Garand Collecting

[eclancy]

Gentlemen,
I have been around M1 Garand collecting for over 30 years. I started back in the days of $99 M1's under the old DCM. I just want to ask you guys why, in about the past 5 years, there has been such a massive increase in not only collecting the M1 Garand, but all US military firearms, mostly WW 2 rifles, Carbines and sidearms. Basically, what got you interested in this field of collecting?

www.garandm1rifle.com
Thanks again
Clancy
Looking for Sponsors or Donations soon
NRA Life Endowment
NRA Training Counselor
NRA Instructor
90% / BW X Speed Div by 1000 = PF
__________________

 

[striker3]

Basically, it is just something different. I started out collecting cowboy weapons, moved on to black rifles, then semi-auto handguns, now I just got my first garand and am looking at getting my C&R. Each type of weapon I own comes from a different stage in my life and reflects what I studied at the time.

 

[gm]

the quality and care that went into them,their historical value and couldnt help myself after watching "a bridge too far".."band of brothers"..."saving pvt ryan" and among others.

its like having a piece of history right here.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Collecting surplus rifles combines my interests in military history and shooting perfectly. Nothing like taking an old milsurp to the range. Just holding one, I can't help but wonder where it has been and what it has done.

I agree with GM, Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers probably got alot of folks interested in collecting old US weapons.

-jagd

 

[DMK]

I love history. I like reading about it, learning about it, talking about it. I'm also a techie and a large part of my interest is the technology advances of the industrial age. The golden age of air flight, automobiles, etc.

Twentieth century firearms hold considerable interest for me. Being an American and being proud of my country, U.S. firearms are especially interesting. The Garand being a mechanical marvel, and being the first widely issued semi-auto is a great centerpiece to my collection. Getting to know it better, I've found it's also a great rifle on it's own merits and a lot of fun to shoot.

 

[Eat Beef]

I've always been interested in/ loved/ wanted a Garand, along with an M1A, a 1911,.........and every other US weapon from the 1903 up to but not including that plastic thing......, but I have only recently reached the point in my life where I can afford them.

I wish I could afford more.

I don't know if I really qualify for this thread, though, as I am more of a shooter than collecter, but one must collect them before he can shoot them.

 

[Gordon Fink]

I had a lack of rifles in my armory.

~G. Fink

 

[Dienekes]

Nothing new, actually. Don't think I ever had a choice; my father was a WWII veteran, ROTC (required) taught me the manual of arms and drill with the Garand, and then there was "Combat!" on TV.

Just loaded up another 1000 rounds of M2 equivalent so I plan to be shooting mine for a while yet.

Ping.

 

[MechAg94]

I admit I got my first Garand a little bit after Private Ryan came out. It was the military rifle/semiauto/history that snagged me. It was 2nd hand from a dealer at a gun show. Not the best price, but I didn't know about CMP at the time. I learned my lesson later and got an H&R service grade from CMP.

For me, it is a good, solid, accurate rifle that has historical/collectable value. It wasn't that I waited until the movies came out to get it, it was just a matter of being a few years out of college and finally having some decent disposable income to spend on a developing hobby (shooting). I grew up with my Dad's M14's and this was very similar and cheaper.

 

[byf43]

I purchased my first M1 Garand back during the DCM days. What used to be $94.00 delivered really caught my interest. $94.00 back then was a lot of money. My rifle however, wound up costing $165.00 thanks to congress, and the resulting price increase.

My fascination / desire to own, came from the first time that I saw the old TV shows "Combat" and "The Gallant Men". (The ORIGINAL episodes!!! I wish that I could find re-runs or the DVD versions! Hint, hint. . . .)


There's just 'something' about that gorgeous rifle.

My rifle was built in November, 1943. I wish that it could tell me what kind of life it had, where it had been, before I 'adopted' it!

 

[Steve in PA]

Had the Garand bug since I was a kind watching "Combat" (not the re-runs ) and finally got around to buying one several years ago. Since then I've added a 1903A3, plus about 8 other WWII era mil-surps.

 

[Leatherneck]

I think the widespread support for the Military since 9/11 may have something to do with it of late. My personal interest came about by accident when I was the only gun guy at an estate auction and I got an M1 carbine for $150 and a SA Garand for $250. Since then, I've realized that the workmanship on the WW II MILSURPS is generally superior to anything you can reasonably buy today. Now, if only CMP would start flooding the marketplace with M-14s!

TC

 

[Paradiddle]

Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers and many of the WWII first person shooter computer games has done more to boost the values of WWII rifles lately then anything else IMO.