PSA all CMP rifles are a "mix master"

[55fairlane]

Over the past few weeks on this forum and others I haunt, I have seem people wanting to trade or purchase an M1 , 03, or 03A3, sometimes offering up a premium rifle in trade and all the deals fall thru when the party wanting the rifle find out the rifle is a mix master.

They want an all original rifle. Not a MIX MASTER, or a rifle assembled from parts.

When the US Military did and arsenal rebuild, rifles were stripped down, all alike parts where tossed in bins, when it is time to reassemble the rifle, first part the gauges good goes in the rifle. The CMP does the same thing. If you are lucky you will find a "correct" date code on the barrel of a particular receiver, such as a SC-43 barrel on a Smith Corona 03A3.

This is simple a PSA so no one gets there feelings hurt and can properly value a rifle

 

[Winamac]

Another simple PSA. If they have been identified by the CMP as all original/non-mixmasters which does happen from time to time. The CMP has a auction section on their site where these weapons are identified and like GunBroker they go to the highest bidder.

 

[55fairlane]

Another simple PSA. If they have been identified by the CMP as all original/non-mixmasters which does happen from time to time. The CMP has a auction section on their site where these weapons are identified and like GunBroker they go to the highest bidder.

Thank you, I forgot that......some of those rifles go for a PREMIUM......heck I have seen a correct Era bayonet gor for the cost of a rifle

 

[penguinship]

It also raises the question, if you re-correct a rifle, is it correct, a mix master, or somewhere in between?

I've heard some arsenal rebuilds are also sought after.

 

[55fairlane]

Here is a link to the auction site

Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!

 

[Slow Hand]

I can understand the desire for an all original rifle, but I never got the guys who would search out the last screw and spring to take a rifle that was ‘as arsenaled’ and return it to ‘as manufactured‘. To me, it’s more original and correct having all the mixed up parts. I’ve even seen in country depot pictures with barrels full or parts where rifles were stripped down after being picked up on battlefields, etc, parts dumped in diesel to clean them and the armorers would just grab a part from the barrel And put the rifle back together for reissue. To me, that’s part of the rifles history. Putting all Winchester or Harvester or whatever parts back on it doesn’t make it original. It’s only ‘new’ once. But, to each his own…

 

[Cavman]

I can understand the desire for an all original rifle, but I never got the guys who would search out the last screw and spring to take a rifle that was ‘as arsenaled’ and return it to ‘as manufactured‘. To me, it’s more original and correct having all the mixed up parts. I’ve even seen in country depot pictures with barrels full or parts where rifles were stripped down after being picked up on battlefields, etc, parts dumped in diesel to clean them and the armorers would just grab a part from the barrel And put the rifle back together for reissue. To me, that’s part of the rifles history. Putting all Winchester or Harvester or whatever parts back on it doesn’t make it original. It’s only ‘new’ once. But, to each his own…

Well said. Why I even like the sporterized 03s or enfields. To me its a story of a guy who was familiar with that rifle from the military and wanted to have it for hunting

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I can understand the desire for an all original rifle, but I never got the guys who would search out the last screw and spring to take a rifle that was ‘as arsenaled’ and return it to ‘as manufactured‘. To me, it’s more original and correct having all the mixed up parts. I’ve even seen in country depot pictures with barrels full or parts where rifles were stripped down after being picked up on battlefields, etc, parts dumped in diesel to clean them and the armorers would just grab a part from the barrel And put the rifle back together for reissue. To me, that’s part of the rifles history. Putting all Winchester or Harvester or whatever parts back on it doesn’t make it original. It’s only ‘new’ once. But, to each his own…

This is an interesting point I hadn't considered before. Even if a rifle is "correct" it's still (more than likely) going to be a mix-master....just that somebody really, really spent a lot of time going through the effort to pick out the right part for the reassembly.

 

[Slow Hand]

I’m a car guy as well as a gun guy and it’s funny how opposite the feelings are in those two hobbies.

