M-1 buyback from South Korea?

[lefty41]

Has anyone heard about or have information on the U.S. backing back some 1800 WWII M-1 Garand's and M-1 Carbines? Read about in Handloader mag (I think that was the mag). Supposed to sell for $280 for the M-1 and $130 for the carbine. The article did not give info on where we could buy, but said they would be sold to private citizens. Very interesting !

[Curtis]

I believe it is South Korea.  I hadn't heard anything since the Obama administration blocked the import of these rifles almost two years ago.  Your post prompted me to go looking and I found this:

January 22, 2012: After over two years of negotiations, South Korea has finally
received permission to export antique (over 50 years old) American military
rifles back to the United States. South Korea has been given permission to sell
87,310 M1 Garand rifles to American collectors. The U.S. still refuses to allow
South Korea to export 770,160 M1 Carbines to collectors in the United States.
That's because the M1s can only hold eight .30 caliber (7.62mm) bullets while
the carbines use a magazine (holding up to 30 rounds). The M1 Carbine can also
be easily modified to fire automatically. While not outlawed in the United
States, M1 Carbine imports are usually banned.

   
 
We shall see.  Personally, I'd like a Carbine as I'm all stocked up on Garands.
 
Curtis

[lefty41]

Curtis,
You are correct, it is South Korea. What I read indicted the ban had been lifted. Would certainly like to know where and when they can be purchased. I have neither at the moment and the prices that were quoted are too good to pass up.

[Curtis]

One thing I read was that they would be available from importers, not the CMP.  This means they will most likely have an importers stamp which may decrease their value.  Also one comment said that quality was sub-par on these, but only time will tell.  Also, everything I've read so far about the ban being lifted indicated that the Carbines will not be coming here due to detachable magazines.
 
Curtis

[dstegjas]

I agree that this is a deal that is to good to pass up. I would take one of each, that is if I knew where to buy them.


Jim

[Curtis]

I think the prices quoted were what the Korean government stands to gain from the sale, not what they will bring once stateside.  Again, we shall see.
 
Curtis

[dstegjas]

I am sure that you are right about the prices. It would be nice though if we could actually get a good deal on a piece of history.


Jim

[Avyctes]

All,

I posted about this in another forum, but since you asked, here is the information that I stumbled on.

US allows import of 86,000 M1 rifles from Korea
Firearms will be sold to Korean War veterans

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2838308/posts

[Mikey]

A flood of rifles like that will drop the prices certainly.  I'm sure there will be different grades of rifles, from collectors to parts guns and lots in-between.  I'm hoping that with over 700,000 carbines available I could find a goodie. 

[Curtis]

Mikey, the word on the street is that the "O" administration is only letting the Garands in.  They still deny the Carbines because of the "evil" detachable magazine, even though same such are being manufactured and sold legally every day in our fair land.
 
Like you, I would love to have a Carbine but I can't bring myself to pay the prices they command nowadays.  I got my three Garands for a song and unless a deal like that comes along for a Carbine I'll just do without.
 
Curtis

[GRIMJIM]

I've always wanted a Garand. A carbine would be nice too.

[Avyctes]

I'm in the same boat, hoping that the next Administration will allow the 700k carbines.  I have a 1944 NPM, but would love to add an Inland, but not at the sky high prices they command today.  I'd like to see the USA repatriate every single US martial arm that exists outside of our borders in storage.  I often wonder how many are south of us.  I always heard we dumped a lot of Johnson rifles down south. 

[Mikey]

Guys:  there is no doubt about it - we have to vote that dumb sob the hay outta office before he sparks another revolution.  Or, just say the hell with it, buy up all those Garands and we can have our own revolution.......

[oldsoldja]

the carbine is a ricketty piece of crap. a chrysler of a gun.

[Avyctes]

They are also an important piece of US martial history.  I didn't buy my '44 NPM to shoot matches with.  I want an Inland as well because my grandma worked for the Inland Div for 33 years.  She didn't start there till after WW2, about 1947 I believe, but I still I think it'd be neat.