Broken M1 Garand

[menotseeu]

I purchased a M1 Garand and the seller dropped the gun on a tile floor. He called and told me he was refunding my money however, I am wondering if the front sight on the M! is replaceable at all. He told me it appears the gears are jammed and can't change left to right and side to side.
And help would be helpful.

 

[Nikdfish]

No gears on the front sight, it's fixed (...well, held in place on the dovetail on the gas cylinder by a set screw). Maybe he meant the rear sight? Parts are available & in all likelihood it could be repaired by swaping out a part or 2.

A complete WWII vintage lockbar rear sight assembly is listed at $155 at m1garandrifle.com - it's considered a collectors item... Various complete rear sight assembies can also be found on ebay for less (or more!).

Nick

 

[menotseeu]

Sorry... Your right. It's the rear site
Thanks
John

 

[menotseeu]

Nikdfish

Nikdfish,

Excuse my ignorance of the M1. I have many military rifles but no US rifles. So if this assembly you speak of is not available, would I most likely to be able to find the parts I need to fix it? Is any of it forged as part of the receiver, and if it isn't, what holds these parts in place?
The price of the rifle was very reasonable, and if I can replace parts to be able to adjust the rear sight, I would like to try to bargain with him.

 

[1KPerDay]

If he snapped the ears off the receiver that HOLD the rear sight assy in place, you're out of luck. But if he somehow broke something in the rear sight assembly it's easily replaceable and all the individual parts are readily available separately. If he's in any way knowledgeable and he wants to refund your money I'm betting he snapped one of the ears off. But that would take some doing. So maybe he just came to his senses and doesn't want to sell that awesome rifle.

 

[navyretired 1]

I'm often sceptical about these accidents. Was your purchase cheaper than what he wanted. That recently happened to a friend and the seller sent the wrong gun and claimed eveything was messed up and the deal was off. I told my friend to tell him that he either gets the gun he paid for or he could deal with gunbroker and lawyers. The proper gun showed up a week later.

 

[Orlando]

Sounds fishy to me, ask for pics of the damage

 

[Jim K]

My first reaction was that the tile floor probably got the worse of the meeting, but the rear sight is comparatively fragile. Fortunately easily replaceable unless one has to have a specific maker or type.

Jim

 

[menotseeu]

The gun was put on GunBroker for a 1 day auction as a Buy Now for $650.00 plus shipping. Two hours after him listing it I saw it and purchased it. He called me within a few mins after the auction to touch base, and tell me he really needed the money.I payed him within an hour and sent my FFL by email.
Couple more days later he called me telling me he had dropped the rifle while getting it ready to ship and it hit his tile floor on the rear sight, then bounced on the front sight.
I told him I would fix it splitting the cost of the parts, and I would of course eat the labor. I do gunsmithing although on a limited basis.
Now, two days later he say's he took the gun in to the gunsmith and it was going to cost about $150.00 to repair the rear sight and about $27.00 for the front. He is having the gun smith repair it. he called tonight and wants to refund my money because he could not take such a big loss, which I understand. Said he was to re list it in about two weeks when it is returned from the gunsmith. Of course the price will be much higher.
I will post a picture of what the gun looked like and came with.
I have bought around 50 weapons and have never experienced this before. Not sure what to think.
Just thought this to be an interesting story if nothing else.
HE DID say the tile broke.

 

[1KPerDay]

Any pics of the damage? Sounds like he's going through a lot of trouble to boost the price if that's what he's doing.

In any case, sorry it didn't work out for you. Hard to tell from the pic but that looks like a nice M1..

 

[menotseeu]

No pics. Before I could ask for any, he had already taken it to the gunsmith. Even though I told him if the ears on the receiver were not broken, I could repair it. All I asked was for him to refund me 20-30 bucks, or help pay part of the shipping.

 

[Orlando]

Front sight $15.00 , complete rear sight $65.00

 

[george d dennis]

get your money back. theres plenty more around. dont sound right to me i own
6.

 

[nofishbob]

I am also a little skeptical about the seller's story.

Why would the price go up after the rifle is repaired? I would think it would just be returned to the condition it was in pre-floor encounter.

Sorry the deal did not work out for you.

Bob

 

[Onmilo]

The lock screw on the right side is likely turned down tight against the windage knob.
Easy to fix, all you need to do is loosen the screw.

 

[navyretired 1]

This is a fairly common bait and switch or somebody told him it was worth more than what he had it buy-it-now price. Stand your ground and demand, Gun broker will back you up. You didn't drop it and he has your money. Refuse to be a victim. You offered to fix it if he paid halfthe parts which is a good deal, Tell him you'll still pay half the partsbut it was his decision to take to a gunsmith and that sounds fishy faced with the deal you offered him. Demand your gun and the old parts, and tell him your plans if he doesn't comply.