting a 42 SA. I have wanted to assemble an M1 for years, so I'm not particularly concerned with paying more for parts than the complete rifle. I was originally starting with a 40 SA stripped receiver, 7th rd fixed, and had planned on using the take off parts from the 42 to make an M1D clone with a new Criterion 308 barrel and cast repro block. At some point I developed a conscience at the thought of using an early receiver for a shooter project with questionable scope mounting. I bought a 2nd receiver, a 44 SA, to make the heart of the project. I also won an auction for a poor bore genuine M1D 555 barrel that I do not have in my hands yet.

I was planning on sending both receivers to Shuff's soon to be reparkerized and barrels installed. The 40 appears to have danish park, and the 44 has a lighter park. Both are reapplied as both have park over pitting. The 44 is 281xxxx, which may put it at the cut off for manganese vs zinc.
Am I safe to assume that:
1. Redoing the park won't hurt value?
2. Shuff's manganese park is darker than the danish park?
3. Both rifles could have manganese park?

I also want opinions on the barrels. When it comes down to it, I want to do what's right for these receivers, and may change my plans accordingly.
My revised plan may be to:

Install the 308 barrel on the 40, with no M1D block. Assemble as a complete rifle with as many SA-2 parts as I can find, and wait for Schuster fake gas trap block. The end result will be a shooter that looks more like a gas trap.

Install the real M1D barrel on the 44. The seller was very insistent that the bore was questionable, and my result may not be particularly accurate. I could also remove the USGI block, and install on another 308 or 30-06 Criterion barrel, but I don't want to wreck a real 555 D barrel. I could also risk the fake block, but it seems those blocks combined with fake mounts do not zero. For immediate cost savings, I won't install any scope, but plan on finding a real mount.

What is the best thing to do with these receivers, and what would you do? Is there a better path that I haven't explored?

[Mark in Rochester]

Repark will not hurt value

do the park yourself - Parkerizing At Home - DIY Gunsmithing

what is a Schuster fake gas trap block - do you mean an adjustable gas plug if it is the plug it will in no way look like a gas trap rifle

[BVZ24]

This is what I had in mind. Not sure how frequently they do runs of them. M1 Garand Gas Trap Conversion - SCHUSTER MFG INC

[browningautorifle]

This is what I had in mind

That would have been neat to have when I was offered SA 153 and SA 154...

[BVZ24]

It seems like a good concept, installs on an unmodified port barrel, looks close enough for shooter grade.

153+154? The thought of even seeing consecutive rifles that low is amazing. Ever get them in the same place?

The M1D barrel arrived and is definitely toast. The muzzle swallows a bullet up to the case neck with room to spare. The bore reminds me of a Mosin. More or less knew I was getting it for the block, still don't want to remove it though.

[browningautorifle]

Ever get them in the same place?

I knew exactly where they were but even though one was affordable, the other was unworldly. Here in Canada you can't charge the same prices for M1s and mixmasters are just that. I didn't even bother.

[Mark in Rochester]

[BVZ24]

Did Schuster go out of business? I understand they don't do frequent runs of the gas cylinder, but it appears that no item on their website, even their flagship ported gas plug, is listed as "in stock".
I also tried the email address they provide in "about us" with no response, no phone number. Does anyone else make a ported cylinder like it?
I also put a WTB up a few days ago, if anyone is getting rid of one.

[ssgross]

Seem's Schuster doesn't keep a large inventory. I bought my first one a long time ago, went searching a couple years later for a spare and just like you all was gone. Then last year they were around....now they are gone again. Patients.

With regards to your first post, I would highly recommend having a copy of Kuhnhausen's book on hand when building an M1 from scratch.
https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Caliber-O.../dp/B0006F5XOW

For barrels - Criterion is out at the moment. I must have gotten the last 3 last year when I built a few rifles . If you want USGI, make some calls to the few shops that regularly work on milsurps. They can hand-select a good one from their stash. Member chuckndenver comes to mind. He has always had the parts I've needed and couldn't find elsewhere. He also does a fabulous manganese park job. You might even get lucky and find a NOS barrel that way. I haven't seen any NOS online for several years now.

[BVZ24]

I actually drove right up to criterion to pick up a 7.62 and a 30-06 barrel. The new D barrel isn't available at the time, but I have the poor USGI barrel with a block I could remove if I could figure out how.
I would rather take care of the park on both rifles right now and if I want to swap a barrel later I could. Criterion's finish doesn't look too far off from maganese.