Help me with my Garand

Go for it. I prefer the DGR stock sets (which are Wenig stocks that have the inletting completed) and Tung Oil. They've got a better profile than the ones the CMP uses (Boyds wood, fitted by DuPage Trading).

The two on the left are Wenig stocks. The other is Boyd's (I put several hours of work into slimming the handguards down--they're known for beefiness). Notice the grip area.

Garands have a special aura about them, that is unique in the world of firearms, some of us get bit by the bug, and it becomes a most cherished rifle. There is nothing else you can buy that is quite like it, and even the M1A doesn't have the same feel about it, even though it is a cousin of the design. Basically, if you have the skills, patience, and the funds for a full restoration, then I think you will have what few do, a beautiful rifle that you restored from the ground up. There are not many experiences as rewarding as putting a hole in the 10 ring with something that you build yourself.


good luck on the project.

You won't be disappointed if you send your M1 to DGR. I sent him a CMP 5.9mil SA rack grade a couple years ago and he shipped me back a BEAUTY of a rifle. For what I received back, I considered the price very reasonable.



Of course, there is something to be said about refinishing a rifle yourself. It makes you appreciate it that much more when you put the effort into it.

Whichever path you choose, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

I recently picked up a battle worn Garand at auction mfg 10/42. Good cartouches, but wood shows the wear of being in the field. It shoots great, and has tons of caracter. I am planning to leave it as is.

I am also working on a restoration, nice clean wood no nicks and dings and new parts. There is value in both. looking to build a nice looking rifle.

That said, I used to have a M-38 Korean War jeep. I restored it from the ground up over 10 years. My goal was to have it appear as a jeep that was correct for a jeep you would have seen in the field in Korea, original parts, a drip of oil here and there and a some mud on the tires. I have seen numerous old military jeeps at shows that look like they just left a Ferarri factory. I have rarely met a vet that ever saw a factory new jeep while in the military. I always felt that something had been lost when those old jeeps were over restored.

If you got a battle worn Garand clean it up give it some tlc and have a authentic WW2 or Korean War Garand. If you have a already rebuilt cleaned up Garand dress it up and take it out. Just my .02

The clear answer is: both.
Keep your racker the way it is, and buy another one to pretty up.

8Ball, unless you care about the CMP cartouche on your stocks, order the set directly from Dupage and save some cash. I got a nice walnut set and it included all new metal parts.

Do whatever you want as you will probably be getting more down the line...my favorite one came as a "minus wood" rifle because I had a spare set of wood on hand. I did the NM mods to include glass bedding, replaced the barrel when I wore it out. Never bothered to refinish it because its appearance didn't bother me. I eventually replaced the gas cylinder and op rod and have new spares on hand. I have used a Formby's tung oil on other 100% stock M1s but on a shooter I prefer Tru-Oil. It's shinier, but really protects the wood and I can always effectively dull the shine with a few passes of steel wool.

Just make sure to have fun and shoot it as much as possible.

If I had the money, my Garand would be off to see the wizard (Dean)

Dean will do a JCG-legal restoration for you if that's what you want. Listen to what 30cal said; The DGR Wenig stocks are much nicer than the CMP Boyds stocks.

Well, I may be talking out of class since I got mine from another route, it is not rack grade but I believe that all old war horses have a story. Are you wanting to pretty her up for yourself or for bragging rights? Do you have the money to waste on bragging rights or is there another rifle that the money is better spent on? I am in the same boat about getting and restoring an old Ruger six in .357 or an old 870. Money is tight and only one project this year. Good luck with your decision.

My girl.

I say re-build. Put all the new "pretty" parts on and make it a shooter. Review the CMP JC Garand match rules on modifications and set it up to comply. The Garand and Springfield matches are the up and comming "new" thing. Take it to a match and put it to work.

Have fun with it.

For the curious:
Since it is a mixmaster, parts-wise, this thing doesn't have any "collector" value, per se, but it does have it's own "character" (look at that picture).

Another question comes to mind--if I "restored" it, what effect would that possibly have in using it in John C. Garand matches?

And Strat81--You make a good point, but my wallet hates you for that comment

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It's been rebarreled. If it had original finish with an original barrel, you'd still end up sinking more into it than it's worth as far as restoring it. It'd have more value at this point after reparking and restocking it.

As long as you don't start using glue or epoxy and stick with non-NationalMatch parts, it should be fine under JCG rules.