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M1 vs M14

ironjohn929ironjohn929 Member Posts: 1,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited November 2003 in Ask the Experts
Please pardon my ignorance everybody. I always thought that the M1 and the M14 were similar, but different weopons. Now I'm seeing what looks like M14's for sale under the M1 category! Can somebody set me straight on this?!!!

Comments

  • mark christianmark christian Member Posts: 24,443 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    You are prbably confused by three different firearms; the first being the US M1 service rifle often refered to as the Garand, named after its designer John C. Garand, who was a civilian employee of the US Government Armory at Springfield Mass. The M1 was the standard US service rifle from it adoption in 1936 until it was replaced by the US M14 service rifle in 1957. The M14 is a sort of "product inproved" M1 rifle using a modified gas system, a detachable 20 round magazine rather than the M1 rifles 8 round en-bloc clip, is chambered for the 7.62mm NATO cartridge rather than the US .30-06 service round, and is selective fire. Although M1 Garands have seen wide spread civilian sales, the release of M14 service rifles to the general public has been heavily restricted for many decades and very few examples exist today in private hands. To solve this problem a number of commercial firms have marketed a copy of the M14 service rifle which is restricted to semi automatic fire only. The best known of these firms is Springfield Armory which has no connection to the former Government armory of the same name. Springfield markets their M1A rifle as a semi automatic copy of the M14 service rifle. Does this help you or further confuse you? That should have read copy of the M14 service rifle...I left out the four.

    Mark T. Christian
  • ironjohn929ironjohn929 Member Posts: 1,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hey Mark,

    So what you are saying is that if I buy a Springfield Armory M1 new out of the box today, I will be getting a replica M14? Did I get that right? Thanks Mark!!!!

    IJ
  • Colt SuperColt Super Member Posts: 31,007
    edited November -1
    The M-14 also has a chromed bore. Also I think Mark meant to say a "copy of the M-14 service rifle which is restricted to semi automatic fire only."

    Mark is NEVER caught in an error, so this must have been a typo.

    By the way, there is also a .30 Caliber M1 Carbine. Totally different cartridge than the others. The .308/7.62NATO being a modified (shortened, etc.) .30-06.

    God Bless America and...
    NEVER Forget WACO
    NEVER, EVER Forget 911
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,889 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The commercial company that is currently in business formally calls themselves "Springfield, Inc"; they used to call themselves "Springfield Armory, Inc". I always use the "Inc" suffix to avoid confusion.

    They actually have made copies of BOTH service rifles.

    They have an "M1 rifle" that uses a foreign-made receiver; it is a copy of the US M1 Rifle. Their most popular rifle is the "M1A rifle", which uses a cast receiver & a mixture of USGI & newly-made parts; it is a clone of the US M14 Rifle.

    If you want an M1 Rifle, you can buy the real thing from the Civilian Marksmanship Program. But, if you want an M14, the closest you can get is a copy from Springfield, Inc, or one of the other makers.

    Neal

    Neal
  • bobskibobski Member Posts: 17,866 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ironjohn...in layman terms, you cant have a replica m-14. a replica m-14 would be full auto. if you want the closest thing to the real thing, the springfield armory M-1A is it. if you want an M-1 garand, they can still be had. there is no need to get a M-1 garand replica. does this help? keep in mind too, the last MILSPEC parts for an M-14 were made in 1970. so, when you get a gun with u.s.g.i. parts on it, its all automatically 33 years old (NOS) minus the receiver. make sense? AND TOO, ITS NOT A WEAPON UNTIL ITS POINTED AT SOMEONE, OTHERWISE ITS FIREARM. i thought i'd correct all my colleagues on that. gotta be pc these days!

    former air operations officer SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. former navy skeet team, navy rifle/pistol team member. co-owner skeetmaster tubes inc.. owner/operator professional shooting instruction.
    Retired Naval Aviation
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  • TED GARTED GAR Member Posts: 389 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The M1 Garand is the original so called by our famous general, MacArthur,,the finest fighting implement ever devised by man...Unquote. Later the m14 was devised, a detachable 20 round magazine, selectfire weapon, capable of full auto fire...
    The new M1A is almost identical, to the M14 but is semi-auto..The
    M1A is an accurate weapon,as are the others..Springfield is the way to go...
  • Ivoryjester123Ivoryjester123 Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    So what is a US Gov. M1 30 cal. carbine worth?
  • WWllVetWWllVet Member Posts: 1,493 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    T G I think the quote you cite was made by "Old Blood and Guts" Patton, NOT dug out Doug McArthur.[}:)][}:)][}:)][:D][:D][:D]

    for GOD and COUNTRY

    Vet
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,889 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ivoryjester, a USGI M1 carbine is worth $250-5,000, depending upon manufacturer, variation, originality, & condition.

    Most that you see on the Gunbroker auction site are rebuilt carbines that sell in the $350-$600 range.

    Neal
  • Ivoryjester123Ivoryjester123 Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    How about a Saginaw SG div of General Motors, serial # 3462XXX good to very good condition? Is this a common variety or a more limited production? I assume since GM doesn't do anything in a small way that there are probably quite a few around.

    Thanks in advnce for the assist.
  • Ivoryjester123Ivoryjester123 Member Posts: 16 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Also, I think this is a type II as it has an adjustable rear sight, fixed front and does not have the bayonet lug.

    Thx again.
  • nmyersnmyers Member Posts: 16,889 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ivoryjester, we had a similar discussion last week, but that was concerning an Underwood M1 carbine. The same responses apply to your question; do a search on "M1 carbine".

    Neal
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