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Posted: 7/1/2025 12:55:24 PM EDT
[Last Edit: sandboxmedic][Edited]
So back in 2005 a friend passed away and I ended up with most of his guns, one of which was a Century M1 Garand. Back when we worked together I remember telling him not to buy it, buy a real surplus Garand. Well obviously he did buy one since I have it but he also bought a real one which was worth a good bit so I helped his widow sell it; I had a couple other Garands at the time and wanted her to get full value. Anyways, I was never with him when he shot it but I recall it had cycling issues, no surprise there. When I got it I noted that it was surplus parts on a Century receiver and stuck it in the back of the safe where it's been ever since. I need to dig it out of the safe as I don't recall who made the barrel and other parts, but IIRC, the furniture has character (definitely seen use) but the bore was OK. Question is, if the barrel and other parts are decent manufacturers and in decent shape, is it worth it to try to find a receiver, strip the parts and build another rifle or should I just sell it with the disclosure that I think he had some issues with it (I have no desire to try shooting it) or just turn it into a wall hanger? I'm down to one shootable Garand and that piece of CAI junk so I was kind of thinking about rebuilding it.  ETA- I'm surprised to see what Century Garands have sold for on Gunbroker (and just mixed parts kits) but with what real receivers are going for plus what it'd cost me to have it built I think I'd come out much better just selling this thing and buying a complete CMP rifle, or just using the money on something else since I very rarely shoot the other one anymore (shoulder problems). |
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7-8 years ago a semi-famous 1911 smith local to me, who I'd met a few times, started selling off his firearms as his health began to decline. We had a good friend in common, and this friend approached me about buying the lone Garand in this gentleman's collection. He knew nothing about it other than it was a Garand. The seller wanted $1,000 for it. We went over to his shop and looked at it one afternoon. It was a SA Inc. Garand built on a cast Lithgow receiver. I did a quick mental inventory of the USGI parts and did a little research. The rifle was worth about $400-$500- the value of its USGI parts- according to the fellows over at the CMP forums. I didn't want to insult the seller with a $500 offer so I passed. Though I suspect the rifles are similar, my case isn't the same as yours. This guy was your friend. Based on that I'd sketch out what it would likely cost to build the rifle on a USGI receiver, using as many parts from the rifle as possible, then decide if it is worth it to you. |
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That's kind of what I was thinking but he knew the gun was a problem child which is why he later bought the CMP Garand. I originally got ten guns if I remember correctly and I've given five of them away to other mutual friends and one to my dad. I noticed it in the back of the safe the other day and figured I ought to do something with it since it's not reliable, just not sure what. Based on what I've read, Century's receivers were often out of spec and while some of them were supposedly reliable, most weren't so getting the gun running properly is probably going to require a new receiver as a starting point and hoping the other parts are usable, and I have no idea what if anything Century may have done to them. Even used rack grade receivers cost a good bit and I'd have to have a gunsmith do the work. I plan to keep two or three of the remaining guns I got but even he knew this gun was a bad buy (after the fact), we used to make jokes about it (you had to know him and typical EMS type humor), and none of the other friends know much if anything about gunsmithing or even the manual of arms for a Garand (would be funny watching them get Garand thumb  ). One is a big horror movie fan though and has a bunch of Jaws memorabilia including Richard Dreyfuss's and Roy Scheider's autographs so I might just give it to him; I gave him two of the other guns already. I'm not a movie buff but it'd make a neat wall hanger with his other Jaws stuff since the Roy Schneider autograph is the iconic photo of him shooting the Garand from the bow of the damaged Orca. If it were an original Garand there wouldn't be any question about sending it off, but with it being a Century parts build I'm just trying to figure out the best course of action. The more I think about it, I'm kinda liking the give it to the Jaws fan idea. It goes to a mutual friend, it gets used for something since it's not currently a shooter and it clears out space in my safe. Attached File |
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Originally Posted By arashi: Just try shooting it and see if it works. I have seen several and they all worked fine. If it works, might be fun to send it out to get the M14 mag conversion. Shuff’s Parkerizing can do a mag-fed conversion on an M1, but only in .308. |
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Originally Posted By Nick_Adams: Shuff’s Parkerizing can do a mag-fed conversion on an M1, but only in .308. Originally Posted By Nick_Adams: Originally Posted By arashi: Just try shooting it and see if it works. I have seen several and they all worked fine. If it works, might be fun to send it out to get the M14 mag conversion. Shuff’s Parkerizing can do a mag-fed conversion on an M1, but only in .308. I'd forgotten about those, this rifle would be a good candidate for a conversion (and his prices are good for the work), especially since I have a M1A, but unfortunately he won't work on non-USGI receivers. I guess next time I go to the hunt club I need to bring it with me and see for myself what's going on with it. |
| It is likely more valuable as parts, including the receiver. However, even the complete rifle is more valuable than you would expect. I would say there probably just as many people that would be happy with a reproduction receiver M1 rifle as there is people who would never consider owning one. |
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Originally Posted By BigsWick: @sandboxmedic Can you post pictures of the Garand? Barrel info and any drawing numbers? Bolt? Trigger group? Stock stamps if any? Might give us a better idea of what you have to work with. Yeah, I'll try to dig it out of the safe and get some today. It's in the very back and I honestly don't think it's been out since 2006 shortly after I got it. Don't expect much, pretty sure he picked it up at a gunshow around 2000s or so. 
