CMP announces new service for surplus USGI rifles

This hit my email box this morning from the Civilian Marksmanship Program:

ANNISTON, AL - Over the years, many Civilian Marksmanship Program firearms purchasers have asked if the CMP would consider offering reliable, reasonably-priced and prompt maintenance, repair and upgrade of USGI-issue rifles. The CMP has responded and the answer is "YES" we will.

Effective October 1, 2013, the CMP Custom Shop will open for business, providing a wide variety of repair, upgrade and custom services for a wide range of U.S. Military rifles, specifically those issued in early eras.

The CMP Custom Shop will be able to perform virtually any normal upgrading, accurizing, customizing and refinishing (not to mention regular repairs and troubleshooting) to the types of rifles that we are currently selling or have sold in the recent past.

CMP will specialize in working on the M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, 1903 and 1903A3 Springfield, the 1917 Enfield and the Krag. Other rifles like the Remington 40X, Mossberg 44 and H&R Model 12 can also be serviced if needed. CMP will NOT be working on shotguns, pistols, revolvers, M14/M1A, AR15 style rifles or other commercially-produced modern rifles.

For years the CMP has been swamped with just getting newly purchased rifles prepped and out to customers. So the branch into repairs and customization may be a sign new orders are dropping off, or perhaps a sign the CMP knows its supply of surplus rifles available to sell will eventually dry up. Regardless, no one knows more about American military surplus rifles than the CMP. And it's good to know that expertise will now be available to keep our existing but aging firearms operating at peak performance.