Couple points responding to your trollish remark:
"What they are" is the best battle rifle issued and used during WWII. A marvel of invention and development. The main rifle used by Americans to bring down totalitarian regimes that threatened to plunge the entire world into repression and horrors unspeakable.
But other than that, meh, who cares?
And, as for them being "too expensive."
You are obviously ignorant of the Civilian Marksmanship Program and the fine Garands they sell for around $650. Link Removed
Your comment is, well, I'm trying to think of the right word for it: stupid? Yes, that'll do.
I have 2 out of the 3.
I have an M1 that was originally an Italian .308 that was shipped back to Springfield to be made back into the original. The stock is in great condition with little sign of hard use, it's got that trade mark 1" addition to bring it back to original length. It's got a 1945 barrel and reciever, serial # dates it March of '45... Still has pretty good rifling and shoots true, I added the GarandGear gas plug that works great... awesome firearm!
I have a Chinese T53 dated 1954, I tried to track the serial # as best I could and the guy I picked it up from said it was a Vietnam bring back... so that's pretty cool. It cleaned up nice, though it shows its use. It fires like a dream and shoots true to aim... a great rifle! I've actually wanted another, probably the 91/30... I'd like to find one with a turn-down bolt but if not, whatever. I love anything Soviet, firearms related that is... Mosins are no exception.
I don't own an SMLE... I'll have to corect that
