In the spring issue of the GCA Journal, there's an article about the US getting back the M1 Garands, and possibly M1 Carbines, that we loaned to the country of Turkey via the Military Assistance Program (MAP). Apparently, we loaned them about 150,000 M1 Garands in the mid to late 1950s, and these firearms are starting to come back to the US for sale via the CMP. At this time, the first return - 8,850 M1's - from the Turkish Navy are now in the CMP warehouse, being uncrated and graded for sale. Interestingly, out of the first 1,500 being readied for sale, some 500 are International Harvester M1's, which is a high proportion considering that IHC made the fewest M1's of the four manufacturers.
Unfortunately, the article adds that these M1's are, by and large, only in fair condition, not as good as the MAP returns from Greece that the CMP has been selling for the past couple of years. The pictures showed a few M1's that had just been uncrated; the rifles definitely will need some TLC. Unfortunately also, the Turks crated them up in stacks laying on their sides, and the CMP inspectors mentioned fresh gouges in the stocks from the op rods and rear sights.
Still, it's heartening to know that the supply of M1's through the CMP will continue for some time yet. Now if we get some returns from the Turkish Air Force, and these turn out to be like the Greek AF returns, we'll be in for some more gorgeous eye candy!
Unfortunately, the article adds that these M1's are, by and large, only in fair condition, not as good as the MAP returns from Greece that the CMP has been selling for the past couple of years. The pictures showed a few M1's that had just been uncrated; the rifles definitely will need some TLC. Unfortunately also, the Turks crated them up in stacks laying on their sides, and the CMP inspectors mentioned fresh gouges in the stocks from the op rods and rear sights.
Still, it's heartening to know that the supply of M1's through the CMP will continue for some time yet. Now if we get some returns from the Turkish Air Force, and these turn out to be like the Greek AF returns, we'll be in for some more gorgeous eye candy!