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Posted: 1/5/2008 6:41:41 PM EDT
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I've never ordered anything from CMP, but I meet all the requirements, and would like to add a Garand to my collection. On the CMP web site, they list this: RM1SACR M1 Garand, Springfield Armory, Correct Grade. Only available in serial # ranges between 5.4 and 5.8 million. $950.00 Please allow 30-45 days for delivery. Some questions for the board: If I sent in an order form, would I get a rifle in that time frame? Do they have them in stock? Where are these models coming from? Is this a good price for a Garand of that quality? Anything to ask for with my order? Particular serial number range, or manufacturer locataion or anything else? Thanks, |
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You may or may not get the rifle in that amount of time. It just depends on how busy they are. I think all of their Garands are lend-lease type returns from other governments. Kind of like financial aid we gave to them. And I would say they are worth every penny. Especially the correct grades. If you read the descriptions, they are basically collectible rifles based on their parts, but the wood may have slight damage or the metal may show slight wear(finish). The ones that aren't damaged at all, are sold at auction as COLLECTIBLE. |
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current batch of Garands is a return from the Greek navy. these are US made rifles which were loaned to Greece as military assistance back in the 40's, 50's and 60's. They were subsequently returned to the US. CMP recently received a large transfer of these rifles from the US army (who the Greeks returned them to). They are in the process of sorting through them right now. The wait period is based on how quickly they are finding rifles of this grade. Chances are that if you placed an order now the SN you will eventually end up with has not been unpacked yet. With that said, the Correct Grade is an outstanding rifle that often looks brand new. Another one to consider would be a Service grade rifle. Often these rifles were rebuilt at a US arsenal and never used after that. They will have minor cosmetic wear, but the barrels will be new or close to new, and all parts will be in great shape. If I were to buy an M1 right now, that's most likely the grade I'd go for. |
Don't know what your experience is with the Service Grade, but that isn't an accurate description mine, or the other ones I have seen. |
it's accurate to me.. and I have almot 30 Garands from the CMP.......... |
Do tell, how many of those are Service grades, and how many of them came out of the current batch being sold as Service grade? Anybody can take a look at the pictures and descriptions of the Service Grades in this current batch, on the CMP Forum. There are plenty of them that need quite a bit of clean up, and I'm not talking cosmoline, and some people have even sworn off buying anymore. Unless they can make it to the store and pick them out themselves. |
Exactly, one guy was screaming and crying about the amount of wood damage his correct had. Orest pointed out to him, the metal mostly is what made his rifle a correct grade. If the wood didn't have the few character marks that it did, his rifle would have been sold at auction as a collector. |
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Exactly, one guy was screaming and crying about the amount of wood damage his correct had. Orest pointed out to him, the metal mostly is what made his rifle a correct grade. If the wood didn't have the few character marks that it did, his rifle would have been sold at auction as a collector. I purchased three correct grades and one collector. On two of the corrects I couln't tell a difference between them and the collector. All in all, my bestests happiest moments were opening up service grades (This was a couple years ago). Sure would be nice to go to either store and actually shop, but on the other hand, I wouldn't have any room for my AR's and M14's and anything esle I shoot. 
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i was at the south store last week. the rifles do NOT look purdy. many have wood that needs repair many have parts almost in the white. many of even the service grade would almost swallow a bore gage. i would consider the best of the lot they had on the shelves to be shooters but not much more. the 2000.00 NM rifles also looked a bit on the rough side. |
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Yuck. So what are people's thoughts about plunking down 950 bucks, sight unseen, for a "correct grade" right now? I've seen 600-900 dollar Garands on Gunbroker, where at least I can see what I'm getting, and where supposedly the rifles have been inspected and worked over. I don't want a museum piece, but for a grand, I expect a fully functional, battlefield accurate, totally reliable rifle with a stock that isn't worn and beaten up. Should I go the DCM route, or hunt and choose from Gunbroker? Thanks, |
gunbroker is a decent place, but i'd still go with CMP first. you don't know how bubba'd a rifle off gunbroker is. just because it's on GB doesn't mean it is in good shape. |
On a correct grade, you are paying more because the part numbers match to each other, for the time period in which the rifle was built. The condition of the wood may vary substantially from one copy to the other. If you are just looking for a shooter, get a service grade or field grade, and don't worry about the condition of the wood. With a little research and some time, you can get the wood looking good yourself. And that is really all you have to worry about when it comes to the wood. They aren't going to send you a rifle with bad wood, functionally. |
Both times I've ordered from them I've gotten my rifles in less than a month. Just make sure to have all the paper work done correctly, I've sent a money order each time I've ordered, I've read postings here of others using credit cards and waiting months for their orders to be posted open. 
