When it comes to collecting, the time to collect is before everyone else becomes a collector. Well, that time, for the Garand, passed a couple of decades ago. They were relatively inexpensive, as full-sized .30-06 military rifles go, until the beginning of the 21st century. That’s when prices shot up.
This was reflected in the prices at the CMP (back then, the DCM) in auctions and at gun shops when you could acquire a good-condition Garand for under $1,000. It wasn’t unusual to score a rack-grade Garand, and maybe even some ammunition with it, for $800. There was a time when you could buy eight Garands a year from the CMP, at the grade or grades you wanted, and see what showed up. Then, things changed, and the political situation got more fractious, and the collectors realized that there were bargains to be had.
Today, finding an unabused Garand of the standard makers is challenging for under $2,200 or even $2,500. If
