‘An arduous task,’ Bringing back 86,000 M1 Garands from the Far East

Guns.com ^ | 05/11/18 | Chris Eger

[Simon Green]

The military of the Philippines had warehouses full of vintage M1 rifles. Getting them back to the U.S. was an epic struggle.

The Garand Collector’s Association, which has been helping the Civilian Marksmanship Program inventory and classify a literal shipload of repatriated M1s, produced the above video chronicling the return to the states of some 86,000 Garands loaned to the Philippines over the years. Fighting poor storage, threats of critters and hazardous materials, the CMP invested millions in cleaning the guns, packing and sending them via truck, train and ship back to Alabama.

It goes almost without saying that accurately accounting for and transporting approximately 90,000 small arms from the other side of the globe is challenging under any circumstances,” noted the Army’s Defense Logistics Agency in their coverage of the event. “Throw in termite infestation, monsoon season, and asbestos contamination, and you will have a recipe for disaster.”

The good news is that, while some of the guns are in bad shape and have been bubbafied by Filipino field gunsmiths unknown, others are in amazingly good shape.

[jmacusa]

Still a damn good rifle.

[rktman]

I can help get at least one back here. Well if the CMP pays my plane fare.

[BBQToadRibs]

“...while some of the guns are in bad shape and have been bubbafied by Filipino field gunsmiths unknown...”

LOL! I don’t know why, but that cracked me up.

[Simon Green]

Still a damn good rifle.

Absolutely. Got mine from the CMP many moons ago for $165. These days they charge a lot more.

[jmacusa]

Get hit with a .30 caliber round and it’s dirt nap time.

[BeauBo]

I wonder how long till they start selling this batch?

[Tenacious 1]

I already have one, I think, sort of. Well... a boat,.. and... well.

Wait, is this an assault rifle?

J/K ;o)

[Simon Green]

I wonder how long till they start selling this batch?

I'm guessing a year or so.

[Charles Martel]

Those Filipinos used whatever was available.

[Red Badger]

I’ll take a few............

[glorgau]

> bubbafied

Hah!

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

[luvbach1]

I’ll never forget them. Deafened my left ear (protected by right ear by pressing it against the stock) on the firing line in 1961 basic training at Ft. Ord. Ear protection was for sissies in those days.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

...bubbafied

With apologies to Bubba in "Forrest Gump"

"Garand M1 is the iron horse of the battlefield.
You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it and it still keeps shooting.
There's, um, Garand M1 kabobs, Garand M1 creole, Garand M1 gumbo, pan fried, deep fried, stir fried. There's pineapple Garand M1 and lemon Garand M1, coconut Garand M1, pepper Garand M1, Garand M1 soup, Garand M1 stew, Garand M1 salad, Garand M1 in potatoes, Garand M1 burger, Garand M1 sandwich. That's, that's about it."

[The Pack Knight]

Absolutely. Got mine from the CMP many moons ago for $165. These days they charge a lot more.

They do, but they still aren't a bad deal. I just ordered one. I still regret not getting a 1903 from the back in the day.

The prices they just announced for 1911s are crazy, though. $850 for rack grade, and $1,050 for service grade. I think all the actual collectors items are being auctioned, so why wouldn't I just buy a new 1911 from Colt, Springfield, or Kimber for the same price or less?

[BBell]

“bubbafied”. There are “bubbas” everywhere.

[WayneS]

Me too.

[Simon Green]

The prices they just announced for 1911s are crazy, though. $850 for rack grade, and $1,050 for service grade. I think all the actual collectors items are being auctioned, so why wouldn't I just buy a new 1911 from Colt, Springfield, or Kimber for the same price or less?

People aren't going to buy US-marked 1911s to shoot them. Oh, they may put a box of ammo through them just for kick and grins...but these are now pieces of collectable militaria, even the ones in lousy condition.

[BipolarBob]

I’d hate to get one that’d been converted to full auto - bubbafied style.