Commemorative Garands

[charleslee]

I bought the D-Day & Iwo Jima commemorative garands awhile back, listening to a dealer, telling me they'd go up in value. They don't seem to on GunBroker/GunsAmerica. Comments?

 

[alamo]

Guess you learned the hard way.

Do you shoot them?

 

[browningguy]

Not generally, just shoot them. Most modern commemoratives have no real engraving, just etched or lasered. There is really no reason for them to increase in value unless they have something that is actually special about them that would cause them to be worth more than a regular production item.

 

[lionking]

I think that if you are looking to sell them you'll need to find someone who is into that niche.I'm sure there is somebody out there that may want them.As to how much they'll pay that's another thing.


I just bid on a Swedish mauser really nice and I want it but the seller is wanting too much for it because I bid a decent amount without going crazy and didn't break his reserve so I'll wait for the next one or see if he lowers his price.


If there aren't many on auctions,that could be good for you but it comes down to what someone wants it for.

 

[alamo]

I see them advertised frequently in the NRA magazine, "American Rifleman".

I think they are mainly bought by those that aren't particularly enamored with them but figure that since there won't be any more made that some fanatic will pay big bucks for one in 5+ years and they'll make a bunch of money on them.

Unfortunately for the original buyers of these weapons, the market for those who truly desire them for what they are is apparently much smaller than the number of rifles/pistols that are produced, ergo no increase in value.

 

[dirtyjim]

for what you probably paid for those commemorative garands you could have got a national match shooter & easily got you money back

 

[Swampy]

charleslee,

I think you have just been seriously educated, Bud....

Commemorative rifles of the type you bought have no collector value whatsoever and never will. They will be of no more value than any other re-finished mixmaster M1 rifle for the foreseeable future....excepting maybe to another novice buyer (Like you yourself used to be.) who knows not what he's doing and thinks these gussied up rifles are something "special".... and is willing to pay a premium over their true value.

If you intend to keep them, do so with the knowledge that they are worth no more than any other shooter grade rifle and enjoy them as such. If you plan to sell them.... best of luck. If you plan(ned) to keep them and make a profit later.... sorry, but you are probably out of luck.

Just my 2 bits.

Best regards and luck,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[Bwana John]

they are worth no more than any other shooter grade rifle

Actually with the cast aftermarket receivers they are worth much less (to me anyway) than a "real" field grade Garand with a hammer forged reciever.

Sorry

 

[Slamfire]

I bought the D-Day & Iwo Jima commemorative garands awhile back, listening to a dealer, telling me they'd go up in value. They don't seem to on GunBroker/GunsAmerica. Comments

The Blue Book of Gun Values had a section on Winchester Commemorative leveractions. Few, and I mean few out of the 100's of Commemorative's produced were worth more (adjusted with inflation) than the purchase price.

If a Commemorative has been fired, even once, whatever collector value it had is gone. Used Commemoratives are worth about what a used standard rifle would be, in the same condition.

I suspect the people who would have bought a a D-Day or Iwo Jima Garand commemorative are the Veterans who were there, or their families, as a gift to the veteran. The population of WWII veterans is vanishing before our eyes.

Garand collectors are interested in the real thing, variants of the real thing, and very rare variants of the real thing.

Everyone would be willing to give you peanuts for your rifle, so it has value, but not what you paid for it.

 

[highorder]

Actually with the cast aftermarket receivers they are worth much less (to me anyway) than a "real" field grade Garand with a hammer forged reciever.

Agreed, and I think you mean drop forged.

Garand collectors are interested in the real thing, variants of the real thing, and very rare variants of the real thing.

That is about the most accurate statement you can make on this topic.

 

[Bwana John]

Agreed, and I think you mean drop forged

I think I mean "Hammer Forged".

The hammer forge beats the steel into a shape very close to final dimentions, making the grain structure in the steel follow the lines of the reciever giving it extra strenth.

Superior to "machined from a drop forged billet", which forges the billet into a block which the final shape is machined from. Adds strenth but not as much as hammer forging.

Hammer forging dies are much more expensive than drop forging ones.

Either way of forging is much better than most castings (which is usually the cheapest), everything else being equal.

 

[MythBuster]

I hate to tell you this but your two SA Inc Garands are worth about half what you paid for them.

 

[alamo]

suspect the people who would have bought a a D-Day or Iwo Jima Garand commemorative are the Veterans who were there, or their families, as a gift to the veteran. The population of WWII veterans is vanishing before our eyes.

I'd bet few veterans would buy one. Probably more are bought by a family member of a veteran thinking the veteran would really think it's great. The vet would probably appreciate one from the CMP a lot more.