M1 Garands and Carbines Return from South Korea
Here’s good news for collectors of classic American military rifles. Over 100,000 M1 Garands and M1 Carbines are “returning home” from South Korea. The South Korean Defense Ministry recently announced plans to ship 86,000 Garands and 22,000 Carbines back to the United States for sale to American collectors. Originally made in the USA, these weapons were supplied by the US during the Korean and Vietnam war years.
Thankfully, South Korea’s plan to return the Garands and Carbines to the United States has received a “green light” from American officials. “The US government recently approved our plan to sell old M1 and carbine rifles, which were given to our soldiers as part of a US aid programme,” a ministry spokesman declared.
Most of the arms have been in storage at military warehouses, only occasionally used for drills by reserve forces. While South Korea plans to send back most of its M1 Garands, it intends to retain another 640,000 carbines for reserve units. The 108,000 rifles set for return to America are collectively valued at over $108,000,000 (based on $1000.00 retail price per gun). Realistically, given the fact that CMP rack grade and service grade Garands sell for much less, we would hope many of these Korean returns would sell for quite a bit less than $1000.00. But, ultimately, supply and demand in the United States will dictate selling prices.
UPDATE: On August 12, 2010, the Korea Times reported that the U.S. Government is now opposing the return to the USA of the 108,000 Garands and Carbines. A Korean Defense Ministry source revealed that American officials were now claiming the weapons could cause accidents or “be smuggled to terrorists, gangs or other people with bad intentions”.
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Tags: Korean War, M1 Carbine, M1 Garand, South Korea
I wonder who the importer is going to be and if any of them are going to be 100% original parts.
I wonder if the CMP is going to sell these?
The CMP has stated that they will not be involved in this at all.
so we give to them and their thanks is to sell them back to us. I guess it’s an asian thing I wouldn’t understand.
I cant see any s.korean m1 selling for $1000. Who knows what they did to them and what condition they are in. I’ll buy from the cmp
Most of them work well.
I’ve had shooting training in my reserved army traing every year with that in R.O.Korea.
but about 5% of them occasionally have trouble with its breechblock.
Overally that Carbines have a good condition.
No.4 SAM,
We, Koreans appreciate U.S bravemens scrifice.
As you know, that rifles became the assets of R.O.Korea after wars. At that time U.S uses the M-16 as the main personal arm.
This selling is not for U.S Goverment but for collectors.
Thanks for your understanding.
I am looking to get my hands on a M1 garand for around 4-550 besides GB.com and CMP is there anyplace else to check out.. thanks
If you are looking for an M1 for $400 to $500, good luck! Unless you steal one from someone who doesn’t know what they have, not likely though.
You need to look around and see what the market has done to the price of these weapons. I looked for about 2 years and the lowest priced one I found was $1200 with most, in fair to good condition going upwards of $1500 or more.
National Match and “all original” rifles will bring multiples of the $1500 figure.
Your best bet is a CMP Service or Correct Grade rifle. Service Grade will run about $600 and change, And currently there are no Correct Grade available. I just received a Service Grade rifle from CMP and it looks like it just came out of an armory rebuild. It looks great and should shoot well also.
Good luck in you hunt!
Hmm… I still see them at gun shows for $800-1000. You can pick up a real piece of crap for $4-500…. Shooters don’t seem to start until you get into the $700+ range anymore.
I don’t think the Koreans are selling them back to us, however our government is nice enough to tax us to build them, then charge us money to return them, well, essentially back to us. I think it’s double dipping myself.
At least they’re letting them back in, and not ordering them destroyed like they did with the Thompson SMGs and BAR’s ‘n such that came back from Europe.
I am confused we “us Taxpayers” gave these weapons to South Korea to help them defend themselves and now they are selling back to us? If that is accurate I would love to get in the SK side of that deal….
i picked up a korean re-import garand at a gunshop for $800 it has mismatched parts but all U.S. made. who cares if it came off a rack in korea its still a piece of history to me. barrels in great shape plenty of rifling left all parts are crisp and clean has a 1942 winchester receiver.if you want to pay $2000 at a gunshow for a supposedly all american super duper gi original issue and you’ve got the cake have at it. i’ll spend my extra cash on ammo to put down range.cmp is a great source for garand info but they have one heck of a wait to buy a rifle.
being a vet and collector,how can I get a M1 garand rifle?
Editor: Lee, the easiest, and least expensive way to get an authentic M1 Garand is to purchase through the CMP. There are a choice of rifles, marked at different grades, starting at $495.00 for “Field Grade” Garands.
Go to: http://www.thecmp.org/m1garand.htm