Garand price

[Charlie Martinez]

A friend of mine asked me if he should buy a Garand priced at $1,500. I don't know anything about them so I told him I would ask.
My friend is not a collector so a good shooter would probably be OK.
Assuming the rifle has a good barrel and operates what else should he be looking for in a Garand rifle for that price?

 

[mgmorden]

No - the CMP still has expert grade rifles for $1000 shipped to your door. Until those run out I wouldn't get one at more than that.

 

[arsterling180]

CMP still has them. Don't give a boomer on gunbroker or at a show a single penny.

 

[Terry G]

I would go the CMP route. Some hoops to jump through, but not difficult. I bought two from them both good shooters. The prices on Garand's outside of CMP are very high. I saw a few that I would have to be in the "Fair" category sold for $1200.00. I wouldn't have bought them for half of that.

 

[.38 Special]

Just for what it is worth, I put in my CMP order back in August and am just now hearing back from them. If someone needs a rifle right now, $1500 may be worth it - and of course, there are all sorts of things that can make a Garand worth $1500, at least to a collector. For a shooter, I spent half of that - if it ever shows up.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

Thank you for the information. I'll pass it on.

 

[Jimbo80]

There are plenty of Garands in the pipeline so as someone who prefers a little "battle damage" I would wait until service grades are available again. It's already been a year so some patience may pay off as CMP is not known for gouging. I would go for the $1K CMP Expert before spending $1.5 on a service grade.

 

[Mosin77]

The thing about the CMP route is that at the very least you’re guaranteed a good shooter. A random Garand at a gun show can be anyones guess as to whether receiver is an old reweld, bore is shot out, etc. $1500 is a lot to gamble without provenance or build receipts and test targets.

 

[1KPerDay]

For $1500 it better be all correct parts, and in great shape. If your friend doesn’t know how to check, he shouldn’t buy anything from a private seller. CMP is the way to go.

 

[tark]

For $1500 it better be all correct parts, and in great shape. If your friend doesn’t know how to check, he shouldn’t buy anything from a private seller. CMP is the way to go.

With all the correct parts, (meaning original) and high conditioned, a Garand is worth two or three times that much. Especially if it is an early Springfield or Winchester. Finding one is a near impossibility because of the periodic rebuilds by the Army. Find a gas trap gun and you are well up into five figures. R.I.A. Auction company sold a "beat to death " type one gas trap, years ago, for $38,000. It was all original, but it had almost no original finish left. The gun is pictured below. Notice the lack of a trap door in the butt.

Having said all of this, I agree that the CMP is the way to go. You will get good value for your money and the gun WILL shoot.

 

[CapnMac]

With all the correct parts, (meaning original) and high conditioned, a Garand is worth two or three times that much.

The above is quite correct.
Mind, at a gun show, seeing a $1500 price would get me to look. And probably look two or three times. And that private seller or dealer, either one. But, it would need to pass muster. A beater import would definitely get a pass.

Now, a FTF Trading Post listing here on THR--that would be another case where I'd consider it.