What Next for Auctioned-Off South Korean M1 Garand Rifles?

M1 Garand Rifles
M1 Garand Rifles

USA –-(Ammoland.com)- Here’s a quick update on those tens of thousands of U.S.-made M1 Garand rifles that were supposedly coming back to the United States from the Republic of Korea (South Korea) to be sold to American Korean War veterans and their families in time for the 62nd anniversary of the start of Korean War.

Back on April 17, I mentioned an article by Lee Tae-hoon on The Korea Times (South Korea) that said 84,417 Korean War-vintage M1 Garand rifles had been listed on the state-run Internet auction site Onbid.go.kr in an attempt to find a pair of Korean and American brokers to market the old rifle.

Then, I happened to catch a June 5 press release from the office of U.S. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) on the shooting sports news site AmmoLand.com that claimed the semi-automatic long guns would be sold in the United States through the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

Well, the 62nd anniversary of the start of the Korean War has come and gone (American Korean War vets- thank you for your service!), and as far as I know these historic rifles have not yet been repatriated to U.S. shores.

In an e-mail exchange with Lee Tae-hoon right after the Tester piece came out the journalist noted that the Onbid.go.kr bid ended with the winner offering 30,821,850,000 won, or $26,109,148.67 for 84,417 M1 rifles and their parts- which comes out to $309.29 per rifle/parts. At least it sounds like progress is being made.

Tae-hoon has done a great job keeping on top of this story, and interested parties are hoping The Korea Times reporter will have something new about the deal soon.


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Survival And Prosperity, “Protecting and Growing Self and Wealth in These Uncertain Times,” is a blog that was created in November 2010 by Chicago-based researcher and veteran blogger Christopher E. Hill which focuses on personal and financial safety and growth for these tumultuous times in the United States. Visit:www.survivalandprosperity.com

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Richard Rodriguez

I heard great history from my father when he was in Korea in 1951 & 1952 with the 1st Cavalry Division.
I would like to get him one as well as his issue 45 SIDE ARMY weapon.

Rick

Ed Scoville

I believe those rifles have already been paid for with American lives lost in that miserable country.

Gregory Morrison

Korea should give them back to CMP for example Americans have all ready paid for them, first from Tax payers and 2nd my blood.

Glen Ebert

I’m confused. I thought these were to be returned to the US Army who would in turn place them with the CMP. Am I wrong about this? I thought that other countries receiving this form of aid had done just that. Also why is this being blamed on the current administration. I thought the law was very clear. Why do the Koreans think they can sell us back rifles that we own? What is the CMP’s take on this? Why doesn’t Harrington Richardson and Winchester manufacture them? They did before? Does century arms have a roll in this and for… Read more »

Greg Morrison

South Korea should KEEP the M1’s, Americans pa for them, and Americans died using them defending South Korea. Just the thought they want to sell them back to US this is totally acceptable. We all ready paid for them. Korea is a country that feeds on Americans as a joke.

Richard Zimmerman

Those 87,000 m1’s were dumped in the ocean father of his son in the Navy saw em’, Guns America. per Prez

Chuck

Maybe S Korea should keep em. North may soon be coming!!

Dan Upperco

Frank,

Thanks for sharing this interesting update. What a great rifle for shooting or collecting.

Dan

Craig

The CMP keeps claiming that they are not the ones to handle these, regardless of what the good Senator from Montana claimed. Straight from Mr. Michaels, the CMP COO. Check their forums.

Marcus

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