Opinions on a Garand trade

[Oro]

I have had my mind set on a Garand for six months or a year. I've been reading on them and studying, contemplating a CMP order eventually or perhaps a gun show purchase when I was educated enough to evaluate them. Timing isn't right yet $$ wise, but then this came up. Next state over, but we can drive and meet and I can take it w/o a transfer on my C&R and trade flat with no cash outlay.

I had a higher-end custom 1911 for sale (I figure $950 to $1k value), and someone offered a trade for this Garand package (pictured below):

- 1943 SA receiver with 1950 SA barrel, arsenal rebuilt in 1950s and unissued since then.
- All SA parts.
- New Boyds premium target walnut stock.
- Overall finish is near perfect.
- Barrel gauges 1.5te, 1.0mw.
- Appears unfired since refurbished by govt arsenal in early 1950s.
- new Wolff recoil spring
- 208rds of fmj .30-06, in 8rd clips. 15 extra clips.
- Korean war era bayonet, ammo belt, bandoleer.

Pics below - my question is does this seem fair for a $1k trade? I know there is a great variation in Garand prices based on maker/correctness/etc. I seem to think it's a fair trade and am inclined to do it. But I'm not an expert on these by any stretch so I thought I'd get some reinforcement.

My previous plan was to get a CMP service grade and hope for the best, then scrounge up some ammo and clips.

- That might be a few hundred $ cheaper, but does the quality and components here offset that savings?
- What's the value of all SA parts (though arsenal refurbished and mismatched barrel/receiver)?
- Does the finish look correct for a 50's aresenal job?

 

[longdayjake]

It looks as though it should function well, but pretty much nothing about it is original. Thats okay if you just want a shooter. However, I think that $1000 is a little high for just a shooter.

Clips can easily be found for .50 cents apiece around here, and 200 rounds at a high price of .50 cents apiece is still only $100 bucks. The bayonet is worth about $20. The stock looks nice and has a cost of about $100 but for that price I would want the original stock as well.

So, if you were to buy a service grade from the CMP you could set it up with the exact config for about $100-200 cheaper.

Service grade CMP rifle. $595
Boyds gun stock $100-150 (I can find them for $100)
208 rounds of ammo $100
Cheap bayonet $20
25 clips at $1 apiece is $25

Total for this setup. $840-$890

How much is not having to wait worth to you?

 

[krs]

Oro,

All of that 'stuff' adds only maybe $50. to the trade.

I don't like the look of that rifle with it's light/dark parkerizing. It looks weird and I think there are China made repro parts in the rear sight from the look of the sight cover/spring.. I'd doubt the "arsenal rebuilt in 1950's and unissued since then" claim - Korea was 1950 - 1953 after all, and they weren't letting many rifles just sit around. Anyway no military arsenal would put out a rifle with metal coloring like that.

I wouldn't consider that one as a $1000. rifle, and personally I wouldn't give $500. for it and then only if I had a chance to make sure if the receiver (not a weldup) and measure the barrel with my own guages.

 

[FLNT4EVR]

it looks like one of the danish garands the cmp sold a couple years ago the danes redid all the metal in the black coloration I'm sure someone here is more knowledgeable than I and can give you a better evaluation of the rifle

 

[achildofthesky]

How bad do you want to trade your pistol and what are they bringing at auction (that actually have bids)? Garand = good stuff. I'd be pretty tempted myself. I strongly disagree about the extra's being worth only $50.00. If it is stuff you'd have to or want to buy anyway , no way in heck you could get it for that price shipped... Yep, I sure would be tempted, especially on a FTF deal.

just my $.05

 

[rondog]

How bad do you want to trade your pistol and what are they bringing at auction (that actually have bids)? Garand = good stuff. I'd be pretty tempted myself. I strongly disagree about the extra's being worth only $50.00. If it is stuff you'd have to or want to buy anyway , no way in heck you could get it for that price shipped... Yep, I sure would be tempted, especially on a FTF deal.

just my $.05

I agree with this.

 

[1KPerDay]

You could do better, and you could do worse. That's a pretty rifle.

 

[Bentonville]

It is a pretty rifle. I would think the price is a little high considering, as someone else said, nothing is really original on it. I would hesitate to pay that much for a mixmaster shooter, albeit a very pretty specimen. Just my personal feelings but I would want a shooter that is close to original, cmp or luck out on finding one at a show. The fun of owning one to me is the history.

 

[Oro]

Thank you guys for the input. I'm not a Garand expert, but I know enough about arsenal jobs on US military handguns to know that would not pass muster as one.

So you all have confirmed what was my fear - it's more a "mixmaster" than a real arsenal gun. I'm in no rush so I'm inclined to probably pass at this point. To me, the finish just did not look as though it could have come from a US arsenal. Which then opens the question of "what is it?"

I almost went to New Orleans this past July for a conference, and if so, was contemplating taking a (very long) day to drive to Anniston and just pick one out. I had checked the mileage and by starting early you could do it all in one day. I did not go, but there's next year. I may just wait and do that next July.

 

[krs]

I didn't say that those thingies could be bought for $50., I said that they would not add that much to the value of the rifle. Always buy a rifle on IT'S merits and do not be impressed by a bunch of accessory junk.

I've bought those M5 bayonets for as little as $14. and who needs one anyway? They are good to grind down into nicer things, or they used to be until all the reproductions came out with their unknown steels.

You gonna' walk around with the ammo belt on? Play imitation GI Joe? Somehow I don't have that impression of you from our previous dealings, Oro.

Anyway, some sellers like to add a lot of cheap extras in order to mask how crappy the gun is - it's the oldest practice in gun selling, car selling, any selling.

"Send your money for this crap, and if you do we'll send you crap....... send your money quick and you get this other crap, and But Wait! send money REAL quick we'll send you two of all the previous crap.

Point is - you end up with a lot of crap and a crappy initial interest item.

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

As the owner and shooter of 30+ M1s for about 20 years now, I'd say it's a little high. Having the accessories is nice, but the important part is the rifle. With low MW and TE, properly-fitted stock and new springs, it probably shoots and functions fine.

Any 'Originality' went out the window the moment the rifle went through GI cleaning party, or spent any time in an arms room. Early 1950s rebuilds have characteristics, and a nice example of a rifle that went through rebuild in that period is worth somewhat more than that to a serious collector. But, this isn't one of those rifles.

It's no steal, but no ripoff either. (Unless that receiver has been welded, and that dark refinish is an effort to cover that up..then it's worth the sum of the rest of the parts).

 

[Orlando]

Its a $600.00 Service Grade with a few extras. $700.00 - $ 750.00tops for the Garand plus a few bucks for the extras.

 

[skidooman603]

I'de put actual value closer to $800-$850 with ammo ect. I've seen eblocs loaded for $8.00 each with HXP lately. As said above, a pretty rifle that probably shoots well. You couldn't be sure to get a CMP service grade that nice if ya ordered. Then there is the wait. They don't even have any SG's in the North store to walk in and buy one.. You want to shoot a Garand right now? You could make worse deals.

 

[skidooman603]

I've got a SG I no longer need I would sell for $799

 

[Orlando]

Actually the Service Grades have been coming out with parkerizing with very little wear and new commercial Boyds stocks. You are right that there are none in the stores and there is a wait

 

[skidooman603]

Yep I just got one a couple months ago however...You are never sure that "yours" will be one of those. I will agree that the SG's coming lately have been gems.