Maybe I am CRAZY BUT....

[Clancy]

Gentlemen,
...since the CMP is out of the M1 Garand Rifle I see a drop off on many of the M1 Garand Boards. It looks like they have slowed down. I also see a pickup in info and data on the M14's. Do you guys think this is just a small dip and will not last long, or do you think that the sharks have had their run and many of the guys are cutting back?? Also I think another part may be funding is not there for the higher Garand prices??
Drop a reply guys I would like to see what you guys thing about this.

Check out my sites if you have the time. Updates coming soon. TIA
Thanks again
Clancy

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[bobfried]

Definately a problem to the Garand community to see CMP supplies drop off. Frankly speaking, seeing a Garand at $1,000+ would drive away the majority of people attracted to them in the first place.

The first thing that would spring into the conversation is the comparision of the garand to it's contemporaries, most of which are bolt action and cost in the magnitudes of 10's less than a Garand not bought from the CMP. Those that collect mil-surp will have a natural inclination to pick up something a bit more interesting (FN49, Hakim, Lundgjer) when faced with a $1,000 price tag.

The second jab would be the attraction of new owners coming into the mil-surp world. I think every American boy growing up wanted a Garand. The current generation is no different as they grew up playing WW2 games, they all love the Garand. But when they see the price tag they'll be repulsed. Surely an M1A/M14 or an AR would be a better choice, they see the magazine fed, newer calibre, more accessories as something attractive.

The old guard have had their fill and would be, in my mind, movng onto things more exotic and foreign to the American conciousness. The young blood will be taken back by the price and would naturally be inclined to move onto newer combat rifles as they enjoy the high tech buzz an AR can give. The Garand world will always be alive and strong, but having new owners coming into the community will be rarer as time goes on.

[50 Freak]

Yeah a M1 at $1000 is much more than I want to spend. Hell one at $600 is still a maybe depending on condition.

I won't pay that much knowing the smuck that sold it to me probably paid $200 for it 10 years ago, shot it to hell, stripped it for the desireable parts and hobbled something together and putting a $1000 price tag on it.

[Satex]

I would like to see more manufacturers pick up making new M1 rifles based on the old blueprints - just like the 1911.
There is no reason why future generations shouldn't enjoy this fine rifle and its derivatives.

[Moonclip]

Does the Garand lend itself to cheaper construction? I mean we can get functional decent 1911's for $400. My 400 dollar Century Arms garand circa 2001-2002 sucked.

[MrTenX]

Gentlemen,
...since the CMP is out of the M1 Garand Rifle I see a drop off on many of the M1 Garand Boards. It looks like they have slowed down. I also see a pickup in info and data on the M14's. Do you guys think this is just a small dip and will not last long, or do you think that the sharks have had their run and many of the guys are cutting back??

Na. They're now on the M1 Carbine boards.

[mousegun]

Raising the purchase limit to 12 a year caused a feeding frenzy that sucked up all the serviceable rifles leaving only the salvage and worn parts. There will be more, but on auction rather than for sale. CMP will begin building "select grade" this summer with sales opening in October for rifles built by their armorers from leftover receivers, new barrels and stocks and floor sweepings (parts). They'll be good rifles, but you'll not get the same kind of certificate with them.

I don't think we'll see anything like the last two years again. In the present political climate, CMP itself is at great risk.

[Morales]

Yeah, honestly, the Garand dearth is partially caused by the thousands of guys who own 8 of them. Really, there are brand new classic rifle collectors who don't have one, and I constantly see guys bragging about how well their 12 M1s shoot. The CMP really should have had a "limit one per costomer" policy on that . Anyway, worse even is the fact that people are charging 1,000 bucks and claiming to be patriotic. Patriotic would be the govermnet providing every American that is legally allowed to own a rifle one on his 18th birthday for free. If he doesn't want it, he can transfer it to some one that got missed. Its bad enough none of us will ever seen an honest to goodness GI M14, let alone an M16. Go back an read what the states defined as well regulated militias back in 1779, and you'll see sentances like "All male citizens of fighting age are to report to the local army depot with a weapon comparable to those in common military use, along with no fewer than 20 rounds of ammunition." Seriously. Look up US vs. Miller. Anyway, yeah, it looks like we will be building M1s from now on. Watch the prices of barreled actions or just actions go up steadily. From now on.

