New M1 Garand

[DDrake]

I been looking at the Garand and thinking it would be real nice to have one I understand you can get a real one from CMP, but I am not interested in having an old-beatup one. I want something reliable and wondering if any companies make a garand, exactly like the old ones. So basically, does anyone manufactor the M1 Garand today or must you buy upgraded copy-cats?

 

[Will Learn]

http://www.odcmp.com/Services/Rifles/m1garand.htm#Rack

 

[270Win]

A very good friend of mine just had a real piece of art built for him by Charlie Maloney. I don't know how much it cost, but it's an absolute beauty. I would recommend Mr. Maloney without hesitation, based on a detailed inspection of my friend's Garand.

On a related note, those old beat-up ones are steeped in history, which can be half the joy of owning one...

 

[Eightball]

*sigh*

Springfield Armory makes a "new" M1 GARAND out of a cast reciever for about $1,200, and what could very well be parts left over from WWII. Or you can get one from the CMP from about ~$395+, and send it somewhere like Dean's Gun Restoration to get a work of art in return.

Though, my old "beat up one" has been incredibly reliable--for the last 60 years. If you want to get "new", you can, but the old "beat up warhorses" were forged, not cast recievers, and will probably be around long after anyone reading this is 6 feet under. To each their own, but you grow to love the "beat up" look.

 

[Trebor]

I want something reliable and wondering if any companies make a garand, exactly like the old ones.

No, no one makes commercial Garands "Exactly like the old ones."

The commercial Garands use cast receivers that may, or may not, be in spec to the original blueprints. USGI Garands from the CMP use the original forged receiver, manufactured to the original specs.

Commercial Garands use a mixture of old, refinished USGI surplus parts and newly made commercial parts. The commercial parts may be cast instead of machined, or may have other altertations in the design when compared to the original specs for those parts.

If you want a "new" Garand, the best thing to do is get the highest grade CMP Garand available and send it out to a good smith for a rebuild. The only non-USGI parts I'd use in one of my rifles are the barrel and the stock. There are "match grade" commercial barrels available in both .30 -'06 and .308 and the quality is usually as good, if not better, then the GI barrels. A new stock can also improve the looks of the rifle without sacrificing quality.

I never understand the guys who want a commercial copy of the Garand, using parts that don't meet mil-spec, instead of a authentic USGI gun. "New" does not always mean "Better."

Looks aren't as important as performance, although you can make a GI gun look like new if you want to spend the cash.

 

[HorseSoldier]

+1 on the "buy a CMP anyway, and let someone restore it" route. Or don't -- you may not want to bother with it, depending on the condition of the rifle when you get it.

In the specific case of the M1 Garand, new production is never going to happen at the quality level it was back in the late 1930s to the 1950s. They just can't afford to build them like that anymore, due to increases in labor costs, materials costs, etc.

 

[Neo-Luddite]

I almost BEGGED SA Geneseo to sell me a new one a year and a half ago. All they had was a commemorative to sell me. . They are nice folks--buy a pistol from them. The lifetime warranty they offer is not compelling when planning on weapon longevity likely to exceed the company that made it.

The original receivers are so durable no one has yet to make any sort of prediction (that I've seen) as to when they will cease to be useful as field weapons as a group. The metallurgy and design met at a moment in the 1930's when it would have NOT been possible only 20 years before to even make the things. You could make a better M-1 today, but no one is. There is no compelling reason.


Another lessor factor of legality: an original is a C/R firearm and a new one is not. That may unfortunately matter in some future place and time.

 

[jthuang]

+1 to what Trebor said. Get one from the CMP! You will have a gun that is (1) reliable; (2) economical to buy -- and will hold its value well; and (3) historically significant -- it has fought in a war and WON.

