It was Elmer Ballance who began manufacturing and offering M1A rifles in the early 1970s based on the venerable M14. The Reese family took ownership of his fledgling Springfield Armory firm, moved it to Geneseo, Ill., and grew the company into national prominence as one of the industry’s most prominent manufacturers. The company’s entire M1A line remains highly desired by enthusiasts to this day.
Then, after a U.S. military report determined 5.56 NATO cartridges were ineffective at average engagement distances in Afghanistan, many original M14s stored in U.S. armories were retrofitted and issued to our troops. Reports were glowing about reliability and the improved performance of the 7.62 NATO cartridge it chambers.
Civilian interest peaked, and soon rugged, a number of combat-worthy aftermarket chassis—along with other accessories—hit the commercial market. For those not interested in preserving the historic look, replacement of a worn wood stock gave the rifle an appealing high-speed, low-drag look. M1As continue to be hot sellers for Springfield Armory, particularly those coming from the factory with all the right gear, like the SOCOM seen (top photo) above.
M1 Garand
This year, there’s been an unexpected resurgence of interest in all things M1/M14 related, however, it’s not limited to the M1A. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), as we reported before, is now offering freshly made M1 Garands manufactured so tightly to its World War II specs that it's been cleared for use in the CMP's vintage service rifle matches.
CMP has been offering surplus Garands for years, but factory-fresh versions are a new venture. The organization’s M1 Garand Match has fueled added interest in the rifle since it began in 1998. There’s no doubt these new models will attract more shooters to that firing line and others.
M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine also saw duty during World War II. Its sleek profile makes it an attractive addition to any collection, but prices on used versions are getting more expensive by the day. The .30 Carbine cartridge it chambers is also sometimes a challenge to find at most retailers.
Auto Ordnance (bottom rifle in the photo above) and Inland Manufacturing have been offering them on the civilian market for years. They are popular choices and available in a couple different versions.
Chiappa Firearms recently introduced something slightly different, however. It’s a limited series of WW2 Commemorative Edition M1 Carbines chambered in .22 LR or 9 mm Luger. The company rolled them out for the 80th anniversary of the end of that war, and each rifle comes in a commemorative stamped box, a commemorative embedded eagle coin in the stock and certificate of authenticity matching the limited production.
This limited release is numbered, with only 1,945 rifles manufactured, marking the year the war ended. They may be more of a collectible than shooter, but their chamberings will likely see many of them put to use regularly.
Full-Auto BB Gun
As if that isn’t enough, Crosman recently introduced a M1 Full-Auto BB gun. Cosmetically it’s not exactly a perfect match with the original, but it’s close enough for government work and lots of inexpensive fun.
It also underscores an interesting trend. The M1 Garand, M14 and M1 Carbine are the kind of timeless designs that will never go out of style, but this year’s resurgence is something different altogether.
We’ll keep you up to date is any other manufacturers follow suit. In the meantime, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for the appearance of new FN FALs, or a half dozen.
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