Posted on 06/07/2012 5:33:05 AM PDT by marktwain
Just in time for the 68th anniversary of D-Day.
The importation of as many as 87,000 M1 Garands gathering dust in South Korean storage may soon get the green light for importation to the US. Special thanks is due to Montana Senator John Tester and Representative Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming who introduced legislation to prevent the US government from interfering with the importation of US-made guns that were previously exported to other countries. In the face of this pressure, the State Department will no longer prohibit the exportation of these M1 Garands back to the US.
"From World War II to Korea and Vietnam, M1 Garand rifles played a crucial role in history," Tester said. "These American-made firearms will always be valued as collector's items, and law-abiding Americans have the right to keep them under our Constitution's Second Amendment. I'm glad the State Department listened to my concerns and those of America's gun collectors."
These rifles, which are completely legal in the US, and are even considered to be Curios & Relics because of their explicit value as collectible firearms, had been previously blocked for reasons ranging from wanting to protect US firearms manufacturing interests to ostensibly keeping guns off the streets, billing the M1 Garands as high-power, high-capacity semi-automatic rifles too dangerous for Americans.
With the State Department reversing their position, the US and South Korean governments will be working to find an importer to bring these Garands home. They will be distributed through the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), the government-chartered organization that promotes riflery and firearms safety.
The condition of these M1 Garands has not been established, but in the past, the CMP has rebuilt Garands into like new condition with new Walnut stocks and new Criterion barrels, both in their original chambering, .30-06 Springfield and also in .308 Winchester.
We really like M1 Garands in .308, as they can still use en-block clips in addition to being chambered in a more modern, more versatile, and importantly, more available cartridge.
This is good news for all the fans of the M1 Garand, both as an elegant, reliable, and attractive rifle as well as a firearm that is truly part of American history. The bad news is that waiting will be hard. Still, the CMP has more than a few M1 Garands on-hand. You can see what rifles they have for sale right here.
CMP doesn’t make mods like that on most of the rifles they sell. Most are just cleaned up and test fired and evaluated for condition and then sold. I have four M1s from CMP and none came with new barrel or in .308, or whathaveyou. Of course you can also get them “refurbished” if you desire.
The Garand I got from CMP was one of their “Service Grade” guns. It was not rebuilt. Shoots great! I need another as my oldest son “thinks it’s his” since he shoots it so much.
“My understanding is they cannot shoot today’s .30-06 ammo. It’s a liability issue.”
Several Ammo Makers make 30-06 ammunition specifically for the Garand.
You can also install an adjustable gas plug in it.
It has always been thus with SK.
Carbines are great. You can get a Ruger Blackhawk SA chambered for the same round. Both are really fun to shoot.
I remember reading that reason before, and that's not right at all. Montana Senator John Tester and Representative Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming need to go for the whole package.
Where is the Alabama Store? I am in Montgomery area.
What a great story. My uncle was also a part of that break out force that made it to the Yalu River. He told me that while his unit was waving at the Chinese across the river, the counter attack had started down the way a bit. He with his Garand (he told me he hated the carbine) ran all the way back to the starting point. He mentioned that most of the Chinese soldiers he shot at were hopped up on something because they just kept on coming.
I have a deep hatred of Asian Mercantilists. They took the protection we offered and the open access to our markets and used them solely for their own interests.
Thanks for the ping, Joe. I want one of these. One quibble w/ the article tho’ - this line: “and are even considered to be Curios & Relics because of their explicit value as collectible firearms” shows what little the author knows about the C&R designation. They are C&R due to age and age only. Every firearm made 50 or more years ago is a C&R, which means we get more and more of ‘em every year.
Two separate deals. The M! Garands and even more M1 Carbines. They are letting the Garands back in but are denying the re-importation of the Carbines.
Get your thumb out of the way... ;-)
According to the email I got from the CMP (which I can’t find) they will not be involved with these M1s. These will be sold thru private dealers (SOG, J&G, etc.) only.
CMP will not re-barrel most of these. Most will be graded and offered according to their scale: field grade, service grade, correct grade, collector grade, and special, with prices according to the grade. CMP is usually pretty conservative in their grading.
I have a couple of field grade Springfield WWII era returns from Denmark that I went to the store and picked from the racks which were in very nice condition. I have a Harrington&Richardson Korean war era service grade which I ordered which looks pristine.
Unless you get a special grade rifle you will be getting 30’06 caliber. Just a hint, if you can go to Anniston that is the best way to buy your M1 and be prepared to stay two or three hours, it’s really cool!
Also another tip, CMP is a good source for 30’06 ammo. Commercial ammo unless it specifically says manufactured for the M1 garand should not be used in your garand as the pressures are not the same and will eventually damage your rifle. You can get around this by buying and installing an adjustable gas cylinder on your rifle.
If you go to Anniston sometimes you run across Springfield 1903’ or Enfield 1917’s on the shelf which are put out as CMP gets them. Before leaving just make sure you have all your paperwork submitted to CMP and meet all their criteria which isn’t hard. Good hunting!
I wish they sell some M-14s. Did Clinton dump all of those in the ocean?
***My gun dealer retired,***
If you order from the CMP the rifle will be shipped to you by mail. Now I believe it is shipped bu FEDX. The ONLY firearm I ever picked up at the post office!
As long as the ATF exists those will never see the civilian market because of their stupid "once a machine gun, always a machine gun" rule.
If I could get one CMP re-chambered to 7.62 NATO that bad boy would be mine so fast it’d make your head spin.
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