Century Garand M1?

C

Canine

New member
My buddy bought a vintage WWII Century Garand M1 from a Big 5 store and wants information about the maker (Century). Was this a quality maker and will the value go up?
 
First, your friend should take the gun back and demand a refund. If that doesn't work, he should apologize to the spirit of John Garand for the terrible wrong done to his creation with such a piece of crap.

My opinion. Doubt anybody will disagree greatly with me.
 
Were they really that bad? I never have owned a Garand M1 so I wouldn't know a Century from a Springfield.
 
Canine, first off it's not a WWII Garand. Century receivers are newly manufactured. They're cast in Spain and (supposedly) machined, finished, and assembled in the States. The balance of the parts are Italian, Danish, and well seasoned USGI. Stocks are almost always European Birch, not American Walnut. Badger Arms is 100% correct -- seriously dude, tell your buddy to get his money back. I've looked a dozens and these CAI Garands and they are without a doubt the worse POS to hit the American shores in my life time. Chinese SKSs have 10 times better QA/QC. A Lorcin .380 is more reliable. If he wants a shooter get a CMP Garand. -- Kernel

[Edited by Kernel on 03-23-2001 at 01:42 PM]
 
I'll let him know that it is junk. I am glad I asked for him (he doesn't have internet connects). My gun knowledge is strictly handguns (the only rifle I own is a Ruger Mini 14). I believe he bought it a month ago so I doubt he can get his money back.
 
If he is stuck with it, advise him to send it to a gunsmith for a safety check. Those receivers are notoriously out of spec regarding headspacing and the op rod raceways.
 
Ninety nine percent of everything I have read about them says Junk with a Capital "J". I saw one back in the fall at a local gun show and it reinforecd that. The receiver was very crudely made and some of the parts looked as if they were cast from "pot metal" The gas cylinder in particular. I could not find any arsenal markings on it so its hard to say. MOst of the aprts were rode hard and put up wet and to add icing to the cake they wanted $589(plus tax) for it! Take that CAI receiver and place it next to a SA, H&R, IH, or Winchester receiver and the difference is astounding!
 
One of my freinds wants a Garand, they were looking at a Century Arms one, I told them "NO, NO, NO, THat is junk, dont even look at it." From what I saw of the finish on these things they are crap. I didnt even look that closely at it. The "new" receiver looks really bad! If you can I would get a CMP M1, the Danish ones are 400, and a non-import is 500 +19.95 for shipping. Those are nice!
 
Re: Century Garands

I concur with the previous opinions. You dont need a micrometer to tell they are out of spec either...lay one next to a USGI receiver, I prefer Winchester, and take a good look under strong light. The Century is pure CRAP. They are not worth a plug nickle and are probably dangerous to boot.
 
You CAN find an M1 from Springfield Armory (SA) if you look hard at your local gun shops. I don't know where you're from but it might even do you good to make some phone calls to ask them if they have any on hand. The authentic military M1 is so much better than the CAI version. You can find once and a while for a reasonable price. I bought mine last year for about $450 at a local gun shop. I stumbled across it while looking for another rifle. Heck, you can also ask the owner of the shop to call you if one shows up in your price range. They've done that for me in the past, too.

Finally, go to a gun show, bring some cash, and haggle a little for a shooter. The vast majority of dealers I've encountered are pretty reputible. If you want, however, bring a 30.06 round with you and check the muzzle for fit. It should go in around 3/4 of the way, no more. I saw plenty of M1s at the last show here in New England for anywhere between $475 and $690. Return that CAI unit. Good Luck
 
now that i own a CAI Garand...

I just acquired one of these last night. My gunsmith hand-assembled this one from different rifles for his son, so i suspect he took some care in putting it together. Not knowing anything about this weapon, he did say that the "Op rod was straight." Not sure what that means!

It sounds like the receivers are junk. The parts on this one appear to be in decent shape, stock in good condition. Do they sell stripped M1 receivers out there?
 
Op rods are not "really" straight, Chis45. If you examine a new one closely, you'll find a very definitive and purposely installed bend in the rod. Don't try to take it out. It is supposed to be there. I think what the other poster meant was to make sure it wasn't bent more than it is supposed to be which would preclude it from working correctly. They can be bent if trying to remove them incorrectly.

As for your gunsmith hand-assembling an M1 on a CAI receiver, I'm pretty sure it will be done correctly and will be a good shooter. Like anything else, there are exceptions to the rule. The problem with CAI based Garands is that most of them are truly junk having been basically slapped together. I closely examined one about two week ago and was flabergasted as to just how poorly made it was and the way it worked. Everything was loose, poorly fitted, and just plain ugly. If you were to build an M1 using all GI parts on a CAI receiver, properly fit and finished, you'll probably end up with a good shooting rifle. It still won't be able to hold it's value when compare to an "authentic" SA receivered rifle, but I'll be there are a good number of poorly maintained, very rough "authentic" M1s out there too. So, good luck with your shooter. Let us know how you like it. Try to find someone at your range who has one with the SA receiver and compare them side by side with yours. Give us an update and critique.

Rome
 
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