Went to the local range 12/31/05 and saw an M1 Garand on a bench with a plastic camoflaged stock. Went to take a closer look and there was NO info stamped on the back of the receiver. The owner said pick it up and take a look and on the left side was info done with a vibrating tool that said "Made by C.A.I. St. Albens, Vt." I have buying from them for ten years and I did not know they ever made anything except for assembling parts from imports. Anybody know what this "M1" was and where the parts were made ?
CAI - M1 ?
- Thread starter Deles136
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mustanger98
Member
All the info I've gotten says the CAI M1 Garand is built with a USGI parts kit on a cast reciever of dubious quality and very little quality control. I've heard for a while the Garand assembly line was manned by the Keebler elves who were later fired and replaced by a bunch of drunk monkeys. If that guy's Garand runs like a Garand should, he got lucky that time.
Sunray
Member
Any firearm from Century is of dubious quality. Quality Control is unknown to them. When they were in Canada, they assembled thousands of Lee-Enfields out of parts bins without doing anything to ensure they were safe to shoot.
Swampy
Member
Deles,
The US loaned and sold M1 rifles to Denmark back in the 50's. The "loaned" rifles came back home to the US Army and were sold by the CMP.
The rifles we sold them were sold back to importers in Canada. Said importers stripped the rifles down for parts kits (since the receivers can't legally be brought into the US) and sent them across the border to Century Arms.
Century Arms had their own cast receiver made and installed the ex-Dane M1 parts kits onto them.
Reports vary widely of the quality and functioning of the Century M1's. Owners invariably have had either good luck or absolutely lousy luck with the rifles. There seems to be very little middle ground.
Tech inspection reports from various M1 mechanics around the country have not been very flattering to the Century receiver. Most M1 'smiths won't work on one....
Just my thougths,
Swampy
garands forever
The US loaned and sold M1 rifles to Denmark back in the 50's. The "loaned" rifles came back home to the US Army and were sold by the CMP.
The rifles we sold them were sold back to importers in Canada. Said importers stripped the rifles down for parts kits (since the receivers can't legally be brought into the US) and sent them across the border to Century Arms.
Century Arms had their own cast receiver made and installed the ex-Dane M1 parts kits onto them.
Reports vary widely of the quality and functioning of the Century M1's. Owners invariably have had either good luck or absolutely lousy luck with the rifles. There seems to be very little middle ground.
Tech inspection reports from various M1 mechanics around the country have not been very flattering to the Century receiver. Most M1 'smiths won't work on one....
Just my thougths,
Swampy
garands forever
armoredman
Member
Loaded dice.
ScottsGT
Member
Just get a receiver from the CMP and rebuild it! If I got a good deal on one, that's what I'd do.
Thanks to everyone for all of the information. The rifle I saw was just as the owner was leaving the range so I did not see it in action. He did not say he had any problems but he also did not know he had a make believe receiver. I think I would get a good receiver from CMP and use the parts as was suggested. He did say he paid $750 for the rifle at a gun show.
Thanks and happy new year,
Thanks and happy new year,
ScottsGT
Member
OUCH! $750 for a cast CAI?Deles136 said:
There's a sucker born everyday!
Swampy
Member
MAJOR rip off........
For $800 he could have gotten a "Correct Grade" M1 from the CMP... guaranteed to have all the correct parts for the period of the serial number. This is second only to the "Collector Grade" the CMP sells.
Swampy
Garands forever
mustanger98
Member
I remember when CAI was selling M1's for $388.88 and that was when I was wanting one and not knowing much about it. I didn't get one and then the offer was discontinued. Then I discovered the old Battlerifles.com- before it was assimilated by another outfit- and learned a lot there and heard more bad, and very little good if any, about CAI's Garands. For $420 delivered, I got a real good Service Grade Springfield repatriated from Denmark. For $40 extra I avoided a whole lot of headaches. If you want a Garand, go CMP.
I got my Garand receiver from the CMP last year. I asked for a WWII-issued one and got one manufactured Aug 1943. I sent it out to Dean's Gun Restorations and had him build it back up with USGI parts and a new barrel. I opted for .308 instead of .30-06, and it came back beautiful, good-shooting, and quickly became one of my favorite rifles. It's probably a bit heavier than the old WWII rifles because the wood is a tighter grain, but it's still very nice.
There's a guy locally here in San Jose that works on Garands for free, just because he's such a fan. He's had TERRIBLY muzzle-eroded rifles come in (rack grade from CMP), and just recrown the barrel, and got 2.5" groups. I've seen the target (it's hanging in the county range office). I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't.
Go CMP.
There's a guy locally here in San Jose that works on Garands for free, just because he's such a fan. He's had TERRIBLY muzzle-eroded rifles come in (rack grade from CMP), and just recrown the barrel, and got 2.5" groups. I've seen the target (it's hanging in the county range office). I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't.
Go CMP.
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