Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Up to 87,000 South Korean M1 Garands Coming Home
guns.com ^ | 6 June, 2012 | Max Slowik

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.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; cmp; freedom; garand; korea; liberty
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-105 next last
I will believe it when the price of Garands drops. Just where are the M1 carbines, anyway? I thought they were part of this deal.
1 posted on 06/07/2012 5:33:13 AM PDT by marktwain
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Sign me up.


2 posted on 06/07/2012 5:37:10 AM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lazamataz

M1 ping


3 posted on 06/07/2012 5:40:58 AM PDT by skeeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
Just where are the M1 carbines, anyway?

Good question. I believe I remember that there was a large cache of carbines that had been prohibited from import. Anyway, this is good news but, with the current administration, I'll hold my excitement until the CMP sends out the sales notice....

4 posted on 06/07/2012 5:43:08 AM PDT by awelliott
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

Hurts my thumb just looking at them.


5 posted on 06/07/2012 5:44:26 AM PDT by Dusty Road
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

From what I remember these are the Carbines, they use the .30 Carbine cartridge, NOT the 30-06.

Great for close quarter combat though. Short on range, qustionable performance against heavey winter clothing or simple first generation body armor.

Not something I would rush out to buy.


6 posted on 06/07/2012 5:45:33 AM PDT by Eye of Unk (Liberals need not reply.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
They still consider the M1 Carbine as a high capacity magazine.
7 posted on 06/07/2012 5:45:33 AM PDT by mountainlion (I am voting for Sarah after getting screwed again by the DC Thugs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eaker

M1 Garand ping


8 posted on 06/07/2012 5:49:49 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

The last I heard about this, the plan was to give Korean War vets and their families first dibs. Does this change that?


9 posted on 06/07/2012 5:50:05 AM PDT by tanknetter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

The price of Garands won’t drop. The demand for this batch will be HUGE. CMP will be absolutely inundated with orders.


10 posted on 06/07/2012 5:52:16 AM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

The pictures aren’t carbines. My gun dealer retired, so I would have to find a new one, but a sharp price drop on Garands might make it worth the effort to start looking.


11 posted on 06/07/2012 5:53:04 AM PDT by pallis
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
So let me get this straight. We gave these to the South Koreans so they could protect themselves, and now they are selling these back to the US Veterans that sacrificed so much for them.

Oh yeah, they need the money so they can now buy Korean made arms and build up their own industry while the US taxpayer who pays for their defense (30,000 US troops aren't cheap) sits unemployed.

Bastards - count me out.

12 posted on 06/07/2012 5:58:52 AM PDT by Last Dakotan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

I want to know how to know when the shipment will hit the sales racks at CMP. I’m within driving distance (maybe 3 hours) from the Alabama store, and will be there when doors open IF I can find out when first availability is.


13 posted on 06/07/2012 5:59:20 AM PDT by ctdonath2 ($1 meals: http://abuckaplate.blogspot.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
I doubt if the price will drop.

The last one I saw from Korea were in rough shape. Most weren't even usable as is.

If they are the same condition as the last ones I saw, it will take a good chunk of change just to get them back into usable condition.

14 posted on 06/07/2012 6:05:45 AM PDT by IMR 4350
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain

15 posted on 06/07/2012 6:08:15 AM PDT by shove_it (just undo it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: marktwain
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.

Why the CMP? I don't want a rifle thats been modified to specs I don't want. Just give me a plane ole M1 and I do the mods myself ....

16 posted on 06/07/2012 6:11:27 AM PDT by Robe (Rome did not create a great empire by talking, they did it by killing all those who opposed them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Eye of Unk
Great for close quarter combat though.

Not really...my uncle was a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient who fought in the Korean War. He was drafted in June 1950 straight out of high school, went through basic training that summer, and then became part of the Pusan Perimeter break-out force, ultimately going all the way to the Yalu River as part of a recon unit.

He was initially armed with a M1 carbine, but when the Red Chinese launched their big "volunteer" counter-attack in December 1950, he found that it was mostly useless.

Before he died at the age of 80 last year, my uncle told me while he was manning a foxhole alone, a Chinese soldier charged him with a bayonet and it took 10 .30 round to put him down. After that, he threw away his carbine and picked up the first Garand he could find and carried it for the rest of his service in Korea. One shot was all he needed after that.

17 posted on 06/07/2012 6:19:17 AM PDT by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

In BREAKOUT, Martin Russ’ incredible telling of the Chosin Campaign, he writes of the carbine’s inability to generate stopping power in extreme cold that was compounded when the target was wearing multiple thick layers.


18 posted on 06/07/2012 6:22:55 AM PDT by wtc911 (Amigo - you've been had.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ctdonath2
I think I know where all those rifles will end up...
19 posted on 06/07/2012 6:25:10 AM PDT by Arkansas Toothpick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Robe

My understanding is they cannot shoot today’s .30-06 ammo. It’s a liability issue.


20 posted on 06/07/2012 6:25:39 AM PDT by AppyPappy (If you really want to annoy someone, point out something obvious that they are trying hard to ignore)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 101-105 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson