I'm most likely going to be coming into the possession of a Breda Garand in the next month or so. Being my first rifle and all, I was wondering what sort of things I should be looking for and maybe it's worth? It's apparently had no more than 200 rounds put through it, and has basicly all original parts.
Breda Garand
- Thread starter Satan's Kitten
- Start date
Sgt Striker
CGN Regular
- Location
- Great White North, Eh!
If it's all original parts with matching numbers on the stock and bolt (the Danes some times numbered them to match the rifle), and in very good condition, it would be worth a small fortune if it only had 200 rds through it!! But it's unlikely that a military issued firearm has only been fired 200 times. Other than the round count and all the parts and wood are good condition... ball park falue.... $500+.
Cheers
Dean
Cheers
Dean
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Welcome to the obsession of gun collecting! And yes, $500 is a fair price.
A Breda M1 can come in many forms. The Danish government surplussed their Garands from war reserves in the '90s. A few containers came to Canada. The armourers weren't trying to help any collectors years down the line, so most Danish rifles are a real mixture of Danish, US and Italian made parts. They were well used before storage, but most were brought up to a decent standard of rebuild before they were greased.
Barrels - VAR is Danish, SA or WRA is US, the Italian ones escape me
Parts - Breda will be BMB and BMR; Beretta will be PB; US will be everything from SA to WRA to NHC (an obscure place that made sight knobs), and there are many many variations. The date codes suggest these were WWII dated rifles, not Korea or post war.
The rifle will almost certainly have a serial number stamped in the butt. Hopefully it matches the rifle. The Italian stocks are a fish scale like beechwood. The handguards will be walnut. You might find BMR stamped on the left side of the butt near the buttplate. There will be a pencil engraved serial number on the bolt. Don't panic if it doesn't match. The jury is still out if the number is an inventory code or part of another rifle serial number.
Don't get excited if it is not a perfect specimen (Hell my first girlfirend wasn't but I still liked her). Enjoy the ride and have fun (speaking of that girl ....)
A Breda M1 can come in many forms. The Danish government surplussed their Garands from war reserves in the '90s. A few containers came to Canada. The armourers weren't trying to help any collectors years down the line, so most Danish rifles are a real mixture of Danish, US and Italian made parts. They were well used before storage, but most were brought up to a decent standard of rebuild before they were greased.
Barrels - VAR is Danish, SA or WRA is US, the Italian ones escape me
Parts - Breda will be BMB and BMR; Beretta will be PB; US will be everything from SA to WRA to NHC (an obscure place that made sight knobs), and there are many many variations. The date codes suggest these were WWII dated rifles, not Korea or post war.
The rifle will almost certainly have a serial number stamped in the butt. Hopefully it matches the rifle. The Italian stocks are a fish scale like beechwood. The handguards will be walnut. You might find BMR stamped on the left side of the butt near the buttplate. There will be a pencil engraved serial number on the bolt. Don't panic if it doesn't match. The jury is still out if the number is an inventory code or part of another rifle serial number.
Don't get excited if it is not a perfect specimen (Hell my first girlfirend wasn't but I still liked her). Enjoy the ride and have fun (speaking of that girl ....)
I have one of these Breda Garands and man will that thing shoot! Not to mention it has never jammed, it will group with a real good bolt gun at 100 yards. I have had so many offers to purchase it, I could have sold a dozen like it. But they are not getting this one, because it's mine and staying that way! Grab it and don't look back. If you have near the results I get from mine, you'd say a $1000 wouldn't be overpriced. .375RUM set me up with this one and I thank him very much. Good one Pete!