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I am going to be the odd duck and go the other direction. I got a Field Grade just before Christmas. Here is a copy / paste of a post I made on the CMP Forum, including pics. I know not all of them turn out like this, but this is my 4th Garand in the last year and none of them have disappointed me. Give it a little TLC and you might be surprised. For $517 delivered, what's not to love??? With the extra $400 you could get two cases of Greek ammo and be in business for a while. I got a SA Field Grade (Serial # in the 5.8 Million range) a couple weeks ago and it was caked with cosmoline and the stock looked pretty ragged. The night I got it I pulled it apart and got after the metal in the parts tank in the mechanics bay at work. (Gotta love the graveyard shift when the bosses are not around  ) Everything looked pretty good with the exception of the bottom of the trigger housing, which had some pretty good pitting on it. The bore cleaned up real nice with very crisp rifling and a good shine to it. I do not have a gauge, but with the bullet test there is a good portion of bullet showing. For now the trigger housing got scrubbed with a scotchbrite and oiled, but I will blast it and try my hand at a park job down the road. The stock is walnut and had afew pretty good scratches and a couple gouges. It has the Chicken and Stars cartouche, which is not really deep. The top half doesn't really show up, it looks like the stamp was not flat when struck. The stock also has a circled P on the bottom of the pistol grip. I started scrubbing the wood with mineral spirits, but then got lazy and decided it was hammered enough not to worry too much. I gave it a quick blast of Easy Off oven cleaner (I know, bad! bad! bad! but I wanted to see what it would do) and let it set for about 5 minutes, then squirted it off with hot water. I did a little scrubbing with a green scothbrite and more hot water, then it sat for a week or so next to a heat vent. The hand guards looked even worse than the stock, and were very rough. The rear is walnut and had a glossy varnish like finish on it that had to be sanded off. I was Ok with that since the surface was really rough, so it got smoothed up somewhat. The front handguard is beech ( I think ) and was also rough and had a crack along the top more than half way along the length. After It dried and was sanded smooth, I Gorilla glued the crack and let it set over night. Since the wood was all different shades, I decided to try some MinWax to even it up. I rubbed in a coat of Red Mahogany with a lint free cloth and then wiped off the excess. It wasn't quite enough so I did another coat, only this time instead of wiping off the extra, I wet sanded it in with 600 grit paper, hoping to fill some of the grain in the wood. I let this dry over night and then started hand rubbing BLO. The stock and rear handguard turned out close enough, but the front did not take the stain very well and turned out a lot lighter. I was going to redo it, but then decided to leave it as is and call the project done. It gives it more character IMHO. The major parts are all SA with the exception of the trigger housing, which is HRA. I took it out yesterday and ran a bandolier of ammo through it without a hiccup. I didn't shoot for groups as it was colder than hell, but was able to bounce a coffee can size rock around at about 100 yards using HXP 72. I didn't get any before pics, but here are some of the finished product.         |
???? HPS has a lot of M1s and I don't think any of them came from the DCM. I've seen a lot of Service Grades. They're still good. I can sell a field grade for $900 these days. |
So the hell what? All the local shops are selling import marked Garands for between $750 and $1200. One even has arsenal rebuilds mixmasters for $1000. And they are gone in days. All you have are a bunch of people that just want a Garand, they don't know what to look for and know if they are paying a decent price or not. It's like that idiot that walks into Gander Mountain and pays $650 plus tax for a Glock. |
Actually it should be WHO is HPS... me!!! :) 30Cal is correct.. none of my Garands came from the DCM.. the came from the CMP 
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