Iwo Jima M1 Garand Value? - The Firearms Forum

OneFatCat · 12-16-2009, 07:26 PM

I saw an M1 Garand Iwo Jima edition for sale at my local dealer ...I would like to know what would be consdiered a "good" buy on this rifle and your opinion on whether it will ever be a real collectable ...it does come with everything ...

Thank you
OFC

RJay · 12-16-2009, 09:09 PM

Good Investment? this is a decision only you can make. Me, myself and I do not consider the " Made For" commemorates a very good investment. Most commemorates don't rise in value very fast, some what like the collector plates or the 1894 Winchesters,., In ten years you might get what you paid for it.. Now if you're buying it to look at, to admire, to think how proud it is to be a American., of the blood and sweat of the Marines to capture the island, OK . But it can never be fired. I've seen them on the Auction sites for 1500 to 1750. JMO

Alpo · 12-16-2009, 11:15 PM

Like Ron said, it can never be fired. It's a "pretty". You can look at it, but if you ever fire it, or scratch it somehow, or ever handle it much so it gets some use marks on it, it goes from being a "collector", worth maybe 12 or 1500, to being a "shooter", worth MUCH less.

A Garand from the CMP is a real Garand, made by the government and issued to someone to fight in a war. It has collector value because of what it is, and you can shoot it and enjoy using it, and as long as you don't abuse it, it will still have collector value. A commemorative Garand is made, recently, by a civilian gun company. The only thing it has going for it is that it is a "commemorative", and it has collector value because of what it pretends to be.

Not only can it never be fired, but to keep its value, you must keep everything that came with it. All the paperwork. The box. If the box came inside an outer sleeve, you must keep the sleeve. If it doesn't have EVERYTHING, its value drops drastically.

OneFatCat · 12-17-2009, 05:19 AM

Thank you guys for the information ...let me ask you waht to look for when you look at a used Garand ...I know the condtion obviously but what are some of the markings that I need to see to make sure I'm buying the "real McCoy ...and any other advise you can give me on value of a clean shooter?

Thank you
OFC

gdmoody · 12-17-2009, 11:25 AM

Fat Cat - look into the M1 Garands at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). You can bet they are the Real McCoy and are probably a little cheaper than at gun stores, etc. If you meet the eligibility requirements, this is just about the only place that can send a gun to your front door legally.

http://www.thecmp.org/

12-16-2009, 07:26 PM	#1
OneFatCat V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Frederick Maryland Posts: 222	Iwo Jima M1 Garand Value? I saw an M1 Garand Iwo Jima edition for sale at my local dealer ...I would like to know what would be consdiered a "good" buy on this rifle and your opinion on whether it will ever be a real collectable ...it does come with everything ... Thank you OFC -->

12-16-2009, 09:09 PM	#2
RJay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 3,486	Re: Iwo Jima M1 Garand Value? Good Investment? this is a decision only you can make. Me, myself and I do not consider the " Made For" commemorates a very good investment. Most commemorates don't rise in value very fast, some what like the collector plates or the 1894 Winchesters,., In ten years you might get what you paid for it.. Now if you're buying it to look at, to admire, to think how proud it is to be a American., of the blood and sweat of the Marines to capture the island, OK . But it can never be fired. I've seen them on the Auction sites for 1500 to 1750. JMO __________________ RonJames Last edited by RJay; 12-16-2009 at 09:11 PM..

12-16-2009, 11:15 PM	#3
Alpo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: NW Florida Posts: 8,651	Re: Iwo Jima M1 Garand Value? Like Ron said, it can never be fired. It's a "pretty". You can look at it, but if you ever fire it, or scratch it somehow, or ever handle it much so it gets some use marks on it, it goes from being a "collector", worth maybe 12 or 1500, to being a "shooter", worth MUCH less. A Garand from the CMP is a real Garand, made by the government and issued to someone to fight in a war. It has collector value because of what it is, and you can shoot it and enjoy using it, and as long as you don't abuse it, it will still have collector value. A commemorative Garand is made, recently, by a civilian gun company. The only thing it has going for it is that it is a "commemorative", and it has collector value because of what it pretends to be. Not only can it never be fired, but to keep its value, you must keep everything that came with it. All the paperwork. The box. If the box came inside an outer sleeve, you must keep the sleeve. If it doesn't have EVERYTHING, its value drops drastically. __________________ Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy, and taste good with catsup - George of Lod, Year of Our Lord 297 I always take precautions. Beware the Evil Bullet Fairies.

12-17-2009, 05:19 AM	#4
OneFatCat V.I.P. Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Frederick Maryland Posts: 222	Re: Iwo Jima M1 Garand Value? Thank you guys for the information ...let me ask you waht to look for when you look at a used Garand ...I know the condtion obviously but what are some of the markings that I need to see to make sure I'm buying the "real McCoy ...and any other advise you can give me on value of a clean shooter? Thank you OFC

12-17-2009, 11:25 AM	#5
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,311	Re: Iwo Jima M1 Garand Value? Fat Cat - look into the M1 Garands at the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). You can bet they are the Real McCoy and are probably a little cheaper than at gun stores, etc. If you meet the eligibility requirements, this is just about the only place that can send a gun to your front door legally. http://www.thecmp.org/ __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)