[mousegun]

Distasteful as it may be for some, I think Orest and the CMP board made a well thought out decision opening up the limit. Faced with a sea change in the government and saddled with thousands of not-so-perfect rifles, they basically assured that the Garand would be in civilian hands if and when the tides of policy changed. Gun laws affecting citizen ownership is a second amendment issue; stripping CMP of its inventory isn't.

CMP's first mission is the training of citizens in the skills of marksmanship ("a well regulated militia"). What better way than to pass Garand stewardship to the people through market sales leaving CMP in control of its chartered mission? It helps assure that the CMP won't be so much a target for do-good ideologues trying to stifle the gun market.

The sad part is seeing all those pristine parts stripped from serviceable rifles hitting eBay.

[Clancy]

Gentlemen,
Some REALLY GREAT COMEBACKS. You guys are "ON THE BALL" on my post.
Thanks
Clancy

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

This problem is not exclusive to the CMP and Garands; there are a ton of milsurps out there that are simply dring up. At least there is still the slim opportunity of getting one but it's not even close to what I've read it was like before.

As Morales said, the supply certainly did dry up quickly thanks in part to the guys who own 8 or 12 of these Garands. It's the same deal with the ammunition and milsurps off of websites too. "They're running out, have to buy more!", "wait, they won't be back for a long time, gotta buy more" while the only reason they keep running out is because they keep buying them! It's just a justification of their purchase, which is perfectly fine. It just sucks for the collectors starting out (such as myself). Luckily I already got a Garand that was given to me by my Grandpa; otherwise it'd be a pretty damn long time before I got to get an American Rifle with the history attached to it.

The most expensive pieces I own and can afford with some saving up at $10/hr were my Mauser 98k and my Russian SKS, obviously nowhere near the cost of an M1 Garand and M1 Carbine...and I thought $330 for my Mauser and then for my SKS + transfer fees was breaking my balls!

[Sam Hainn]

What everyone else said is proabably true but here's another factor: since the end of the 94 federal AW ban I notice many people shifted their attention. Modern rifles are 'fun' again. It took the manufacturers about 2 to 3 years to catch up on changes and new products and for public knowledge of these things to grow. With doom of another ban looming I bet people are putting money on those rifles rather than something they think they can get even if a ban does go up.Even here in CA with the OLL situation I see guys reserving cash flow for that.

[hybridatsun350]

I'd really like to have a nice Garand for my collection. Although I am just starting out in my collection I feel that a Garand is almost a necessity for any historical collection. Every one I have seen has been at +/- $1000 and that is way out of my price range. As the rest of you guys have said, it's really too bad that a small number of elite collectors have grabbed up such a huge majority of the supply. O well, I guess I can hope for one to fall in my lap!

[Morales]

Its true in general that mil surps are drying up. I haven't seen a No.4 Enfield in while, even the 24/47s are around a lot less. Oh, and M38s aren't as common as they were even a year ago, plus the prices are too high for what is essentially a trunk gun (they were trunk guns back when the Soviets were using them). Good luck finding a Turk mauser too. I have one, can't find any more. At least there are still plenty of 91/30s...... oh, and SKSs. Although, the CZ83s are out now, so all is not lost, plus the Golani's are coming in, as well as Isreli FAL kits.

[hybridatsun350]

Its true in general that mil surps are drying up. I haven't seen a No.4 Enfield in while, even the 24/47s are around a lot less. Oh, and M38s aren't as common as they were even a year ago, plus the prices are too high for what is essentially a trunk gun (they were trunk guns back when the Soviets were using them). Good luck finding a Turk mauser too. I have one, can't find any more. At least there are still plenty of 91/30s...... oh, and SKSs. Although, the CZ83s are out now, so all is not lost, plus the Golani's are coming in, as well as Isreli FAL kits.

That's too bad. I was really hoping to find a nice No.4 Enfield as the next addition to my collection. Damn...