Bought my first Garand today

[Swampy]

What's the difference between the Service Grade from CMP and the $1k Garands in the Springfield catalog?

The rifles from the CMP are USGI rifles taken right out of US Army inventory.... inspected, graded, and sold to deserving US citizens.

The rifles currently being sold as "new" by SA, INC. are newly made cast receivers, new commercial barrels, and new wood by Boyd's mated with a bunch of used and refinished surplus kit parts. This is where all those $129 M1 parts kits that were common a few years back ended up. The Reese family (SA, INC.) bought up umpteen thousands of them for making into these "new" M1's and dried up the market.
No history, no collector value, no soul.

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[Justang]

So you have to join a CMP organization to get one through them right? I might have to do that.

 

[jsalcedo]

Does the NRA or TSRA count as CMP affiliated organizations?

 

[Swampy]

Does the NRA or TSRA count as CMP affiliated organizations?

The NRA is NOT a CMP affiliate organization.... so your NRA membership doesn't help.

By "TSRA" I'm assuming you are referring to Texas State Rifle Assoc.???

If so, then you'll have to contact them and ask or check the CMP association files. Most state rifle orgs ARE CMP affiliates... I think a very few are not.

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[joegerardi]

The Garand Collector's Association is the best. They are electronically linked to the CMP, and when you join them, your name is automatically registered at the CMP. $25.00/year dues, and their newsletter is one of the best sources of neat info for the M1.

http://www.garandcollector.org/

..Joe

 

[jsalcedo]

Thanks for the Info.

I hope to buy my allocation of 8 Garands this year

 

[jrhead75]

Monsternav...The "p" signifies proof firing. Is the one on your stock in a circle, a square or just by itself? The little round deal on the bottom of the pistol grip sounds like a small (3/16") ordnance wheel which was found on '44 and early '45 stocks (approx 1.8mil-3.6mil s/n), so it's possibly the original stock and definitely USGI. It should also have the SA/GAW and Ordnance Wheel cartouches on the L/H side of the stock right above the trigger guard, but they didn't survive too often.

A good online source of info, if you don't have your books handy is: http://battlerifle0.tripod.com/

Jsalcedo...congrats on your first Garand, sounds like a beauty! Bet it won't be your last!