faked Garand stocks? honest vendors?

[Cesiumsponge]

So I'm buying a service grade special HRA Garand from the CMP. It comes with new CMP wood and I want to replace it with something made by HRA to make it correct/collector grade. I'm fairly new at all this, but already I've come across numerous threads about how many places are selling fakes, with fake cartouches. It appears these stocks in better conditions can fetch a pretty penny because they're hard to find in such condition. At this point I don't mind overpaying for a genuine article because I will more than recover my money when the value of the rifle continues going up.

From what I gather, the HRA stocks have a lot of meat behind the receiver "back porch" and based off what I've read around:
Early HRA's in the 4.66 SN had an ordnance wheel on the left side and serif proof P
Late 4.66 into early 4.7(?) has a 3/8" DAS with serif proof P
4.7 to late 5.5 was 3/8" DAS with non serif proof P
late 5.5/early 5.6 to end of production was 1/2" DAS and non serif proof P
The 3/8" DAS is the predominate cartouche found in the 4.66 to 5.59 serial ranges, and is found sporadically in the 5.60 to the 5.65 range.
The 1/2" DAS is the predominate cartouche in the 5.60 range and remained predominate until the end of production.

Other than handling hundreds of USGI stocks and pouring over hundreds of dollars of books or spending years as a collector, is there a way to quickly judge if these are fake or not?

Is there a encyclopedia Garand book that covers minutia of details such as the stamps, stock variations, etc?

So...where are the reputable vendors that sell real USGI stocks?

 

[bainter1212]

You might place a call to Dean at Deans Gun Restoration (google it). He is one of the premier Garand restoration shops, and his primary job is custom fitting new stocks. That means he may have a whole bunch of take-off stocks on hand. Now whether there is a collector grade there.......?

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I've sent him an email since it's late in the day. There is another fellow I saw mentioned on another forum who sells Garand ammo and parts. Sent him an email too. Hopefully I won't be the guy stuck searching for years.

 

[cfullgraf]

There are one or two folks that sell reproduction stocks with reproduction cartouches. They stamp or burn something to that effect inside the stock to indicating it is a reproduction.

Then there are the unscrupulous folks that pass off reproduction stocks as the real McCoy.

As time goes on, there will be more and more restored Garands with reproduction parts on them.

I have kept my first Garand as issued from CMP. It is a Red River Arsenal rebuild. The others, mostly Greek returns, for the most part have had the stocks replaced with CMP replacement stocks.

What ever floats your boat and fits with your budget is the way to go.

 

[carbine85]

Call the CMP or request on your order for a properly marked stock. Sometimes they can help out with special request. I know of many who have made request and got what they wanted. Bare in mind that they probably wont dig through a pile of rifles to find it but I bet they will make an attempt.

 

[Cesiumsponge]

The CMP service grade specials are specifically collector/correct grade rifles that didn't come in with wood, so they put new CMP stocks and metal on them. The metal, from folks who have received theirs, are 99%+. I'm not sure if the CMP is going to take a stock off another rifle to put it on the service grade specials...it would turn it into a collector or correct grade, and they'd sell it as such.

 

[carbine85]

I missed the "special" in the OP. Maybe he's better off getting a Service Grade. My last one looks great.

 

[Onmilo]

What I have seen of reproduction Garand stocks is that none of them are made with the really tight grain old forest growth Walnut that original stocks were made of.
All the newer stocks have very loose, open grained young wood used in the manufacture.
First thing to look for when trying to spot a reproduction stock. HTH

 

[Cesiumsponge]

I hate gambling so I put in an order for a HRA service grade special, and a SA service grade, asking for a WWII serial and GI wood. The HRA will by my eye-candy and the SA will be my fun gun.

I found a few sources that have old GI stocks in various shapes. I'm going to probably pick one of those up. It seems like my trying to put a reproduction stock on a SGS is worse than leaving the new CMP wood on it. A rifle that original deserves an original stock.

Another negative about new fast-growing wood is it's really, really SOFT. Being less dense due to fast growing, the wood loses it's density and ability to wear as well.

 

[vtail]

Cesium:

If you find such a vendor, can you let me know? I'm doing the same thing you are but with an SA.

 

[Orlando]

Correct SA and HRA stocks come up for sale on the CMP forums very often. Be prepared to spend around $300 for a real nice stock with handguards

 

[Cesiumsponge]

Price isn't that bad. I'm prepared to spend that. While it initially sounds expensive, getting a rifle in a collector's grade with correct parts will more than pay off the stock after a few years of appreciation. I'll head over there and register an account so I can take a look at the sale section.

 

[Orlando]

You wont have a collector grade but a Garand with Correct parts
Wont ever be worth as much as a papered CMP Correct Grade Garand
If you want a collector rifle there is a real nice Collector Grade for sale now on the forum for $1800
Its a real nice mint rifle. Bad thing is you wouldnt want to fire it or it would lose value

 

[Cesiumsponge]

Is there a huge chasm in pricing between the current going rate of collector grades and a correct grade with absolutely pristine parts? I guess settling for second place isn't too bad. I still shoot my collectibles every now and then. I took out my Mateba Unica 6 the other day. Checked up on Gunbroker and the last .44 6" sold for $5,050 and a .357 at $3,376.00.

I just went over to take a look at the correct-grade M1 and item is no longer available. Doh!

 

[Orlando]

Yes there is.
If you install a USGI stock on your rifle you will have a Garand with all correct parts. You will not have a Correct Grade, it will never sell or be worth what a CMP Correct Grade sells for becuase you will not have the Correct Grade certificate and thats what gets you top dollar, crazy huh?
Collector Grade rifles are rifles that have all the "Original" parts as shipped from the factory. Nothing has been added to make them "as issued" They command a higher price
If you just want a very good condition accurate shooter I suggest you order a standard Service Grade $625 and spend the money you saved on ammo. JMO

 

[Cesiumsponge]

So do most, or all Garands in circulation come through the CMP? It seems like they are the only credible outlet to issue papers given they directly receive these rifles, and anything else in the market without CMP documentation could be a gamble.

 

[Orlando]

For the most part yes,most Garands from other sources will have Import Stamps on barrel or receiver