I originally posted this over in the M1A/M1 forum, but it seems applicable here as well:
Just to give an idea on what you can get at CMP Anniston, these are what I have picked up there since last July. I borrowed their gauges and went through the rifles.
Yesterday, I took all my Garands, including 2 non-CMP ones with me as well as my 03A3 and M1 Carbine. They let me borrow the gauges to go to my truck and measure all these. Now, I did measure the CMP ones when I bought them but did not make a record, so Friday I made a record of all of them.
First, the definition of the various grades:
Rack Grade Rifles are mechanically the same as Field Grade rifles above, but will show more wear on many of their parts, may have more pitting on the metal parts than a Service Grade rifle. Wood will be sound, but well used, with cracks, poor fit, and many dents and gouges. Throat erosion will be 5 or more and muzzle wear may be over a 3 on a muzzle gauge. Because the overall appearance and condition will generally be rougher than any other grade, rifles in this grade are considered poor to fair. Shipping and Handling $22.95 per rifle.
NLU
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
R001SAR
M1 Garand, Springfield Armory
$395
R004SAR*
M1 Garand, Springfield Armory
$395
R002SARLW **/ ***
M1 Garand, Springfield Armory, Less Wood
$295
*These rifles were loaned to Greece and later returned to the US Army. These rifles have all USGI components and parts, but wood may be Walnut, Birch, Beech or other US or foreign variety and may have initials or other symbols carved into the wood. Rifles do not have import marks.
** These rifles were loaned to Denmark and later returned to the U.S. Army. These rifles may have some Italian or Danish replacement parts. Rifles do not have import marks.
*** Less Wood - NOT INCLUDED: Stock, handguards, rear handguard band, front handguard spacer, front handguard ferrule, buttplate, buttplate screws, stock ferrule, stock ferrule screw, stock ferrule swivel, butt swivel. |
Field Grade Rifles. Most of these rifles have been refinished or rebuilt at least once while in military service and will likely have some parts from other manufacturers. Condition will vary from fair to good. Rifle wear will be exhibited by worn and mixed colors of the finish; there may be some minor pitting on the metal parts; wood will be basically sound but may be well used with minor hairline cracks, and many dings, scratches and gouges; wood may not match in color, type of wood or condition. These rifles have all USGI parts, but wood may be Walnut, Birch, Beech or other US or foreign variety. Bores will be generally good with only minor imperfections; the barrel crown may be nicked, and the muzzle may gauge more than “3” on muzzle gauge. The Throat Erosion will gauge less than 5 - well within US Army standards. Do not expect rifles in mint condition in this grade. Shipping and Handling $22.95 per rifle.
NLU DESCRIPTION PRICE
R001SAF M1 Garand, Springfield Armory $425 -Sold out - no longer accepting orders - 12-19-06
R001GK-SAF*
M1 Garand, Springfield Armory
$425
* These rifles were loaned to Greece and later returned to the US Army. These rifles have all USGI parts, but wood may be Walnut, Birch, Beech or other US or foreign variety. Rifles do not have import marks.
NOTE: M1 Garand rifles produced by other manufacturers are not available in the Field Grade at this time. |
Service Grade Rifles show less wear and better appearance than Field or Rack Grades. Condition will vary from good to very good. Rifle wear will be exhibited by worn and mixed colors of the parkerized finish; there may be some minor pitting on the metal parts; wood will be either Walnut or Birch and will be basically sound but may have minor hairline cracks, dings, scratches and gouges; wood may not match in color or type of wood; bores will be generally good with only minor imperfections; the barrel crown may be nicked, but the muzzle will gauge less than 3 and the throat erosion will gauge less than 5. Shipping and Handling $22.95 per rifle.
NLU
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
R001SA M1 Garand, Springfield Armory SOLD OUT
NOT ACCEPTING ORDERS - 11-20-06
R004SA *
M1 Garand, Springfield Armory
SOLD OUT
NOT ACCEPTING ORDERS - 11-20-06
*These rifles were loaned to Greece and later returned to the US Army. These rifles have all USGI components and parts, but wood may be Walnut, Birch, Beech or other US or foreign variety. Rifles do not have import marks.
