---
title: "You Can Now Own John Garand’s Very Own M1 Garand Rifle"
date: "2018-08-07"
modified: "2018-08-07"
authors:
  - name: "Jared Keller"
    job_title: "Former Managing Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jaredkeller/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/tech-tactics/m1-garand-rifle-inventor-auction/"
categories:
  - "Guns"
  - "History"
  - "Tech & Tactics"
  - "Weapons"
---

# You Can Now Own John Garand’s Very Own M1 Garand Rifle

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/18989736-1.png>)

Why own a vintage M1 Garand when you can own *the* vintage M1 Garand?

The .30 caliber M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle belonging to John Garand himself — the brilliant Canadian-American gunsmith whose work at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory yielded the legendary service rifle of American troops during World War II — will officially [go up for auction](<https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/74/1362/springfield-armory-john-garand-presentation-m1garand>) in September through Rock Island Auction Company, [Guns.com reports.](<https://www.guns.com/2018/08/07/john-garands-own-presentation-m1-rifle-up-for-auction-video/>)

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-placeholder-title-4022.jpg>)

The M1 Garand package up for auction by Rock Island Auction CompanyRock Island Auction Company

The rifle is listed with a whopping estimated price of between $225,000 and $375,000, but it's catnip for the firearms collector who wants to hold a piece of history. According to the listing, Garand was presented with a rifle from the Army's arsenal, manufactured in 1942 with the serial number 1,000,000, at his 1953 retirement in recognition for his impact on the course of the U.S. armed forces.

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-placeholder-title-1899.png>)

Secretary of Army Robert Stevens presents John Garand with an M1 Garand rifle at his retirement in 1953Rock Island Auction Company

[According](<https://www.guns.com/2018/08/07/john-garands-own-presentation-m1-rifle-up-for-auction-video/>) to Guns.com, the rifle remained in the possession of the Garand estate until 2003, when it was purchased by then-NRA President Allen Cors. Now up for auction, Rock Island bills the rifle as "absolutely the apex of any advanced M1 Garand rifle collection or any high-end martial arms collection." Here's the official description:

*Exceptional, as presented, with 99% of the arsenal presentation grade blue/black type finish on all the metal surfaces. The stock and handguard are also like-new with beautiful, full-figured, tiger-striped walnut showing no handling marks anywhere. The original presentation case is also in excellent condition. Mechanically excellent.*

One interesting tidbit worth mentioning: Garand accepted zero royalty payments from the U.S. government, and the Rock Island listing includes a letter from one Montana resident offering to contribute to the “share of what is due…for his invention of the M1” in the form of an (uncashed) check for $1.

Twenty years after his retirement, the U.S. Congress introduced a bill to award Garand a hefty $100,000 in recognition of his contribution to modern warfare. The bill failed.

**WATCH NEXT:**

## Author
Jared Keller is the former managing editor of Task & Purpose. His writing has appeared in Aeon, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the New Republic, Pacific Standard, Smithsonian, and The Washington Post, among other publications.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/jaredbkeller>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/jaredbkeller>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredbkeller/>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/jaredbkelller/>)