Talyn
Emissary
The country’s clearinghouse for milsurp rifles and pistols announced over the weekend that a collectible American battle rifle will soon be available.
The number of surplus rifles available through CMP is likely to be small.
The notice from CMP:
Adopted in the late 1950s to replace not only the Garand, but also the M1 Carbine, M3 Grease Gun, and M1918 BAR, the Springfield Armory-designed M14 in 7.62 NATO was America’s battle rifle for a generation.
laststandonzombieisland.com
Further, the M14 was never fully removed from U.S. military use and remains in limited service with a variety of units, including the Army’s “Old Guard” on ceremonial duties in the Washington, D.C area, with the Service Academies for drill use, with assorted EOD units to deliver disabling fire at distance, and as line throwers and service rifles aboard Navy ships.
The ATF has long enforced a “once a machine gun, always a machine gun” policy when it comes to receivers, meaning they could only ever become scrap or remain an NFA item forever. Presumably, CMP has cleared the planned conversion of these surplus select-fire M14s with the ATF to be “civilian-legal” and non-NFA items, which could be part of the “Special Authorization” mentioned in the press release.
This could open the door to apply the same logic to the millions of surplus 5.56 firearms (M16A1, A2, A4s, etc.) in military storage, provided Congress tweaks the organization’s charter to include that caliber (currently the CMP is only allowed to sell surplus U.S. military .30-caliber and .22-caliber rifles).
Going past CMP, it could signal the end of the once/always standard, which could mean big things in terms of importing and commercial sales.
This could make brand-new cast receiver Springfield M1As, which start at about $1,500 for base models, a good alternative. Even Fulton and LRB-made M14 clones, using forged receivers, are out there for under $4K.
The number of surplus rifles available through CMP is likely to be small.
The notice from CMP:
Adopted in the late 1950s to replace not only the Garand, but also the M1 Carbine, M3 Grease Gun, and M1918 BAR, the Springfield Armory-designed M14 in 7.62 NATO was America’s battle rifle for a generation.
CMP to Sell (Modded) Military Surplus M14s
The country’s clearinghouse for milsurp rifles and pistols announced over the weekend that a collectible American battle rifle will soon be available. The notice from CMP: By special authoriz…
laststandonzombieisland.com
Further, the M14 was never fully removed from U.S. military use and remains in limited service with a variety of units, including the Army’s “Old Guard” on ceremonial duties in the Washington, D.C area, with the Service Academies for drill use, with assorted EOD units to deliver disabling fire at distance, and as line throwers and service rifles aboard Navy ships.
The Bigger Deal Behind the Announcement
The importance of this news goes far past some M14s hitting the collectors’ market.The ATF has long enforced a “once a machine gun, always a machine gun” policy when it comes to receivers, meaning they could only ever become scrap or remain an NFA item forever. Presumably, CMP has cleared the planned conversion of these surplus select-fire M14s with the ATF to be “civilian-legal” and non-NFA items, which could be part of the “Special Authorization” mentioned in the press release.
This could open the door to apply the same logic to the millions of surplus 5.56 firearms (M16A1, A2, A4s, etc.) in military storage, provided Congress tweaks the organization’s charter to include that caliber (currently the CMP is only allowed to sell surplus U.S. military .30-caliber and .22-caliber rifles).
Going past CMP, it could signal the end of the once/always standard, which could mean big things in terms of importing and commercial sales.
Price?
The question on everyone’s mind is, what about the cost? Well, CMP runs Garands currently for $1,150, and those are reconditioned guns using reclaimed drill rifle receivers with new barrels and furniture. Every other grade is sold out. The popular commentary on the M14 pricing, which hasn’t been announced, ranges from $4,000 to $6,000 on assorted CMP and collector forums, likely with a lottery system such as used in early batches of surplus M1911 sales.This could make brand-new cast receiver Springfield M1As, which start at about $1,500 for base models, a good alternative. Even Fulton and LRB-made M14 clones, using forged receivers, are out there for under $4K.
