Posted: 6/15/2006 3:19:05 PM EDT
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I've looked into the CMP program on-and-off over the past five years and every time I've looked, the rifles in the inventory were not rifles issued to US Troops. The current inventory consists of rifles issued to Greece, Denmark, and Italy. Has the CMP ever sold US Troop issued rifles? Is there any way to request the rifle used by a relative? 
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Uhm, the rifles that were issued to Greece, Italy, and maybe Denmark weren't given to those governments until after World War II when we started to retire them. The rifles those countries have were rifles that were issued to US troops before we loaned them out.... |
Well my Greek issue was made in 55' |
You cant request anything by phone or mail as far as I know, you get whatever they give you. But you can go to a store and pick one out. Finding one of 12 million rifles would be impossible. I am going to CMP south next week to look at some correct and collector grades 
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Which sucks, because a good many of them were semi-auto only. I'm sure theis has been hashed out before on other forums, but I don't understand why they can't sell M14's that were never machine guns. Some weren't. |
Didn't know that, but they are going to just lump them all together and tie it in a big red bow. |
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CMP takes M1's from countries that leased or purchased M1's from the US Govt. You might have a Greek or a Dane but originally it was an American weapon. My Service Grade SA is an Aug 1944. You can't go wrong with a M1 from CMP...excellent value both as a historical piece and as a shooter. |
I got an SG SA from them a few years ago that was not a 'loaner' to another country. It was made in 1953 though, so I don't think it saw any combat action. |
What makes you think they weren't issued to US troops?
Ummm....The rifles from those places were sold to those countries by the United States. We do that. We sell old military equipment to other countries and even to civilian agencies. It is mainly done to get the old stuff out of the way so they can store the new stuff.
That is ALL the CMP sells.
That's probably way beyond their capability. But you shouldn't buy Garands from the CMP. You should avoid them like the plague. That way I can buy more... |
Gun was a SA made in 55' with a SA 55' stamped barrel. I don't claim to be an expert on M1's but I would say it's likely not a rebarrel, but possible.   BTW: It is my first M1. Springfield Greek return service grade. |
I appreciate the comments and really appreciate that nobody has acted like a dick and tried to attack me on a simple question about something as "important" as a rifle purchase.  Keeping a civil tongue on Arfcom is a foundation and one of the reasons I paid for a membership. Now, since I need to shoot a 30-06 at a piece of paper to prove I'm worthy of buying a 50 year old USED rifle for way more than it is worth - why not spend that same money for another AR or AK?? Sheesh.... it's just a rifle. 
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An M1 is a rifle everyone should have at least one of, it is our American heritage...something to be proud of. 
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CMP service grades are all rifles taken from surplus Army inventory. As others have stated 95% of the Greek and 100% of the Danish rifles were used by US troops prior to being loaned to those countries. My current Greek racker is a Springfield 585XXXX with a 1955 barrel so it looks like I have the original on it. Physically it was in better shape than I expected. Original finish but I haven't gaged the chamber or muzzle yet but TE is probably above 5 and ME above 2 according to their grading process. The wood was nothing to write home about. Handguards were okay walnut anf the stock was in good shape but was a beech replacement with a high gloss finish. 
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And why buy a model T when a brand new car costs less, is more fuel efficient and reliable? If making holes in paper is your goal, perhaps a 10 cent pencil would do as well #2 pencil just doesn't have the same panache though. |
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Gulp! Not only were they lendleased to those countries AFTER being used by the U.S. military........BUT.........Some are coming back with Danish replacement parts or Parts made by Beretta....Oh ! the agony of it!!! Just buy one and shoot the damn thing!!! Thats what they were made for here or there!!! 
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| 4 of my 5 CMP Garands are the "US" issue(1.39 mil SA, 4.45 mil IHC, 2.40 mil WRA, 4.76 mil H&R) in that they were not loaned or sold to other nations. They are all service grades. My other one is a rack grade Greek return(228,xxx SA). You missed the boat on the non-loaned rifles by about 1 to 1.5 years, as they were still plenty in stock. |
Sheesh yourself. You are the one that asked. Besides, what AR can you buy for $500? I'll take a Garand any day over an AK. |
Just wanted to add the USGI part. Would not have one of the aftermarket copies. |
First, you don't have to shoot a .30-06 to satisfy you marksmanship requirement. Any shooting competition qualifies. But even that is not required. You can have a range officer fill out a form after observing you shoot. A hunter safety course with a live fire component qualifies. So does a CCW permit. So does prior military service. In my case, I used my C&R license to meet the requirement. Secondly, it really isn't "just a rifle." There is something about these bad boys I didn't get either . . . until I got my CMP M1. These things aren't "just a rifle." They are AMAZING rifles. If you're like a lot of folks, you'll start to get it the first time that empty clip goes PING (and lands right by your elbow)! BTW, my CMP M1 was made in that '56-'57 time period as well. Judging by its condition I'd say it never saw any kind of service but man, is it sweet! Also, at $500 for the service grade I bought I would NOT say it was priced more than it was worth. In fact, I'd say it was a bargain. I like my AR but an M1 just has to be experienced to be understood. They are COOL! |
First of all, all you need to do is be a member of a CMP affiliated club. The VCDL does that for me. Secondly, if you have been to any professional firearms training or participated in any firearms competition, the CMP will accept that as fulfilling the requirements for competition. Secondly, you are not going to find a rifle made as well as the M1 garand for 400 bucks on the current market. Period.
If that's how you feel, then it might not be the rifle for you. Old fogies like me love 'em, and frankly wish you whipper snappers would stop watching Band of Brothers and buying up all the good rifles. |
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many of those foriegn gun were us inventory guns that were shipped to other countries at the end of WWII to equip foriegn militaries. that said yes they do sell and still have USGI gun in crates in the warehouses in anniston Al. I have seen them and we bought 7 2 years ago. |
Mine is a Greek Field Grade made in Aug of '43. It could have seen Normandy or Okinawa. The stock is trashed but $100 will fix that. All the M1 Garands I've seen on the open market start at $700 and go up. I'm still trying to convince my wife it would be a better investment to speculate on CMP M1's than play the stock market right now. She says no because if I got them I'd never sell them. She's probably right.  Kent |
There were only two or three M14's made as semiauto only. All others were manufactured as machine guns. They may have been issued to users without the selector switch but the unit arms rooms usually had the parts and they could be converted back to select fire in about 5 minutes or less. I know that my arms room had selectors for every rifle in the detachment. |
Ahh..see, I didn't know that. If I've never stated how much I hate the ATF and their "Once a machine gun, always a machine gun" declaration, depsite a lack of parts that actually MAKE it a machine gun...aw forget it. I'm preaching to the choir.  Anyway, I guess that settles that. |
Actually you can find one made better for much less, its called the K31.  Also most of the Swedish mausers have outstanding quality and craftsmanship and they are about the same price.
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you're comparing apples to alternators  but FWIW i do love my K31. it's just that i love my M1s more. |
Is the K31 a semi-automatic 30.06 rifle or issued to troops that actually fought in WWII? |
What does that have to do with anything?  He was making a statement of quality in regards to rifles and claims the M1 is one of the best made rifles in that price range. I gave two examples of general issue military rifles that both offer superior craftsmanship, and in the case of the K31, it is much cheaper than an M1 and a very nice Swede can be found for around$300-$400.
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