 

[ScottsGT]

Yes, go the CMP route. In a nut shell, if you get the "new" Garand from Springfield Inc. you will learn the history of the Garand and kick yourself later for not getting an original.
Here's my latest example. I wanted one to do as others here mentioned. I was going to rebarrel it, repark it, get a newly manufactured stock from the CMP with their cartouch on it. Get it looking 100% and functioning 100%, then wrap it back up in grease and paper and rebox it and save it for my sons 18th birthday in a couple of years.
What I got was a March of 1943 Garand with the original barrel and it came with an uncut oprod. I swapped out his oprod for one with the cut out to keep it from cracking, and I now have the uncut collectors item on E-bay for almost what I paid for the rifle. Will I get that much? I doubt it, but it never hurts to try. I have now decided against the repark and new stock, I used an old beat up stock I had, cleaned up the original finish and used cold blue to cover the bare metal parts and it blended in perfectly. On my sons 18th birthday, he'll get an original finish, original barrel and war torn stocked Garand. It functions at 100%, and tells a story of history when you pick it up. On the otherhand, I restored my first Garand when I got it 5 years ago, and it looks pretty, but just doesn't feel the same as that beat up stocked Garand with the 64 year old park job.
If you must have new condition, go the CMP route, and Deans Gun Restorations. YOu will be MUCH happier in the long run, and probably will spend less $$$, but it will take longer to get the finished product.

My restored Garand:

 

[DMK]

I went the CMP restoration route with my '43 Springfield, sending it to Dean's. I have a brand new Barnett .308 barrel in it, a brand new Wenig stock, absolutely beautiful gray parkerizing and a Turner 1903 sling.

For what I could have paid for a new Springfield Armory copy, I have a much nicer rifle that is just as good as new, if not better.

 

[gdvan01]

Another potential avenue to explore with respect to a Garand is Tony Giacobbe at:

www.garandguy.com

He's great to deal with and does very nice work.

 

[ScottsGT]

Hold off till this summer. You didn't hear this from me, but the rumor mill has it that this summer the CMP is going to start offering rebarrled, reparked, restocked and everything updated ready to rock and roll M1 Garands.
All I'm saying is that you need to do some reading over on Culvers Shooting Page. Remember though.....mums the word. Shhhhh......

 

[DaveTN]

but I am not interested in having an old-beatup one.

Then buy a new original Garand. CMP has a set of consecutive serial number NEW never been issued or fired Garands. The set is $25K.
(Oh sure... now you don't want "New"... )

I would (and did) go the CMP route. You can have a lot higher quality rifle for a lot less money than buying a copy. Also it will be appreciating; copies will be depreciating.

I just ordered a new Wenig stock for mine.

 

[MechAg94]

Hold off till this summer. You didn't hear this from me, but the rumor mill has it that this summer the CMP is going to start offering rebarrled, reparked, restocked and everything updated ready to rock and roll M1 Garands.
All I'm saying is that you need to do some reading over on Culvers Shooting Page. Remember though.....mums the word. Shhhhh......

I can't remember who said this, but it sounds like something I might be interested in. Might have to haul one of my Garands to a gun show before this summer, see if I get any takers. With the pricing on carbines, I wonder if the CMP pricing on something like that will be worth it. It might be better to find a good gun smith to rebuild a rack grade.

 

[jkingrph]

I have a new Springfield Armory Garand, Yes the recieve is cast. It looks and functions well. As I understand they use new barrels, and many other parts are surplus which are inspected to meet their specifications. At the time I bought it I did not want, nor have the time to jump through the hoops and take my chances with a CMP gun. I might do that now, but I am throughly pleased with the one I have now as an excellent shooter. I do not know about the " originals" but this one will feed empty cases from the clip as slick as feeding loaded ammo, cycling the bolt by hand.

 

[jthuang]

All I'm saying is that you need to do some reading over on Culvers Shooting Page. Remember though.....mums the word. Shhhhh......

Link to AR15.com

The real question is -- will they be the same price as current? If the real delay is 1+ years then I really can't see the prices holding steady ....

 

[DaveTN]

Hold off till this summer. You didn't hear this from me, but the rumor mill has it that this summer the CMP is going to start offering rebarrled, reparked, restocked and everything updated ready to rock and roll M1 Garands.
All I'm saying is that you need to do some reading over on Culvers Shooting Page. Remember though.....mums the word. Shhhhh......

I’m pretty familiar with the CMP and have been to Anniston and seen their set-up.
I’m no expert, but I'm calling’ these “rumors”

First off… the CMP is a tax exempt not-for-profit organization that was created by Congress. Going into business against private companies that restore Garands would put that in jeopardy.

Secondly… They have a very small staff that takes weeks or months to inspect and prepare rifles for sale when they get shipments. They don’t have the manpower to start restoring rifles.

If you want a Garand… get one. If you want an M1 Carbine, they will be released for sale at the end of the month.

Oh... and if you want to know what’s going on at CMP go to their forum.