Florida Shooters Network

I am trying to figure out how to value these rifles that have come up with a possible pending deal. I know I need to get more information than what I have written about and pictured. I figured I would post what I have learned so far to get feedback and see what pieces I need to figure out. I was told these four are in great shape and are cleaner than anything else I would see at a gun show (I know anyone selling something will say how great they are.) They are all WW2 rifles, all have springfield parts, however I was told all the numbers do NOT match on them. If they did match I was told they were of course much more valuable. Thank you ahead of time for the help with this.

I was told:

The first rifle was made between 12/1944 - 03/1945 and is valued at $1700

The second was made between 06/1943 - 09/1943 and is valued at $1200

The third was made between 06/1944 - 09/1944 and is valued at $1200

The fourth was made 09/1942 - 12/1942 and is valued at $1200.

Those are some hefty values

There ARE no numbers to match on a Garand. Only manufacturers. For example, you could have an International Harvester bolt, HRA trigger group, Springfield hammer, etc. etc.

To figure out a proper value on the Garand, you need MUCH more information. First and foremost, the barrels. You need to know whose barrels they are, what dates they are, and the muzzle/throat erosion readings. A Springfield with a 1944 barrel with tight readings will be worth MUCH MUCH more than a '55 barrel that's loose as a 55 year old hooker. Any marks on the stocks? Whose internal parts are on the rifles? (Op rod, sights, hammer, FCG, safety, gas tube, gas plug, front sight).

For $1200 it should be a helluva nice rifle. For $2, it'd better be damned factory correct. If you're just looking for a shooter grade, I've got a pair of Garands I'm selling, a Harvester and an HRA. Nearly half as cheap as this guy's.

Serial numbers as compared to the engineering revision numbers can be matched, sort of.
All those dated would have lock bar sights, milled trigger guards, uncut op-rods to be considered "original".
Values over $1k should be awfully nice rifles with low muzzle and throat wear.
Field Grade mix-masters from the CMP are roughly half the prices mentioned. Special Grade gets new wood and new barrels for under $1k.
The Correct Grade I bought six years ago was delivered to my door for a little over $950. And it is, well was now, an unfired Springfield from 1955 with great looking wood, a few handling dings and all correct for the rifle revision numbered parts.
Hope that helps.

They look like older CMP Service Grades and the Seller bought them for between $4-600 and he is looking to double/triple his money on each..... pass up this "Fantastic" deal and let some other sucker get hosed, then go right to the source and get yours direct: http://www.odcmp.com/ you could get 10! Garands from the CMP and still have a little $ left over for shipping and ammo!

If you're looking to insure them, use those numbers. If you're looking to buy them, you can do better. If you're looking to sell them, good luck! I've got a couple of Garands that have been redone, new wood, new barrels, repark, and all new springs, worn parts replaced with NOS. I would be happy to get $800 for each, I had them at a gun show where a lot of folks looked, a lot liked but nobody bought. The service and field grades I had both went for $600 each.

Thanks for everyones responses, I knew you would come through with amazing information. I felt like it was not a great deal based on what I had seen on gunbroker and other boards. Now you guys are really going to laugh, he said those prices were appraised two years ago, so these are just going up in value. Right off the bat, I think I am going to pass this "fantasic" deal before I even get anymore information.

Since the subject came up, are the CMP rifles a good deal or would I be better off buying one from the board? Would being a NRA member be enough to purchase a CMP rifle? Will there be a time when they no longer offer the m1 grandes?

Thanks again for everyones feedback, I really app it.

Bryan, NRA membership won't qualify for the CMP requirements, but there are plenty of other clubs that do. There are a finite number of Garands coming back, so they will eventually run out, but in the mean time the quality just continues to go down as the good ones go first, of course. I saw a friend of mine's service grade Garand from '82 and its brand new, still with paper in the barrel, and I think it was $300-$400. Today they don't even have that many service grades left, and they come with new wood and cost $895. Field grades are plenty fine shooters, but will be worn, and could have significant wear in the barrels. Keep in mind that ordering from the CMP will likely take at least a month, possibly two, and there are a few forms to fill out, so you may find it's worth your extra money to buy a rifle from an individual. For the $495 plus $22.95 shipping, you can't go wrong...I love my "new" HRA CMP Field Grade, but it was hand selected by a member here...not a luck of the draw. Shame you're not closer, I'd be more than happy to show you in person.

Either way, CMP has the best value in ammo right now, and that's drying up too, so order yourself a few cans of it. 200 rounds loose in a can for around $90.

try gca- garand collectors association for your qualifying membership for cmp
great magazine with articles from basic to highly esoteric

I recommend you get a copy of Scott Duff's "The M1 Garand Serial Numbers and Data Sheets" and a set of ME and TE gauges from Fulton Armory. For the price range quoted, I would be looking for:

1. The rifles to be close to CMP "Correct" grade.
2. The stocks have the correct cartouches on them.
3. Barrels have low ME and TE readings.

Duff's book will tell you what to look for in parts configurations given the serial number of the rifle.

Without knowing more, those prices are outrageous.

For an obvious Garand newby, I say you should keep looking. CMP is the way to go, if you can. And also don't spend anymore than maybe $800. And be sure the rifle has not been imported - it should say so on the barrel.

For a "collector" the barrel date should match the serial number range date.

For a "shooter", many Garands are & have been available through the CMP that were re-barreled between WWII and Korea - this is a good thing.

In general - a "shooter" should cost less than $800. A "collector" can go much higher, but you had better know what you are looking at. Garands are one of the most commonly "passed-off-as-being-worth-more-than-they-are guns" out there.

Get the Duff "Serial Numbers & Data Sheets" and "M1 Garand Owner's Guide" book.

Bryan2010x wrote:Thanks for everyones responses, I knew you would come through with amazing information. I felt like it was not a great deal based on what I had seen on gunbroker and other boards. Now you guys are really going to laugh, he said those prices were appraised two years ago, so these are just going up in value. Right off the bat, I think I am going to pass this "fantasic" deal before I even get anymore information.

Since the subject came up, are the CMP rifles a good deal or would I be better off buying one from the board? Would being a NRA member be enough to purchase a CMP rifle? Will there be a time when they no longer offer the m1 grandes?

Thanks again for everyones feedback, I really app it.

Bryan, here is an older post about the Club requirement post563952.html?hilit=CMP#p563952 basically you send the Garand Collectors Association $25 bucks and get your CCW and fill out the forms and send in your order. Go back to the top and put CMP in the search box and read all the previous posts..... everything is there or go to the CMP website and download/print the forms so you can see what is required. For $495+ $22.95 shipping you get a good shooting, serviceable Garand that has been checked by a trained CMP armorer.... not some blowhard trying to seperate you from most of your available shooting cash. Get that order in and give us a Range Report from the nice Public shooting range at Babcock-Webb that we on the East Coast will never have and can only dream about!

go for the higher grade guns and if you can get to anniston pick out your own gun
service grade buddy got was pretty nice
the special grades with new wood and barrel will likeley shoot better than you are capable
buddy just got one of them

cool, thanks for everyones feedback. I felt like it was a crappy deal but knew the board would help protect me from a bad deal. Thanks again, I will look up that info you guys posted.