Posted on 05/11/2018 11:33:51 AM PDT by 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.
If I could turn the of profit they stand to make I would invest millions also.
If they average 500.00 each that is 43,000,000 a slight profit.
M1 afficianados (of which I am not one) should watch the 15 min video at the linked site. I don’t have anything in particular to say, except a great many of the rifles they have and will most likely sell will have *negative* value.
HOLY CRAP I’d be in Heaven in that warehouse...
I hear the ran about 100,000 through a metal shredder about the time Clinton was in office.
I was trained on one many moons ago when I was a junior Squid. I eventually want to get one WWII Garand in top condition...I know its going to cost a good chunk of change. Right now I’m still collecting all the Nazi contract pistols.
direct to video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1-bshef-G8
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Google Filipino ghost guns on youtube.
They do have quite a bark, don’t they? Had a couple on the line at an Appleseed event, and I had forgotten to put my plugs back on. Ouch.
Always shot mine with hearing protection on.
“Ear protection was for sissies in those days.”
A buddy of mine, who has two hearing aids, used to shoot a S&W .357 magnum without ear protection.
My younger son is a bit smarter. He just purchased a Surefire 9mm suppressor. He has a (legal) 9mm SBR (AR)and a Glock 19. Waiting for the tax stamp on the can. Good bye ear muffs!
I’ve got a video of Mrs. L shooting a Garand at a local club. They were hosting a Zombie Shoot (what a gas!) and they had a bunch of Garands available.
She put 7 out of 8 on Steel at 100 yards from the standing position the first time she touched one. The instructor was astounded and quite frankly so was I.
Now she wants one.
What a woman.
L
1st marines went ashore in Guadalcanal with the 1903 a3. The army then renforced them with m1s. The fighting was still hot. When a Army wounded guy left the garand stayed. Wasn’t long after that the marines made it their battle rifle. Patton said the garand was the reason the US won the war. The marines1st was first in the garand was the last out.
Another member of the FR Boating Club does it again!
In 1964 at ROTC Summer Camp I violated orders and saved my hearing by stuffing my ears with cotton, which was otherwise used to spit shine my boots.
I’m sorry for your loss. I read your tag line. Anyone who thinks the greatest generation is gone is full of it. They live with us and sacrifice for us and they are still serving. Always have and will as long as there is a USA. God bless you and your family. All gave some. Some gave all.
A buddy of mine, who has two hearing aids, used to shoot a S&W .357 magnum without ear protection.
___________________________________________
When I received my S&W Model 19 .357 I went out to an open area near where my parents lived and put two rounds through it at about 4:00 p.m. and didn’t use any ear protection, just because I wanted to know what those rounds sounded like. WOW!! My ears were still ringing at 10:00 p.m. that night. That was in 1968. I still have the revolver.
What ever happened to all of those Korean M1’s that obama refused to let in.
Just so you all know...
I’m volunteering to carry them back home, six at a time... two slung on each shoulder, and one in each hand...
It’ll take a couple days, so if you don’t see me on here for a bit... that’s why... but don’t worry.... I’ll make sure there’s one for each of us....
Really. I will... :^)
The first M-1 Garands used in combat was by the 31st Infantry Regiment on Luzon, PI, in December, 1941, is one of the tidbits of history I learned from the US Army Center of Military History while working there. The sending of several thousand M-1’s to the Philippines during either late 1940 or early 1941 was one of the modernization of the US Army’s Philippine Division.
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