[Joe Brower]

I bought my first CMP M1 Garand over ten years ago, and ended up giving it to my brother for Christmas. I created a monster... now he has six of 'em, including a sniper version and a tanker model converted to .308 Win. $:-)

I replaced mine of course, and I wrote the CMP fellows a nice note asking for another WWII vintage if they could manage it (the first was 1942 era and almost 100% Springfield). Well, those boyz sent me a mint 1943-vintage that was all original except for the barrel. Unlike the first one, this second purchase was BLACK with cosmoline -- took me two weeks and a gallon and a half of mineral spirits to get it clean.

Life is good!

[MHGinTN]

You can afford to do a lot with a $200 functioning carbine