Garrand

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Twud

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Is it possible to purchase a new unfired M1? My father in law was captured on December 24, 1944 in the Ardens forrest and spent the last months of the war in a German POW camp. At a very spry 80 he always talks about the M1 and what a great rifle it was. Us kids and grand kids want to throw in to buy him one. I know little about them and would appreciate some help.
I know this is going to be pricey.
Mark
 
Yes. There are new manufacture M1s. Check Springfield Armory.
If you want a vintage M1, check the Civilian Marksmanship Program's website (their Service Grades are excellent, I hear).
 
Maybe you could find one that was manufactured 12/44? By the way ... captured on December 24th ... that's a hell of a Christmas present.
 
CMP is a good place to get an M1 if want a shooter or a project gun most have worn bores and a fair amount of mileage on them. There are many good M1's on the collectors market. And These will retain and increase in value, I would purchase one of these as opposed to a Springfield Armory Inc. rifle the cost won't be much more and you will own an original piece of history. I saw WW2 M1 for $900 a few months ago at a gun show it's only flaw I could find was the stock had been refinished. Good examples of rebuilt M1's can be found from $600-1000.

Brother in Arms
 
CMP just ran a batch of 1000 "specials" where they took receivers, added a new barrel and other "newer" or "new" parts along with a new stock and sold them for $895. Those are all gone but if you sniff around you can probably find someone selling one. (I saw one here in the trading post section). The one I've got is very nice. (Mfg 1944) I "think" I saw CMP planning on doing another run of these at some undetermined point in the future.

For my money I'd buy a CMP Service grade and then after I'd shot it a bit send it off to one of the people who specialize in rebuilding/restocking.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave
 
I bought that "special" that was here in the trading post...

...it is no longer unfired. :)

They are the closest thing to a rifle running off the production line and won't set you back $4000. Looks almost identical to this

specialwy2.jpg
 
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Here's a table of Springfield Garand serial numbers by year of manufacturer.

If you qualify to order a Garand from the CMP, you may be able to talk them into finding a Springfield in a serial number range that your grandfather may have carried in WWII or at least one of the years of the war.

As mentioned, these rifles were rebuilt several times over by arsenals or even unit armorers. All of the current CMP Garands are ones that had been loaned to foreign countries and returned to the US.

I got my SA Garand a few years ago and it turned to have a low 6-digit serial number dating to April 1941 so the receiver is pre-war. All of the other components are SA except for the barrel. It's a Danish VAR barrel and from what I had read, this company (VAR) made barrels for the Danish Army that were all equal to we would consider "match-grade".

But there are many suppliers that have surplus real USGI Garand components that are period-correct for a given serial number. Putting together a "correct" M1 can be very expensive, but buying a Garand that is a "shooter" and looks like a WWII-era rifle is not that expensive.

The thrill will be the look on his face when he sees a Garand again and even better, taking him to the range and handing him a couple en-bloc clips and a target :D

When I take my Garand to the local range, I always get people coming over to ask about it. There are a few range members that are WWII vets and they always want to talk about their experience. For those guys, I always have a supply of loaded clips ready to go just for them. I willingly hand over my Garand to them for shooting a clip or two. Some grin, some laugh, some cry.
 
You can get a totally restored to new condition Garand with a brand new Citadel barrel and new stock at Garandguy.com - essentially a brand new Garand (with real forged receiver) for $895. Incidentally, this is exactly the same deal as the limited run of 1,000 CMP "Specials" :rolleyes: that had everyone in a tizzy mailing their orders by Fedex for $25 for delivery to CMP on the 1st day the rifles went on sale.

Springfield makes a new production M1 Garand rifle for more money but the receiver is cast and so on.
 
Are the springfield models exact copies of the military issued ones?
Do they hold up as well?

Always wanted the iwo-jima edition, such a nice nice rifle.
 
the "new" rifles made by Springfield Armory Inc. are new investment cast receivers with used GI parts on them. they are not the same quality as a USGI forged steel receiver. all my dealings with the CMP have rewarded me with wonderful shooters with historic value for less than half the price of the "new" rifles.

considering the low price of a new stockset, I wouldn't hesitate to buy another from the CMP and restock it if you get rough wood in the "lottery".
 
If your father-in-law is anything like my dad was and any number of other WWII vets that I have known and talked to over the years, IMO one of CMP files would mean more to him then one of the so called new one! I know it would to me. I have two and would not part with either.

Hope you find what you want. Give you father-in-law my thanks for a job well done.

May you and you family have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Adams family.
 
If your father-in-law is anything like my dad was and any number of other WWII vets that I have known and talked to over the years, IMO one of CMP files would mean more to him then one of the so called new one!
Click to expand...
My training cycle at Fort Polk, LA, was the last to train on the Garand. As an adviser in Viet Nam, I "accidentally" damaged my M2 carbine and carried a Garand I bummed from the ARVN.

My personal Garand came with a blond upper handgard -- a total mis-match with the dark walnut of the rest of the stock. Someone advised me to buy a new, dark handguard.

Nope! That's how it was issued, and that's how it will stay.
 
I understand that if you talk nice to the people at cmp, they might be able to fix you up with a "reasonable" request if a garand in your batch matches that request. Ie "mfg in 44", or "used in the war" I am sure you will not get a exact serial number, or mfg in 12/44 unless you are really really lucky, but you might get something close, you never know. That is the route I would go, unless you can find a deal on. Last month I picked up a garand at auction for $600, great shape good bores etc., but it was the last gun at a 1200 gun auction, that lasted for 10+ hours, so the herd was pretty thin and so were the wallets. 6 other garands went for $1K+
 
My training cycle at Fort Polk, LA, was the last to train on the Garand. As an adviser in Viet Nam, I "accidentally" damaged my M2 carbine and carried a Garand I bummed from the ARVN.
Click to expand...

Some of the Special Ops and "advisers" traded the Mattel 16 for M1s!
 
Vern, rumor has it you swapped the carbine 'cause it had a bent barrel. Any truth to that? :neener:

Rick
 
The other positive to the CMP route is that you can actually go to the North or South Stores and pick your own. (and the serial number you get)

Don't be intimidated by the qualifications they are dead simple and the shooting part is actually alot of fun.

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave
 
Not sure if they're still there, but the CMP South store used to have a pair of new-in-the-wrap unissued M1 Garands for sale. Cost was $25,000 :)
 
New in the wrapper in October of 1958 was $98. The match grade
new in the wrapper was $120. The good old days, when a private
in the Marine Corps pay was $68 mo. Like Vern and a couple of others,
one of the last to train with Garands. Issue in boot camp was new
in cosmoline and turned in for a while at Camp Pendleton for a not
new BAR. Nam weapon a bolt Win. 70 scoped, and never saw my
beloved Garand again!
 
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