A story

[tat2guy]

I was at the range the other day shooting my AK, and the guy a few lanes down from me had a really clean looking M1.

At one point I asked him about it, and if he had bought it through the CMP.

Turns out he bought it at an estate sale, from the home of a veteran who apparently brought it home with him from WWII, and, as far as anone could tell, never fired it again, just kept it nice and clean. It was in spectacular shape.

Guess what the kid paid for it?


































$500.


Why don't I have this kind of luck?

[jrs93accord]

Sometimes I think that may be what happened with the Garand that I have. No rebuild marks; too many original parts on it; 10" 1908 SA bayonet came with it; metal finishes are consistent; wood is consistent; numbers and parts indicative of July 1943 manufacture date; and stock is original. The person I bought it from bought it from another individual, so I do not have a real history of the weapon. If it ever was sold through the CMP, it would have been a Collector Grade for sure. I bought it with the bayonet and 1943 dated web sling for $700 a little over a year ago.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/DSC00297.jpg
1943 Springfield Armory M1 Garand

[eddief4]

some people have all the luck:sad: :sad:



what a find!!! I can't wait till the first of the year to get a Correct grade from CMP:thumbsup: :wavey: :banana:

[tat2guy]

Originally posted by jrs93accord
Sometimes I think that may be what happened with the Garand that I have. No rebuild marks; too many original parts on it; 10" 1908 SA bayonet came with it; metal finishes are consistent; wood is consistent; numbers and parts indicative of July 1943 manufacture date; and stock is original. The person I bought it from bought it from another individual, so I do not have a real history of the weapon. If it ever was sold through the CMP, it would have been a Collector Grade for sure. I bought it with the bayonet and 1943 dated web sling for $700 a little over a year ago.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m8/jamesrea_2006/DSC00297.jpg
1943 Springfield Armory M1 Garand

Dang! that's a nice looking rifle!

Taht's basically what I saw when I looked over at the guy shooting- I thought to myself, "is that a brand new freaking rifle? It's BEAUTIFUL!"

[jrs93accord]

Before I bought it, all I got to see was the pictures on the internet. When I received the rifle, I was overwhelmed at the condition. Several months ago, I finally took it apart to start documenting it on a data sheet. I was amazed to discover that most everything was correct, and probably original. I only had to replace a couple pieces with correct original pieces. I replaced the poppet type gas plug with a used original single slot gas plug. I also bought a riveted short fork follower arm to have on hand. I left the long fork follower arm in there since I still shoot the Garand. The safety had to be replaced with another correct safety since the original was broken. The op rod is correct (maybe original?), but has the "field-modified" relief cut.

After running the serial number, I found out that it was manufactured about the third week in July 1943. The "SA EMcF" cartouche on the stock is correct for this time frame.

[eddief4]

Man, that is Awesome:thumbsup: :wavey:

[jrs93accord]

eddief4, you need to hurry up and get on board. You do not know what you are missing. :supergrin:

[Maxw]

Several years ago before grading I got an as issued SA 45 immediate post war that is like new. Chamber gage is 1+ and has all correct marks and cartouches. I paid at the time $400 + shipping. I also got a couple of pre war M1's, A Winchester w/mostly WRA parts, an early 42 SA with all correct parts including unmodified op rod and an SA43 in the same condition. All has WWII T bar rear sights. All for $400 each, alas no more like that for those prices.