Take a $2000 SAA from the 1870’s, send it to Turnbull and spend $5000 on a restoration and you have a $2-3000 gun; maybe.

Buy a ragged $2000 1965 mustang, spend $30,000 on a restoration and you have a $50,000 car.

Gun guys want to history preserved. Car guys (mostly) want pretty, shiny, like new cars.

 

[jwamplerusa]

Beyond some historically significant M1s, and rarities such as the as delivered returns from Greece I would not consider any Garand as "correct".

At least through the CMP those handful of as delivered rifles in the Greek returns were pulled out and auctioned I believe.

 

[Mongo59]

It also raises the question, if you re-correct a rifle, is it correct, a mix master, or somewhere in between?

I've heard some arsenal rebuilds are also sought after.

This is true, the OG and the Letterkenny rebuilds are much sought after. The OG, Ogden, Utah was the main rebuild and even if a brand new still in the wrapper rifle showed up it got an OG stamp. I have seen several "correct" '03's and '03A3's with the OG stamp on the stock. This tends to draw admirers as some people assume them to be mix masters but turn out to be correct.

The Letterkenny's are mix master but it was a narrow time slot these were done and to very high standards. Some are willing to pay extra to see that painted triangle on the gun.

I have scored a correct grade SA here on INGO, one from a friend and an original IH, among others, and I love them all. Only one gets shot though, it is a WWII mix master (probably a Danish return) that I had rebarreled just for shooting purposes. The others just get a luxury spa treatment every few months or so...

 

[Mongo59]

Here is a link to the auction site

Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!

I try not to watch that site because it kills my hopes and expectations...

 

[knutty]

My favorite is the guys trying to sell their "all correct" Garand or carbine for north of 2k

 

[maxipum]

My favorite is the guys trying to sell their "all correct" Garand or carbine for north of 2k

Well there are as issued rifles well worth the money IMHO the trick is sorting those gems from the turds you speak of. Now if you want to really roll the dice try collecting WW2 German snipers.

 

[r3126]

Here is a link to the auction site

Civilian Marksmanship Program - Promoting firearms safety training!

OR, you can drive to Port Clinton, Ohio or Anniston, Alabama (or the satellite store at Talladega) and personally pick out one out of a dozen or so (usually) that catches your eye. They are open Thursday thru Saturday.

 

[Mongo59]

Beyond some historically significant M1s, and rarities such as the as delivered returns from Greece I would not consider any Garand as "correct".

At least through the CMP those handful of as delivered rifles in the Greek returns were pulled out and auctioned I believe.

CMP does have a "Correct Grade" marking category that can be anything from a "Collectors Grade" with a blemish to a "Rack Grade" that has the right parts. The uniqueness of having a military weapon that traversed 3 wars and still be in the original configuration boggles the mind of most but the truth is it would have had to miss the show to still be as it is. There are more "forced" corrects than there are real corrects. The irony is that the cost to obtain the parts, now, to force a correct will out distance the reals.

I am of the belief the war horses that were in the show have more charisma that the pretty boy who stayed home but in the end, I will buy both, but I will not try to force them correct. The way they are now is all part of their story...

 

[knutty]

Well there are as issued rifles well worth the money IMHO the trick is sorting those gems from the turds you speak of. Now if you want to really roll the dice try collecting WW2 German snipers.

Oh I know, I'm talking about the guys who swap out parts to make their rifles "correct"

 

[BigMoose]

I will look for the video (I think it was a big picture video).

The workers were speed stripping Garands and tossing the parts into bins indiscriminately.

 

[BGDave]

I will look for the video (I think it was a big picture video).

The workers were speed stripping Garands and tossing the parts into bins indiscriminately.

I believe that was post D-Day.

The thought occurred to me that each rifle belonged to a man.

There were a lot of them.

 

[BigMoose]

I believe that was post D-Day.

The thought occurred to me that each rifle belonged to a man.

There were a lot of them.

I tend to remember it was a post Korea depot in Japan. Im looking for it.