Got back from Iraq a couple weeks ago on leave and checked out the ol gun store. This walnut SA M1A really stuck out on the rack. The stock had nice marbeling in the wood, better wood on it than most M1As I've seen. SO, I pick it up and immediately notice a NM front sight and a crisp trigger pull of about 3,1/4-4lbs, clean lines, no rattle and the wood matched up nice to the receiver. I'm thinking its a loaded model, but the owner swore it was a STD model.
So I said, "what the hell" and took it out the door for $1400 with a $30 USGI mag packed in cosmoline. It might be a factory screw STD model, but it has NM sights, trigger, and beautiful wood and I got to inspect it before purchase, something worth an extra $100 to me.
I'll get a pic posted soon, but has anyone heard of STD models coming with NM sights, triggers, and beautiful wood?