Flatbush Harry
Member
For those of you who shoot or collect milsurps, the M1 Garand has to be high on your list of "must haves", and I have a few purchased from the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) in past years. They have begun a program called the Advanced Maintenance Class, a 3-day workshop in which you essentially train as an armorer for the M1. As a final project, each student builds their own "Special Grade" M1, using a refurbished M1 Garand Receiver, a Criterion barrel and refinished or new manufacture parts.
In 2015, they will have 15 classes, each composed of 20 students. In 2014, the 12 classes they had sold out at the opening of on-line registration for the year. For 2015, they selected students by lottery from all who pre-registered between 11/17 and 12/1. I got an e-mail this morning telling me I had been selected for the first session in January. I am pumped!
Now I bought my first two "Correct Grade" M1s (all period correct matching parts from one manufacturer...as near as I can tell, one of mine seems like unfired factory intact with a stock that was too beat up to make it as a "Collector Grade") as commemoratives for my father and his older brother, who had each toted one in WWII. Subsequently, I picked up two "Special Grades" (one a SA and one an HRA) which at that time were new condition unfired rifles, mounted in new walnut stocks with new stock metal. If I can find period correct good condition stock sets for them, they will be "Collector Grade" rifles. Looking at the CMP auction site, it looks like I've more than doubled my money in the rifles.
Now I've been shooting for more than 60 years and do a fair bit of light gunsmithing on my guns, as necessary. This AMC class will take me to a new level...and since the M14/M1A is basically an evolutionary step beyond the M1, my soon-to-be-growing tool and parts collection will allow me to work on both...a nice feature since I really like the M1A. I've shot my M1A "SuperMatch" in competition and want to build another in the future.
I like really getting into my hobbies and this will help me grow as a shooter. If you are interested in the CMP, go to www.odcmp.com to learn about the organization and the rifles and products they sell. Fantastic organization with great customer service.
Harry
In 2015, they will have 15 classes, each composed of 20 students. In 2014, the 12 classes they had sold out at the opening of on-line registration for the year. For 2015, they selected students by lottery from all who pre-registered between 11/17 and 12/1. I got an e-mail this morning telling me I had been selected for the first session in January. I am pumped!
Now I bought my first two "Correct Grade" M1s (all period correct matching parts from one manufacturer...as near as I can tell, one of mine seems like unfired factory intact with a stock that was too beat up to make it as a "Collector Grade") as commemoratives for my father and his older brother, who had each toted one in WWII. Subsequently, I picked up two "Special Grades" (one a SA and one an HRA) which at that time were new condition unfired rifles, mounted in new walnut stocks with new stock metal. If I can find period correct good condition stock sets for them, they will be "Collector Grade" rifles. Looking at the CMP auction site, it looks like I've more than doubled my money in the rifles.
Now I've been shooting for more than 60 years and do a fair bit of light gunsmithing on my guns, as necessary. This AMC class will take me to a new level...and since the M14/M1A is basically an evolutionary step beyond the M1, my soon-to-be-growing tool and parts collection will allow me to work on both...a nice feature since I really like the M1A. I've shot my M1A "SuperMatch" in competition and want to build another in the future.
I like really getting into my hobbies and this will help me grow as a shooter. If you are interested in the CMP, go to www.odcmp.com to learn about the organization and the rifles and products they sell. Fantastic organization with great customer service.
Harry
