M1 Garand Value

[papalondog]

I have been interested in purchasing a M1 Garand for a long time. Problem is, I know nothing about them. I want a very nice collector's grade that I could shoot occasionally, (knowing me, it would be once or twice in my lifetime) and yet continue to appreciate with time. I have come across a local one advertised as "H&R M-1 Garand serial number 4,788,XXX---originally purchased thru the CMP---this rifle is "collector grade" and is offered with the original shipping carton (from CMP), "

It has all the specs and papers with it. "throat erosion =1 muzzle wear =1.75" Whatever that means. The guy is asking $1800 for it. Is it worth it???????

 

[ditrina]

Papa.. you would do well to order yourself from the CMP..
CMP Sales

Not all that difficult...

 

[straightshooter1]

The lower the number, the better or less worn it is.

The H&R at $1800 may or may not be a decent price-depends on the originality of the parts (or, perhaps I should say, since most parts have been swapped around/replaced/or changed) whether they all are correct for an original H&R.

There are a number of books and websites where you can learn about this one or other Garands.

BUT-I think you are looking for a real nice one you can shoot. If so, CMP is not a bad place (buy a higher grade, not the cheapest one) and, once you learn a bit more about them, you can find decent ones fairly easily at shows/shops and online.

If you really want the collector's quality, be prepared to pay but, for goodness sake, learn all about them before forking out the dough or you will likely find you have paid too much.

Bob

 

[ladder13]

Collector Grade = all original parts, 95% or better

Correct Grade = period correct parts, 80% or better

BIG difference

 

[NFrameFred]

The title says M1A but your post says M1 Garand - two totally different animules, but I discern your interest is in the Garand.

Got my first one from the CMP and if I could find the gunny who pulled that one for shipment from Anniston Depot I'd buy him a case of his favorite beer. Of the 6 million plus made, less than 1/2 mil were Winchesters and that's what showed up in my box. Wouldn't trade it for a small farm.

For $1800 I would expect a really, REALLY nice specimen with mostly all original correct parts and those are few and far between. Sign up on the program, shoot the requisite matches and buy from the CMP. Then clean it up, replace the stock with some nice wood if necessary and enjoy the heck out of it. Most M1 Garands are arsenal rebuilds and have been refurbished at one time or another. Finding an untouched original is possible but you'll likely pay quite a bit more than even $1800 for such a specimen with proper provenance. And I personally believe any well maintained M1 is going to continue to appreciate as the design enters it's eighth decade.

 

[mkk41]

M1 = M1 Garand , the greatest battle rifle ever developed.

M1A = semi-auto only version of M14 , the 20rd magazine fed , select-fire successor to the M1 Garand.

M1A1 = folding stock version of M1 Carbine.


OK , now the best place for a good M1 Garand is the CMP. From time to time . they get rifles returned that were loaned to other countries , and every now and then , some original unissued rifles turn up. Almost all M1s were thru arsenal rebuild or refurbishment at least once. Many million were loaned or sold to other countries. Some have come back thru commercial importers and will be so marked. These are kinda shunned by collectors. Ever since Saving Private Ryan , Garand prices skyrocketed. Prices start at about $500 for a mixed parts beater/shooter.

Check out the CMP forum for some good info.

 

[GatorFarmer]

Springfield Armory did a run of brand new ones not so long ago. You could pick one of those up and do whatever with it and not have to worry about paying too much for a possible collector's item and still have all the M1 joy.

If you want an M1A, those are all new production guns. Original M14s are rare and quite expensive.

 

[sipowicz]

For that money I would get a new M1A...surplus 7.62 is cheaper and more available that 30.06...all of the milsurp 06 is at least 50 years old and starting to degrade...

 

[mkk41]

For that money I would get a new M1A...surplus 7.62 is cheaper and more available that 30.06...all of the milsurp 06 is at least 50 years old and starting to degrade...

Not so. There's surplus M2 30-06 ammo from the 70s-80s and even 90s out there. I bought several cases of Danish ammo with 1991 headstamp date. Modern smokeless ammo , especially -06 made to USGI specs will last indefinately if properly stored.

 

[straightshooter1]

GatorFarmer is right about the newer Springfield Armory rifles. I think they may have stopped making them now, but you can still find them.

I have had two, one with a commercial Springfield Armory receiver and the other, which I picked up recently, a Breda receiver. Springfield purchased all the receivers available about 20 years ago and put them together.