NOTE: M1 Garand rifles produced by other manufacturers are not available in Service Grade at this time. |
Correct Grade Rifles are similar to the Service Grade (above), but will show less wear and use. Correct Grade rifles will have all correct parts for the date of manufacture with 80% or better overall original metal finish. The stock and handguards will be of walnut and correct for the rifle but will have some dings, dents, scratches and marring of the wood finish. Stocks will have the appropriate original inspector's cartouche. The rifle bore will be very good with no significant defects and with a throat erosion of less than 4 and a muzzle wear of 2 or less. Overall condition of Correct Grade rifles is very good to excellent. Shipping and Handling $22.95 per rifle.
NONE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. NOT ACCEPTING ORDERS. Please check www.odcmp.com for availability.
* These rifles were loaned to Greece and later returned to the U.S. Army. These rifles have all USGI parts including USGI wood. Rifles do not have import marks. Rifles may be coated in a light preservative.
NOTE: M1 Garand rifles produced by other manufacturers are not available in the Correct Grade at this time. |
Collector Grade Rifles are in very good to excellent condition with 95% or better overall original metal finish. Rifle bores will be excellent with throat erosion under 3 and muzzle wear of 2 or less. Collector Grade rifles will have all original parts as they came from the manufacturer. Wood will have a few handling marks and minor dings and scratches. Stocks will have the appropriate inspector's cartouche on the stock. Data sheets prepared by CMP armorers are included in the butt trap of each Collector Grade Rifle. These rifles are in excellent condition and show little or no use. Shipping and Handling $22.95 per rifle.
NONE AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. NOT ACCEPTING ORDERS. Please check www.odcmp.com for availability. |
All these Springfields are WWII.
701xxx (that's right, a 6 digit number) Field Grade Greek return Springfield. $425.00.
TE is 2.5 and ME is 1.2, well within Service Grade specs and even as good as Collector or Correct Grades. The stock was very rough and a lot of the park was worn, but mechanically, it was a far better grade than Field Grade.
215xxxx a Rack Grade woodless Danish return. $295.00 and about $75.00 for the wood because I found a local shop with the wood.
TE is 3.5 and ME is 1.5, again well within Service Grade specs and as good as Correct Grade.
141xxxx another Rack Grade woodless Dane. $295.00 but a bit more ($150 for the wood this time, no local shop had any). ME is 3.5 and TE is 2.1, again as good as Service Grade and Correct Grade.
352xxxx a non-CMP Garand from a local shop before I wised up and started going CMP. I think it was about $600.00. TE is 4 and ME is 2.9, within Service Grade specs, but I spent a good bit more than I would have with CMP.
167xxxx another non-CMP again from before the fog was lifted and I started going to CMP. About $450.00. ME is 3 and TE is more than 3. Rack Grade. So, I spent about $100 or so more than I needed to but it is still a decent shooter.
Friday, I picked up a Correct Grade H&R 564xxxx. $900.00. TE is 2 and ME is 1.5. That is even within Collector Grade specs and I really could not tell the difference between the Collector Grades and the Correct Grades except that the Correct Grades were all H&R and I wanted something besides a Springfield anyway.
The quotes above indicate that Correct Grades and Collector Grades are no longer available but that relates to mail order. They still have a few (not many) of each in the South Store. I don't know about the North Store.
My point being that if you go to one of the stores, you can really make out and you could still make out if you mail order but then you are relying on the luck of the draw.
Either way, it is still better than paying the inflated prices at stores and from individuals while CMP still has rifles.
BTW, my 03A3 was TE of 2 and ME of 1.2 and my M1 Carbine has a ME of 0.5. They had no TE gauge for the Carbine, but I am sure they will have one by March.
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