..............My Garand was one of the Korean re-imports. I had an O-1 FFL at the time. I remember Big 5 Sporting goods was selling 'Shooters' for $250. This was when I was shooting at the range EVERY Tuesday with a few other guys. Man, I tell ya guys would come sailing in with their new 'Shooter' and 3-4 boxes of PMC 150gr FMJ ammo and bang it away. Pack up and walk off to their car. You could use a rake to pick up the brass
I'd come in on a Tuesday AM and Kenny the rangemaster would hand me a 5 gallon bucket of 30-06 brass, and it's not like he was giving it all to me by any means!
I bought my Garand from J&G Sales in Prescott, AZ Sept of 1993. They were running an add in the Shotgun News and said to "Ask for John" (or Bill or George). So I called and the first thing he asked was if I was a collector? I said no. All I wanted was one in VG or better mechanical condition as I was simply a shooter. It cost me $450. When it arrived it was about the ugliest thing I'd ever seen
I HAD to shoot it and thought of maybe sticking it inside some paper grocery sacks or something. It had a raw piece of Beech or Birch for a buttstock with a large number painted on in yellow paint. A paper thin piece of walnut for a top handguard and the front handguard was an unfinished piece of Beech or Birch.
But holy cow would that thing shoot! You cannot conceive how fast I called up Numrich for a new set of wood for it! And here it is:
The receiver was made in 1943.
The wood is late 'Fat Wood' and SA marked.
..............Buckshot