19 Aug 2010

Obama Administration Blocks Import of Korean Surplus Garands and M1 Carbines

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M1 Garand

The Korea Times reports that the Obama administration is blocking the sale to US importers of tens of thousands of surplus M1 Garands and M1 carbines, avidly desired by American target shooters and collectors on grounds that they might find their way into the hands of terrorists (!).

The U.S. government opposed South Korea’s bid to sell hundreds of thousands of aging U.S. combat rifles to American gun collectors, a senior government official said Thursday.

The ministry announced the plan last September as part of efforts to boost its defense budget, saying the export of the M1 Garand and carbine rifles would start by the end of 2009.

The U.S. administration put the brakes on the plan, citing “problems” that could be caused by the importation of the rifles.

The problems the U.S. government cited were somewhat ambiguous, said an official at the Ministry of National Defense on condition of anonymity.

“The U.S. insisted that imports of the aging rifles could cause problems such as firearm accidents. It was also worried the weapons could be smuggled to terrorists, gangs or other people with bad intentions,” the official told The Korea Times. …

The Seoul government sought to sell the outdated U.S guns back to the United States.

A total of 86,000 M1 rifles and another 22,000 carbines were to be sold, as the weapons have been mothballed for about five decades in military warehouses. The per-unit price of the M1 rifle is about $220 and the carbine is more than $140, according to the ministry.

M1s were made first in 1926 and used in World War II and the 1954-1975 Vietnam War. The carbines were first produced in 1941 and used during the 1950-1953 Korean War.

Hat tip to David Kopel.

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6 Feedbacks on "Obama Administration Blocks Import of Korean Surplus Garands and M1 Carbines"

cin

Wow, I hadn’t heard about that. At
Camp Perry this year the M1’s came from Greece.



No Man

As expected. I went out to buy a new O/U shotgun and couldn’t get close to the local gun store.



Paul T. LeBeau

I enjoyed the use of a carbine in Korea in 1959, stationed at Camp Santa Barbara,



GREG MORRISON

These rifles were given to the Korean Govt, so many years ago. GIVEN, thats the key word. If they dont want them then give them back. I am sure Amercican govt can handle the shipping of these American Rifles back home. These rifles belong to Americans, American died carrying these weapon and they were paid by tax payers and by blood, and by OUR American Boys. GIVEN THEM BACK. WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING HAVE PAID FOR SEVERAL TIMES OVER ALL READY. GOD BLESS AMERICA. GIVE THE RIFLE BACK OR WE SHOULD GIVE THEIR COUNTY BACK TO NORTH KOREA.



M1 Garand Reimportation from Korea to the USA | The DrillMaster



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