Both will shoot into far less than an inch from the bench. Much more accurate than any M1A Standard I have ever shot.

Bob

 

[papalondog]

This rifle has not been fired since it was purchased int 2004 from CMP. This is what CMP says about this grade and the gun has all the papers and documentation to go with it.

COLLECTOR GRADE: (Excellent)
Collector Grade Rifles have 95% or better overall original metal finish. Rifle bores are excellent with throat erosion under 3 and muzzle wear of 2 or less. Collector Grade rifles have all original parts as they came from the manufacturer. Wood will have a few handling marks and minor dings and scratches. Stocks have the appropriate inspector's cartouche. Data sheets prepared by CMP armorers are included in the butt trap of each Collector Grade Rifle. Excellent condition - little or no use. Limited quantities are occasionally available. Prices start at $1500 depending on manufacturer..

Is it worth $1800?????????????

 

[Dakota Iron]

I have no idea what the rifle your refering to is valued at, but
Michael Whamser has made a living selling collectable, correct
period Garands. Look his site up and be surprised at what the
original, never messed with vet bringbacks go for.

 

[m1gunner]

Is it worth $1800?????????????


Not to me. These are nice guns in very good to excellent shape, but are not mesuem quality guns. If you are a collector, they are good examples of that particular serial number range that they represent.

From what you have mentioned you want, this is a pricey way to get it. And, percentage wise, it won't appreciate as rapidly as lower priced Garands.

These guns aren't untouched or un altered since they left the factory. With the exception of the 2 "bagged Garands" on display at Anniston, they all have been handled and had parts traded around. What is currently on them may or not be what the gun was originallu delivered with.

Also, the CMP collector guns aren't always in as good shape as the correct Garands from CMP. For instance, a "collector" SA rifle from WWII (I know, they don't have any) would normally be in worse condition than a Korean era or later SA.

I have seen many CMP Garands, and most need some TLC in one area or another. Between my rifles and those that my friends have gotten, I have a list of worn and broken parts as long as my arm that had to be replaced. (this is out of 2o rifles or so). For instance, foreign armorers ALWAYS tried to adjust the timing by bending the follower rod. Several countries taught their troopsd to remove the gas cylinder every time the gun was cleaned. During the 90's the CMP was using a water pressure washer to remove grease, and the rear sights were rusting if not removed and detailed stripped soon after receipt from CMP, and the list goes on. On average, I have found the guns usually need another $125 in parts to be "right", sometimes the CMP will help, sometimes not.

As received from CMP, the Service Grade guns are very good buys for the money. Do a detailed IRAN and you will have a rifle that will be troublefree for the next 30 to 50 years (after which another tuneup and you are good for several more generations). During this time, the service grade gun will increase in value faster than that $1800 gun, and be every bit as accurate.

Don't forget, any gun you get from CMP is "luck of the draw". It is worth more to inspect any gun before you buy it, and a cursory inspection is possible if you go to CMP to buy one, but what you want isn't always there.

 

[Faulkner]

papa, you've asked several times "is it worth" $1800. The answer is, probably not at this time. I like what USGI martial arms expert Bruce Canfield has been noted as saying: "You can't really pay too much for a nice US martial firearm, you can just pay too soon."

As an example, in 1992 I paid $450 for a very, very nice original USGI M1 carbine when the market price at that time for nice carbines was $250. I nearly choked when I wrote the check for it, but I really wanted it. I still have it and I could easily get $1200 - $1400 for it in todays market.

 

[ladder13]

For a HRA "Collector Grade" with paperwork, $1800 is a wee bit high, not much. I bought a SA Collector a couple years ago for $1200, it's sitting in my safe as delivered by the CMP. I also bought a Correct Grade for $850, they're now $1100. These guns continue to appreciate, and will really take off once the CMP has no others to sell. Of course, this is just my opinion.

 

[Bat Guano]

Got my first DCM (old CMP) Garand circa 1985, others since. For a good shooting rifle that would be pretty good to go out of the box I would look at the rebarrelled, reparked, new wood rifles. As I recall they are going for about $900-$1000. Not "collectible" per se but definitely the real deal and a good starting point.

They are fun projects but can get expensive if you have to start replacing major components. It will pay dividends to study up plus you will enjoy the rifle more afterwards.