deadeye1122
Member
Thanks all for your input. I was leaning the HRA way. Being far away from both stores and unable to inspect any rifle I thought that would be the way to go. deadeye
M1 Garand
- Thread starter Milsurplover
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gearchecker
Member
I just purchased a CMP Special Grade M-1 Garand, it's 100% SA and in like new condition. My serial number dates back to July 1941. The S/N has only 6 digits. I couldn't be any happier with all the money I spent. My "New to me" M-1 Garand is the best rifle in my collection, and the best gun in my safe bar none. There'll be more in the future. My next one will be a CMP Service Grade rifle. After that, an M1A is in my sights.
You won't go wrong getting a service grade rifle. Let us see what you get when it comes in.
Regards,
~gearchecker~
You won't go wrong getting a service grade rifle. Let us see what you get when it comes in.
Regards,
~gearchecker~
sappnasty
member
Well here is my S/A Service grades I got today! So if your wondering how nice service grades are, then here you go!
Tim the student
Member
Wow, Sapp, those look great! Have fun with them.
sappnasty
member
GC Burner: These are what your will look like...
This was the HRA Service grades at the south store....they were pretty indeed!
This was the HRA Service grades at the south store....they were pretty indeed!
P-32
Member
A friend of mine got a S/G H&R just about 2 weeks ago. It appeared to be about the same as sappnasty's posted here. His came with a walnut stock which was in good shape but not as nice as my H&R correct grade's stock. I wonder if the mail order rifles are a little bit better than the ones in the store.
I shoot with a high master who has a H&R with a birch stock. He claims one of the reason's his M-1 shoots so well is because of the birch stock. I think it's because he is a high master.
deadeye1122
Member
Shoot now I'm second guessing my self as to SA or H&R. Maybe I should by one of each and get it over with! All mail orders go to the Alabama store does that mean they are all shipped from there or does destination play a factor? Such as the Ohio store is closer to MN than AL.
ol' scratch
Member
I don't understand why people say they are 'not so great.' It is true that they do vary, but I personally have two that had new old stock barrels on them. On my H & R, I got an LMR barrel. My Springfield is ugly (funny dark black), but very accurate and muzzle of 1 with a throat of 2. The rifle is mechanically wonderful. My H & R had a correct H & R stock on it. I swapped it to make my special service correct.
My father-in-law has one with the chamber in the white. It has the original HRA barrel and mostly H & R parts. It is also a service grade.
Right now, the only complaint is that they are coming with the ugly orange crush birch stocks. Keep in mind you can pick up a Boyds replacement if it really bugs you.
I think people don't understand the grading of these rifles and bought beat up field grades or even worse-rack grades. All of the service grades I have seen (at least recently) have been great.
My father-in-law has one with the chamber in the white. It has the original HRA barrel and mostly H & R parts. It is also a service grade.
Right now, the only complaint is that they are coming with the ugly orange crush birch stocks. Keep in mind you can pick up a Boyds replacement if it really bugs you.
I think people don't understand the grading of these rifles and bought beat up field grades or even worse-rack grades. All of the service grades I have seen (at least recently) have been great.
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ol' scratch
Member
Just because it is SA, doesn't mean it is correct. I would get Scott Duff's book to id parts.
ol' scratch
Member
You are correct. They did make more WWII Springfields than post war Springfields. Winchester only made rifles during WWII. The other two manufacturers (outside of a few rumored experimental models made by RIA I think,) were only made post war--International Harvester and Harrington Richardson. IH or more affectionately called the 'tractor guns' are the rarest, followed by H & R, then Winchester and then Springfield. The guide for Springfields and WWII receivers is 3.7 million. Anything above that and it is post war.
I don't know what all the hubbub is concerning WWII rifles. My Springfield looks like it was finish filed by a 5-year-old off of his ADHD medication. Very poor finish, at least below the wood line. The finish on the Winchesters is even worse. They are so ugly in fact, they have mugs only a Winchester collector could love.
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ol' scratch
Member
I didn't say more collectible, just rarer. They are rarer, or fewer of the H & R's were made than there were of the Winchesters. I will get my book out with numbers.
Sometimes, collectible has no bearing on how rare something is. They are sometimes the same, but not always. If I were rating them as far as a collectable (taking only manufacturer into account), they would be first and formost International Harvester. Then Winchester, and a toss up between WWII Springfields and H & R's. If it is an early war Springfield and the condition was as good as the H & R, it may have an advantage because WWII stuff is hot. A lot of that has to do with demand too. The least collectible would be the Post war Springfields (not counting M1D's M1C's or National Match Rifles). Correct rifles are different too. My correct H & R is more collectible than a "Mixmaster" Winchester right NOW. In ten years that may be different. A correct Winchester is MUCH more valuable than my correct H & R. I am only giving an all equal view and only based on manufacturers. Keep in mind, right now, the post war H & R and Springfields are darn near correct. They often need only a few parts switched to make them correct. If you get a service grade right now, it will most likely be a post war. I actually haven't seen any from the recent batch that haven't been post war that have been service grades. In that case, I would go with the H & R myself.
EDIT Numbers taken from Scott Duff's Book The M1 Garand: Post World War II. International Harvester 337,623, Harrington & Richardson Arms Company 428,600, Springfield Armory (Post War) 661,747 (Duff, 77). On Duff's site, he claims that 513,880 Winchesters were made and 3,526,922 WWII Springfields made. It was also in his book, but I can't find that right now.
Sometimes, collectible has no bearing on how rare something is. They are sometimes the same, but not always. If I were rating them as far as a collectable (taking only manufacturer into account), they would be first and formost International Harvester. Then Winchester, and a toss up between WWII Springfields and H & R's. If it is an early war Springfield and the condition was as good as the H & R, it may have an advantage because WWII stuff is hot. A lot of that has to do with demand too. The least collectible would be the Post war Springfields (not counting M1D's M1C's or National Match Rifles). Correct rifles are different too. My correct H & R is more collectible than a "Mixmaster" Winchester right NOW. In ten years that may be different. A correct Winchester is MUCH more valuable than my correct H & R. I am only giving an all equal view and only based on manufacturers. Keep in mind, right now, the post war H & R and Springfields are darn near correct. They often need only a few parts switched to make them correct. If you get a service grade right now, it will most likely be a post war. I actually haven't seen any from the recent batch that haven't been post war that have been service grades. In that case, I would go with the H & R myself.
EDIT Numbers taken from Scott Duff's Book The M1 Garand: Post World War II. International Harvester 337,623, Harrington & Richardson Arms Company 428,600, Springfield Armory (Post War) 661,747 (Duff, 77). On Duff's site, he claims that 513,880 Winchesters were made and 3,526,922 WWII Springfields made. It was also in his book, but I can't find that right now.
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