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View Full Version : South Korea to sell 86,000 Garands to US Citizens??


jtrade
09-26-2009, 08:44 AM
Ran across these articles & thought I would post them here for all the Garand Fanboys!!

From:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m9d23-South-Korea-planning-sale-of-86000-Garand-rifles-to-US-citizens (http://www.examiner.com/x-2206-Cleveland-Gun-Rights-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d23-South-Korea-planning-sale-of-86000-Garand-rifles-to-US-citizens)

"South Korea's defense ministry has announced plans to sell up to 86,000 M1 Garand rifles to gun enthusiasts and collectors in the United States. Along with a reported 22,000 M1 carbine rifles, the total value of firearms for sale exceeds $100 million.

The U.S. government has approved the plan for sales of the rifles, which were originally given to South Korea as part of a U.S. aid program in the 1950's.


The M1 is reportedly the first semi-automatic rifle generally issued to the infantry of any nation and saw service in the U.S. military from 1936-1966, primarily during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Subsequently, the M1 became a highly sought after collectors item, particularly through the Civilian Marksmanship. The U.S. military also sells surplus M1 rifles through the program.


A well-maintained Garand is both accurate and reliable, and the rifle is popular for hunting, target shooting, competitive shooting, military parades and reenactments as well as being prized collector pieces.
South Korea expects this sale to raise tens of millions of dollars.


From:
http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2009/09/23/2009092300791.html

"Korea will sell outdated M1 and carbine rifles used during the Korean War and the Vietnam War to the U.S. gun enthusiasts. They have long lost their value as firearms, except that reserve forces sometime use them.

The Defense Ministry's "green" logistics planning division said it decided to sell about 87,000 M1 and some 35,000 carbine rifles to the U.S. by the end of the year. "Importers are very interested in them as many Americans want to buy them as curios for their collections."

The ministry estimated their expected sale prices at US$220 per M1 and more than $140 per carbine. Korea could earn more than $20 million from the first shipment of those rifles. In fact, the old M1 or carbine rifle is traded at more than $1,000 in some cases in the U.S., a military officer said.

The Army and the Navy will get rid of all their stockpiles of M1s, but the ministry expects to keep earning dollars as it still keeps about 640,000 carbines for the reserve forces, which could also be disposed of as the reserve forces' equipment will be modernized by 2020.

The ministry's logistics planning division concluded that there is no legal problem selling the guns although a considerable amount of them were given by the U.S. to Korea as aid supplies.

M1s were made first in the U.S. in 1926, and many were used later in World War II and the Vietnam War. Carbines were manufactured first in 1941 and introduced to Korea in 1948, many given to soldiers during the Korean War."



J

AlPackin
09-26-2009, 09:17 AM
cool ... a Garand is going to be my next purchase :thumbsup:

CZ93X62
09-26-2009, 09:40 AM
Great news, I'd like to snag a Carbine--if they cost less than the $700+ being charged for examples locally. A lot like my Broomhandle Mauser pistol, they are--a little funky, not real accurate, but hell for style and a lot of fun to plink around with.

jtrade
09-26-2009, 01:42 PM
I would love to have a Garand for the Collection but they are a little outta my price range. But for $220 I would grab a couple even if they were crap. Could combine them to make 1 decent rifle with some spare parts.

I just hope some company doesnt grab em all then jack the price up 400%....

jawjaboy
09-26-2009, 03:09 PM
I just hope some company doesnt grab em all then jack the price up 400%....

I'm certainly not sure, but I would think that is exactly what will happen, percentage of markup I would have no idea.

My theory.... S. Korea wants to get them out of inventory, for whatever reason. I would think that they would offer them at auction or a set price, in lots or as a whole, to firearms importers.

Just a thought from a swamper.
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AlPackin
09-26-2009, 03:32 PM
we should pool our wealth and buy the whole batch ... it just seems like its SO easy to make money if you already have it ...

jtrade
09-26-2009, 03:50 PM
What about through the CMP?

J

jawjaboy
09-26-2009, 04:09 PM
What about through the CMP?

J

I don't know if the CMP is an importer or not. The US Govt. is. Also don't know if the CMP is a profit or not for profit organization.

Basically what I'm saying is...I don't think the S. Korean Gov't is not going to the hassle of selling me 1 or 10 Garands at thier "estimated price of $220 each". Even if I were an importer.

Jes swamp thinking. ;)
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AlPackin
09-26-2009, 04:24 PM
last I looked CMP was like 16+ weeks delivery :(

Glooooock
09-26-2009, 07:01 PM
Have freak show bird dog it , Get us in on a 100 rifle group buy ,,, off the importer .:yesnod:

creophus
09-27-2009, 07:47 PM
I had a good experience with the CMP. You have to jump through some hoops, but the stuff you get is quite nice.