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@BigsWick Definitely a parts gun, it's got a little of everything. I can't find my M1/M14 tools so I don't want to try removing the wood from the action (IIRC, it's easy to break without that tool but the barrel marks are also under correct?) and since I can't find my gas plug tool at the moment I can't pull that either. Doh! I know the tools and a GI issue cleaning kit are here somewhere. Honestly the parts don't look that bad and I don't see any pitting in the barrel but I don't have a borescope either. I think that's Italian on the yellow sticker: HKT, Kampvisor h: 16 Klik and +2 Klil, Skytte: SJELLANDSKE PARKOMBADS, G M/50 nr.: 7/3907, Dato ? (the numbers are hard to read), no cartouches, the only thing stamped on the stock is 713907 Receiver: (Serial number) M1 065XX M-1 Rifle CAL 30-06 MADE IN THE USA BY C.A.I. ST. ALBANS VT Bolt serial: D28287-12SA over S-B7 (diamond shape) Op rod: 6535362 SA Trigger assembly, left side: D28290 BMP (I'm assuming Breda) Trigger guard: C46025W.R.A. (Winchester Repeating Arms?) Gas cylinder lock has a M on it; that and the gas cylinder are lighter gray No markings on the front sight, rear sight has the usual numbers and Left and DRC under one of the two arrows Safety has SA and something else next to it but obscured Hammer C46008-3 SA Clip latch BMB Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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The gun looks aweful dry. And the op rod spring guide is upside down. Give it proper grease and oil and properly reassemble and see how she runs. |
Drugs kicked in now, need sleep, radiation tastes funny at 7 am every day... a bit like victory. - Ginger
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Originally Posted By Bumblebee_Bob: The gun looks aweful dry. And the op rod spring guide is upside down. Give it proper grease and oil and properly reassemble and see how she runs. Yeah, I stuck the rod in upside down and realized as soon as I snapped the picture. I corrected it but didn't take a picture, now I just look like an idiot but it's reassembled and function checks fine (obviously can't reassemble with it upside down). It's definitely dry, first time it's been out of the safe since probably '06. I'll follow the manual and lube it up before I go to the farm again. Who knows, maybe it'll shoot; I just remember him complaining about it and nobody at the gunshows would buy it from him at the time.
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Thanks for the pictures. Very interesting mix of parts! I like it! The stock: I'm thinking it's Danish based on the sticker. Perhaps it was made in Italy? The BMB parts are Italian. Denmark got a lot of MAP rifles and Italian contract Garands, so that would make sense. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along to verify or not. No need to remove the rear handguard. If you pull the oprod to the rear and lock it back you should be able to look inside the channel between the stock and the handguard and see any relevant information on the barrel. I'm wondering if it is a USGI barrel or something else? Italian? Danish VAR? I agree with Bumblebee_Bob. Grease it up and try it out. Hard to tell from the photos, but if the rifle was really dry when your friend shot it that could certainly effect cycling and reliabilty. |
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Originally Posted By SAN14: If or when you take it out to test fire, use the correct ammo. Surplus M2 ball would be best. Most commercial 30-06 ammo is loaded with common bolt action rifles in mind and can damage an M1. I've got a case or two of the surplus Greek stuff already in en bloc clips, just never opened it. It's definitely a mishmash of parts. LOL Next time I open the safe I'll see if I can see anything on the barrel. |
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Originally Posted By M1G: Danish beech stock Certainly is. The bright crescents in the wood grain were the tell before ever seeing the sticker. Overall it looks like a ok gun as long as the receiver is in spec. |
The only hyphenated names I like are cartridge names......30-06, 30-40, 38-55 etc.
| Learn something new every day. Thanks for the info, guess I'll hold onto it for now and next time I head to the farm I'll lube it up see how it does for me. If I can't get it to shoot reliably I'll decide what to do from there. The only receivers I've found are surprisingly close to or more than the cost of a shooter/rack grade complete gun; there just aren't inexpensive receivers, even Italian, around anymore. |
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