Ok, so I am a hypocrite!

[chrisinhouston]

Ok, I admit it outright! I am a gun owner and I really believe that we do need background checks for all gun purchases even private sales and I am dissapointed in the Senate for caving in to the NRA of which I am not and have never been a member!

That being said, I decided to sell my M1 Garand rifle. In inherited it from my father in law because no one else in the family has any interest in guns. However I mostly only own and shoot shotguns so it has just sat in my closet for the past few years. My father in law got it from the CMP, the Civilian Marksmanship Program which promotes marksmanship and gun ownership from a bit more of a responsible way than the NRA, at least in my opinion. For years they have sold WWII and Korean war rifles such as the M1 and the earlier Sprinfield 1903 bolt action rifle.

I did some research on the history of the M1, mine was made by IHC, International Harvester. Yes the tractor company. There were 4 different manufactures such as Springfield and IHC had the last contract. My gun is dated 1954 and is in very good shape and never fired since we got it.

But selling a gun in a big city like Houston isn't as easy as it used to be. Most newspapers don't have much circulation for the print editions and some don't take ads for guns. And eBay and Craig's List won't take gun ads either. So I found an online gun website where I could run the ad. The ad is here if you would like to see it:
http://texasguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=358002

So it's been a week and I've had 6 or 7 guys contact me... no ladies yet. 2 have offered outright $1200 but I would like to hold out for more. I also like it when someone comes to look and then makes you an offer based on what they see, that is haggling and the correct way to negotiate a final price. I hate the concept of a "by it now" price.

So I guess I am a hypocrite since I will not require the buyer to show me his background check. Oh well.... if it were the law I would obey it.

Incidentally I plan to use the money to buy a planer for my workshop since I need one for when I make the raised panel doors for my kitchen cabinet project. I plan to get this one: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[infinite monkey]

Wow, my brother just asked me and other brother to chip in on a M1 Garand wall decor thingy for my dad for Father's day. He knew it was a replica but thought it was bigger. Still, it'll be cool for his shop.

I saw your post and thought...hey, wait a sec. But 1500 is a bit out of our range.

[Perry Winkle]

My grandfather has one that he was issued during the Korean war. He had a match-grade barrel put on it and has been using it on his farm ever since.

Really fun gun to shoot. Would definitely pop for this one if I had the spare cash. (Unexpected car repairs sucked up my surplus this month.)

[infinite monkey]

Oh, my brother says dad has one...hell I don't know from guns. I just know they all have a bunch of 'em. He even has a serial number and knows where it was made and stuff.

But like I said, I'm just repeating like a parrot. I dont' know anything about it.

[Gravdigr]

If I had an M1, I don't know that I'd part with it.

But, I do know it would take more than $1200 to make me do it.

Surely you have an extra $5000 lens or two lying around...

[Gravdigr]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

But 1500 is a bit out of our range.

Springfield Armory has been making new M1s for a while now. I'd bet with a little scrounging you could come up w/one of those for less than a grand.

If one were so inclined.

[chrisinhouston]

Yes, they are available for less but with ordering from the CMP you do get a working gun that has been refurbished and has been test fired but you don't know what you will get until it arrives... kind of like a baby.

It may be a beauty or a pretty rough field gun.

[footfootfoot]

CMP had a few Krag 30-40s for a while. That was my first rifle. I hated its kick and developed a bad flinch. I gave it to my buddy who still has it. I was shocked to see that they cost a lot more than the $75 I paid for it.

I'd love to replace it some day now that I know about limbsavers...

[Gravdigr]

K-Mart (way back in the day) used to sell SKSs for $59. You ought to see how they've gone up...$289 is the cheapest I've seen in a while. And that was about a year ago.

Off-beat caliber, older Euro/Russian rifles/pistols is the way to go on the cheap. Plus, you can actually find ammo for them.

[chrisinhouston]

I can remember back in the mid 1980's seeing an ad here in Houston for M1 Garands at Woolworths shortly before they shut down. Guns at Woolworths? Sure right next to the soda fountain!

[infinite monkey]

[DanaC]

I don't see the hypocrisy. Wanting to own and/or sell a gun and also wanting the ownership and sale of guns to be in some way regulated, or monitored for public safety seems an eminently sensible position to me.

Selling a gun in an unregulated fashion is currently your only option.

[elSicomoro]

Originally Posted by DanaC

I don't see the hypocrisy. Wanting to own and/or sell a gun and also wanting the ownership and sale of guns to be in some way regulated, or monitored for public safety seems an eminently sensible position to me.

Selling a gun in an unregulated fashion is currently your only option.

The NRA wants to have some words with you...and they WILL have you extradited over here to do so.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by DanaC

... Selling a gun in an unregulated fashion is currently your only option.

That's not true. While Texas may neither require background checks nor have its own State agency to perform them, Federal Firearms License (FFL) gun dealers are still required under federal law to do background checks through the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System. For the price of a FFL dealer's commission, chrisinhouston has the option of putting his firearm on consignment with one of them and getting a background check. If his priority is on squeezing every dollar out of the firearm's sale by selling it privately, then I consider his self assessment of being a hypocrite to be accurate. Nothing unusual about people becoming hypocrites when they find that their scruples will cost them money.

[ZenGum]

I don't think it is so hypocritical. Chris could go through a licensed dealer, but under current laws, all that would do is cause Mr G. Banger to buy his new gun from someone else.

Besides, what kind of crook wants an M1? Handguns, or semi autos, please.