SA M1- Collector Grade or Not?

[ahhartenstein]

I recently purchased my very first M1, a Springfield that is all WWII except for the rear sight assy. which is a T105E1. I thought it was a collector grade firearm when I bought it but now I am not sure. All parts are SA including the Receiver (1943), Bolt (1943), Barrel (June 1945), Trigger Group (1945), Op Rod (1942) and Stock (1945). Do I need to restore my M1 to the "original from the SA factory configuration (all parts within 3 months of the Receiver S/N date)" in order for it to be a collector grade M1 or is it ok as it is? Should I just replace the rear sight so it is all WWII? Leave it alone completely? Is it recommended that I restore my M1? This novice M1 collector appreciates any response. Thanks! Adam

 

[monsternav]

Here is CMP's definition of Collectore Grade:

Collector Grade Rifles are mechanically the same as Service Grade but have all original parts and metal finish as shipped from the manufacturer, with the appropriate inspector's cartouche on the stock. Finish will show little wear and wood will have a few handling marks and minor dings and scratches. Data sheets prepared by CMP armorers are included in the butt trap of each Collector Grade Rifle. These rilfes are in excellent condition and show little or no use.

I think they were $1200 (they are not taking orders anymore). Yours does not sound like that.

If it's a shooter I would leave it alone, but that's just me. I'm not in to trying to make Mil-Surps "correct". I think it is a waste of time and money.

Please post some pictures we all can enjoy!

A little rifle pr0n never hurt anyone.

 

[Gator]

Unfortunately, even if you restore it with the correct parts, it will never be a "Collector Grade"; it will be a restoration. "Collector Grades" were sold by the CMP and will come with identifying paperwork. Yours sounds like a very nice rifle that was rebuilt at the end of WWII, as such it has some collector interest as is. There should be a rebuild mark on the right front receiver leg.

If it were mine I'd change the rear sight knobs and pinion and leave the rest alone.

 

[Swampy]

Unfortunately, even if you restore it with the correct parts, it will never be a "Collector Grade"; it will be a restoration. "Collector Grades" were sold by the CMP and will come with identifying paperwork. Yours sounds like a very nice rifle that was rebuilt at the end of WWII, as such it has some collector interest as is. There should be a rebuild mark on the right front receiver leg.

Ditto....

ahhartenstein, You have a nice run of the mill M1 shooter as things stand now. You can restore it to "Correct Grade" status by replacing all parts with original era ones, but it will never be "Collector Grade".

Doing so as a personal labor of love is fine, but would not be financially feasible as the cost of original era parts would cost more than a restoration is worth.

A correct buttstock with cartouche will set you back several hundred $$$... and that's if you can find one. Same for the correct barrel in shootable condition.

Better to accept it for what it is.... a good shooter grade M1.... same as 99% of all the rest of them, and enjoy it.

Just my thoughts.

Best to all,
Swampy

Garands forever

owner SWAMPWORKS INC. / JLK Bullets
http://www.swampworks.com

 

[ScottsGT]

How come Garands are starting to sound like AKC registered dogs lately?? How do we know that the 'smiths at the CMP are not doing the same thing (mixing parts to make correct) and printing out a sheet of paper, registering it as "Collector Grade" and charging $1200 for it? I can see paying high prices for some of the NIW rifles found, but what goes on behind closed doors in Alabama?

 

[Swampy]

How do we know that the 'smiths at the CMP are not doing the same thing (mixing parts to make correct) and printing out a sheet of paper, registering it as "Collector Grade" and charging $1200 for it?

Scott,

The CMP IS doing this for the "Correct Grade"..... hence the term. Collector Grades are supposed to be "as sent from the factory", no parts switching. You could be a skeptic and think that the CMP might be switching parts to create "Collectors", but they have recently run out of "Collectors" and now are only showing availability on the "Corrects.

Just my thoughts,

Best to all,
Swampy

Garands forever

 

[MechAg94]

If the CMP sends you that little piece of paper saying it is "collector's grade" then I wouldn't care much if they did that from a money point of view.

 

[HankB]

How do we know that the 'smiths at the CMP are not doing the same thing (mixing parts to make correct) and printing out a sheet of paper, registering it as "Collector Grade" and charging $1200 for it?

We don't know. In fact, if the parts are "correct" and the finish matches, there's no readily apparent way for the CMP armorers to determine whether or not some parts were replaced by an armorer at some point in the rifle's past.

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if, during their inspection process, the CMP's armorers were taking a stack of "mixmasters" and swapping parts around to assemble some "correct" grades out of them. My last Greek SG SA came with an HRA bolt - the rifle had the original park and original barrel, with ME 1 and TE 2, but the bolt had that dead black Greek finish. Hmmm . . .

 

[ScottsGT]

But I find it amazing that CMP can swap parts, print the paper with the SN on it and get $1200. But let someone like me or you spend countless hours researching numbers and searching the country for parts, and it is only a $600-$800 shooter.
BTW, I'm not knocking the CMP here, Two of my best guns are from the CMP, and I just sold a gun and I'm thinking of another Garand.

 

[Swampy]

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if, during their inspection process, the CMP's armorers were taking a stack of "mixmasters" and swapping parts around to assemble some "correct" grades out of them. My last Greek SG SA came with an HRA bolt - the rifle had the original park and original barrel, with ME 1 and TE 2, but the bolt had that dead black Greek finish. Hmmm . . .

But they ARE doing this....
That is what a "Correct Grade" IS !!!! by CMP's OWN DEFINITION !!!!

No secret. No mystery. Nothing being hidden.

For definition of "Collector Grade"... see above posts.

Best regards,
Swampy

Garands forever