CMP Guns, and Honoring my Father's Memory

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

After my father had been diagnosed with cancer, but about a year and a half before he died, my father told me and my brother that he would like to see me and my brother buy not just GI Surplus guns, but specifically ones being sold by the CMP.  I don't remember all the details of why he wanted this, but I have never forgotten that he said that.  It wasn't too long after he said that that I purchased a 1903 Springfield, and not too long after that an M1 and and M1-D.  Since then, and in the years since he went home, I've not been able to get anything else.  The timing was never right.   Either there was nothing available that I didn't already have, or if there was something, I didn't have the the funds at that time.  Or, what was available was, according to the CMPs own criteria, not in the best of condition, so I passed.
 

For example, not to long ago, they had what they described as being the last batch of Winchester .22 trainers, but they had no sights, no magazines, poor bores and had other issues.   Which was too bad, because I don't have any GI trainers, and I thought it would be cool to have one.  

Well, you can probably guess where this was going.   About 2 weeks ago, after hearing about the upcoming M14 sales, I checked their website to see what else might be available at this time.

And so, behold...



This is a Harrington and Richardson M12 single shot trainer.   They were available either with or without sights, and I obviously bought one of the ones with sights.  And interestingly enough, I am pretty sure this is the same model rifle that I remember that the church I grew up in had a crate full of for use by our CSB Battalion, (Think a kind of Christian version of the Boy Scouts) at various shooting competitions.

Anyway, it all adds up to a few great things.  A new rifle for me.  A rifle that has some historical memories attached to it for me.  And most of all, it is a way for me to honor my father's memory by getting something from the CMP when it was available.  

Which is also part of the reason why I'll be getting an M14 and whatever shotguns I can when they release them.

I'm pretty sure Dad would approve.

[J-BAR #18287]

Great choice!  The sights look like the Redfield Olympics I had on my ROTC .22 rifle.

 

I bet yours will give ragged hole groups at 25 yards, and I would love to see photos!  

 

Well done, Sir.

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

25 minutes ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

Great choice!  The sights look like the Redfield Olympics I had on my ROTC .22 rifle.

 

I bet yours will give ragged hole groups at 25 yards, and I would love to see photos!  

 

Well done, Sir.

 

The sights are...   I am not sure how to describe them, terminology wise.   And I don't wanna get into overly verbose descriptions, so I guess I'll just post some photos of them up close when I get home.

I also took a shot in the dark and Googled how to determine the gun's age.   H&R of course is long gone, so I was pleasantly surprised to find a notation that says the first 2 letters of the serial number tell you when it was made.  The AX on mine means 1981, the first year of production.   Given that it's in the the 523,000 range, the Army musta bought a boatload of these things by the time production ended in 1986.

 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

As promised, here are some close ups of the sights.

 

Front sight from the right.

 

Front sight 3/4 from the rear/side.

 

Front sight looking in it from the rear.



Rear sight from the right.

 

Rear sight from the top

 

 

Rear sight from the left.

I wonder if the front sight can be cleaned out?

[J-BAR #18287]

Dang those are Redfield Olympics!

 

The large ring in the back of the front sight unscrews, allowing removal of the aperture insert.  Clean away!  
 

There were many different inserts available, way back when...   We wanted an aperture that just fitted around the black of a 50 foot target.

 

I have a hunch the sights are worth more than you spent on the rifle.  Good for you!!

[J-BAR #18287]

5 minutes ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

 

I have a hunch the sights are worth more than you spent on the rifle.  Good for you!!

After checking Gunbroker, maybe not, but those are darn fine iron sights.  You are not going to be able to blame them for your misses!

[watab kid]

been offered more for my original kimber 82G sights than i paid for the rifle complete , not selling them nor even considering separating the set , i have a really good scope on it for me but in the future it can be returned to original condition , 

[H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619]

If you check the CMP website, the rifles are $550 without sights, and $600 with.   The unsighted ones, like this rifle, have those mounts for a scope, but I have never been fond of scopes for some reason, so I got the sighted one.

That said, I have a handful of scopes that came with some used Marlins I acquired recently.   Maybe I'll get another one and put one of those scopes on it that I have no real other use for.

Thinking about it, yeah, I guess the sights are a worth a lot more than the $50 charge to have a rifle with them.   When they had the recent Winchesters without sights, I looked up how expensive replacement sights would have been, and while I don't remember the number, they were more than what the CMP was asking for the rifles.

[watab kid]

point being get them from the CMP with the rifle - you can always take them off , or b=not put them on as in my case