Guns: CMP Garands, a dying breed

My grandmother's illness has reminded me of the old saying that begins with, "All good things..." That sentiment not only applies to beloved relatives, but also to classic rifles - and in this case, a particular supply of those rifles. For many years, the Civilian Marksmanship Program sold surplus M1 Garands - most were incredible values, considering the prices being paid for modern day Springfield Armory knock-offs.

Granted, the CMP Garands aren't new rifles or anything close to them. In fact, many show significant wear, even compared to other surplus rifles. But the M1 has a hallowed place in gunnie culture - when an American gun owner looks back at WWII, they think of the 8-round, semiautomatic rifle chambered in .30-06:



Like any kind of surplus sale, however, supply ebbs and flows. It does seem, though, that the rifles are getting harder and harder to find, and the suspension of all orders until sometime in Fall 2007 just bears that fact out. If you have any interest at all in these rifles, it's probably best to buy them now, rather than later.