Garand Info

[Wasz]

I have wanted a Garand from around the age of 8. I know about the history and stuff, but I'm looking to learn some current practical stuff. Where to get them, how to judge what kind of shape they are in, prices things like that. Wheres a good place to find out this type of information?

[edstephan]

Best place is attend a clubs Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) shoot, once you shoot 1 match ask them for a CMP letter or certificate. Order one from CMP at http://www.odcmp.com. If you get one from CMP you can be assured they are correct and will function for years to come
Ed

[str8shooter]

Originally Posted by Wasz

I have wanted a Garand from around the age of 8. I know about the history and stuff, but I'm looking to learn some current practical stuff. Where to get them, how to judge what kind of shape they are in, prices things like that. Wheres a good place to find out this type of information?

Google.

Sorry, didn't mean to be a smart ass.

Ok, yes I did.

I'd start by checking the Civilian Marksmanship Program website, the foremost supplier of M1 Garands in the country http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm, Take the time to go through a few links on that site. It will help you to learn what makes a Garand valuable. One thing to keep in mind is that value is in the eye of the beholder. Do you want a shooter, a collector, a little of both, a match grade, anything you can get? The CMP has a great site to gain some knowledge about different grades and when available, they sell them according to grade at a fair price to those who qualify (explained on the web site). I've never heard of anyone getting anything less than they expected from CMP that wasn't immediately resolved by CMP, but have read many stories of people getting a lot more for their money than they expected.

For some ball park pricing, you can check GunBroker.com and GunsAmerica.com, but lately I've noticed they've got some real dreamers selling their wares on those sites, and setting the price, minimum bid or reserve way above true market value for popular collectables like M1 Garands.

Another good source is http://www.fulton-armory.com/tea/m1serial.htm . This site gives the date of manufacture for M1 Garand serial numbers. If you don't care when it was made or by who, then you'll be able to find something easily at a gun show or online, but if you want a WWII or Korean war model, this site will steer you to what serial number and manufacturers to look at if you come across one for sale. Many other war era guns will have considerably more value if all numbered parts match, but I think you'd be hard pressed to find a M1 Garand with matching numbers. Most of the early ones were re-arsonalled at one time or another, so unless you want to spend $10K plus, you might want to set your sites on a correct grade vs. matching numbers, which means all the parts were made for the era of the gun so they were made to fit together, but not necessarily for the exact same gun.

When I set my sites on a M1 Garand, I googled as much as I could, and then went to a couple gun shows. At first I didn't want to ask questions because everyone standing anywhere near Garands were for sale sounded like experts, but finally I got over it with a little knowledge pulled from the internet. If you go to a big show there will be many dealers with M1 Garands available. Look at each and everyone of them and pretty soon the good, the bad and the ugly will start to show and you'll get an eye for what's worth the asking price, and who's been smoking wacky weed when printing the tags.

If you want a shooter, one of the best things to look for is the throat erosion and muzzle wear. Any M1 you find for sale that's worth considering will have these numbers out in plain site. A dealer who's worth buying from will pull out a gage and show you how to measure for yourself. The CMP site will explain what the significance of the throat erosion and muzzle wear numbers are, but basically, lower is better.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, but hope it gets you on your way. The M1 Garand has such a proud history and I think the only people that don't want one are the people that already have one, and of those that have them, many want more than one.

[Jay5oh]

If you can take a road trip go to the CMP store at camp perry in ohio. Make sure you have all of the documents you need and when you get there tell the guys behind the counter your are there to buy and ASK them if they will help you pick one out. They will gauge bores and throats for you and in general help you out. They are a wealth of information all right there for the asking. If you ask they will even show you how to remove the stock, etc.

ETA:

Take more money than you think you will spend......

[PA Rifleman]

Here are a couple of links that might help:
http://www.gun-shots.net/m1-garand-rifle.shtml
http://www.thegca.org/

[Koli01]

Originally Posted by Wasz

I have wanted a Garand from around the age of 8. I know about the history and stuff, but I'm looking to learn some current practical stuff. Where to get them, how to judge what kind of shape they are in, prices things like that. Wheres a good place to find out this type of information?

CMP is your best bet.
Come on up to PMSC the first Sunday of the month for the CMP shoot and you can shoot the club's Garands.

Bring 22girlie and she can shoot the m1 carbine.

[wjkuleck]

Originally Posted by Koli01

CMP is your best bet.
Come on up to PMSC the first Sunday of the month for the CMP shoot and you can shoot the club's Garands.

Bring 22girlie and she can shoot the m1 carbine.

+1

I have said since 1996, when the CMP was established, if you're not ready for one of our (Fulton Armory) custom-built GI Garands, the CMP is the way to go. I can't tell you how many I've personally acquired from the CMP over the last twelve years, but none were disappointments.

Regards,

Walt

[TJB63]

Try Joining the Garand Collectors Association.

http://www.thegca.org/


It will not only provide you with the info you seek, But also qaulifies you to be able to order a CMP Garand.

Membership is a Whopping $25 a year.

I see PARifleman already beat me too it.

BTW: Good Choice of Firearm.

TJB

[Shawn.L]

Originally Posted by Koli01

CMP is your best bet.
Come on up to PMSC the first Sunday of the month for the CMP shoot and you can shoot the club's Garands.

Bring 22girlie and she can shoot the m1 carbine.

lil'buck should be shooting his first CMP in Sept

[edstephan]

Actually,
CMP was created by the U.S. Congress as part of the 1903 War Department Appropriations Act supported by President Theodore Roosevelt and prior to 1996 was called the Department of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM) and run by the U.S. Army from 1916 to 1996. In late 1995 the Clinton administration banned the sale of surplus military equipment to the public and shutdown the DCM. Congress in response passed The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 and created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice & Firearms Safety, Inc a tax exempt not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that derives its mission from public law.
For more info on the history of the CMP/DCM and Garand here are some links.
http://www.nraila.org/issues/factshe...ad.aspx?id=104
http://www.memorableplaces.com/m1gar...randlinks.html

Ed