Garand Value and advice needed ASAP

[trigger753]

I'm out of town on a job. While looking around at a few pawn shops this afternoon I found a Garand. I have the book The M-1 Garand by Joe Poyer but it's at home. I would really appreciate any advice and estimates of value. The asking price is 650.00. It is a new arrival to there store. It looks like it has been quite a while since it was cleaned, it's covered in thick dust. I'm heading home tomorrow afternoon and would hate to pass on a good deal. Here are the details I have.
Springfield serial number 14752xx. No sign of the receiver being rewelded.
Barrel 3-43 Excellent condition. No damage to the muzzle. Good rifling. No gauges but with a M-2 Ball close to a 1/4 of an inch shows of the bullet.
Milled trigger guard with the hole in the rear.
Lock-Bar Sights.
The stock is grungy. Not cosmoline, just dirty. Stock appears to match the hand guards. With a bit of vigorous scrubbing with spit and a handkerchief I cleared a spot on the butt to reveal a nice walnut finish. There is one cartouche behind the trigger guard P in a circle. On the bottom of the pistol grip is a triangle cartouche. And four small ones in front of the trigger guard. There is no cartouche on the side? Most of the Garands I have seen have a few letters there in a box. The stock has only a few light scratches and dings. Nothing that needs to be filled.
The finish is 95%, the finish on the gas cylinder is a little worn. There is no rust or pitting I can find. All in all it's a really good looking rifle.

What else should I check? Any advice or comments are greatly appreciated.
Thanks. Trigger

 

[knuckles]

Do the part numbers match?

 

[chestnut ridge]

Is hell yes buy it the answer you are looking for? I am a novice concerning
Garands; but I believe this is a March 1943 production M-1. It would
appear to have the original barrel. It is not common to see such a rifle.
There are experts on this forum that may be able to give much more
information. good luck.

 

[Dienekes]

Hate to pose as an expert but will throw in my .02. If the barrel really is good as you think you could be ok. If the rifle has import marks ("Blue Sky" is one)--it could be Korean and have had a rough life. The one you're looking at, if not import marked, might be a CMP rifle. Asof now, CMP's prices are going up and the supply of lower grade rifles is drying up there. Most Garands are looking at eventual barrel replacement if used much anyway--but a decent one can buy you some valuable shooting time and experience. Without inside and outside mikes you can't gauge wear on the op rod and gas cylinder so you are going to have to chance those. and oftentimes you will be eventually replacing various springs and internal parts as you go. Sort of like buying a used pickup--you will be playing some catch-up. Most Garands are "works in progress" but that's part of the overall charm, I guess. As vices go, they're relatively affordable, fun, and even a decent investment downt the road.

BTW there are a lot of real experts over at Culver Shooting Pages (www.jouster.com) on the M1/M14 forum.

Good luck (and good hunting!)

 

[Trebor]

The price sounds good to me, for a rifle you can see and examine. If it looks good, buy it. You probably won't find a nicer rifle for a better price.

Do check for "Blue Sky" import marks though. It doesn't sound like a Blue Sky import, but you never know. The marks would be on the barrel.

 

[trigger753]

Bought it this morning

Bought it this morning. Got so excited I started tearing it down in the car. It has an uncut op rod as well as the lock bar sights and not an import mark anywhere. The outside is grungy but it looks new on the inside other than a few cob webs.
I'll take some before and after pictures this weekend. This is my best pawn shop find. Kind of feel like a kid at Christmas.
Thanks for everyones advice. Trigger

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I think you made a good choice - a pretty low-cost, well-qualified gamble. It sounds like the barrel is not shot out - which is a good indication of shooting-related wear.

You would save a few hundred dollars at the CMP, but have to either travel there or wait for shipping. And you are unlikely to get anything with more than a "circle P" cartouche.

You MIGHT just have a nice original rifle on your hands - which went for $1400 last time the CMP had them (which may be the last time).

You probably know this, but just to be sure....do not take sandpaper to the stock or fill in anything with wood putty.

Can't wait to see pictures.

 

[Onmilo]

I know somebody is going to disagree with me on this but if you plan to shoot the rifle go buy a replacement operating rod with the relief cut.
If for no other reason, the uncut rod alone is worth up to $300.00 depending on which one it is, bust it or tear it up and it is worth nothing.