danish m1 garand
- Thread starter caster456
- Start date
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Danish vs USGI rifles
For starters, stop reading the internet forums originating in the US. There are no differences between Danish rifles and US rifles. All parts interchange (as they should) and all are Garands, except with different service histories. In Canada almost all our Garands are Danish rifles, simply because Bill Clinton's rules kept several containers of purchased Danish rifles out. If they had been loaned to the Danes postwar we would not be having this conversation. The quick ways of identifying a Danish rack grade rifle from any other gun, is to look at the bolt for an engraved serial number or on the thin part of the buttstock for a deeply stamped serial number. That does not mean the rifle has been rebuilt by a Canadian owner who swapped in country correct parts.
The average US poster has a pathological hatred for anything not made in the good ole' US of A. There are 4 USGI makers (SA, Win, IHC and H&R) and 2 Italian makers (Breda and Beretta). Springfield Arsenal was in the game the longest and were the most consistent. Winchester's production was a scandal and they were forever getting bailed out by skilled workers from Springfield. International Harvester and Harrington & Richardson were postwar makers, and are considered pretty good guns. The two Italian makers were strictly postwar, and are much better made than any US rifle. Those companies were competing against the Americans for contracts, so they simply had to be better.
For starters, stop reading the internet forums originating in the US. There are no differences between Danish rifles and US rifles. All parts interchange (as they should) and all are Garands, except with different service histories. In Canada almost all our Garands are Danish rifles, simply because Bill Clinton's rules kept several containers of purchased Danish rifles out. If they had been loaned to the Danes postwar we would not be having this conversation. The quick ways of identifying a Danish rack grade rifle from any other gun, is to look at the bolt for an engraved serial number or on the thin part of the buttstock for a deeply stamped serial number. That does not mean the rifle has been rebuilt by a Canadian owner who swapped in country correct parts.
The average US poster has a pathological hatred for anything not made in the good ole' US of A. There are 4 USGI makers (SA, Win, IHC and H&R) and 2 Italian makers (Breda and Beretta). Springfield Arsenal was in the game the longest and were the most consistent. Winchester's production was a scandal and they were forever getting bailed out by skilled workers from Springfield. International Harvester and Harrington & Richardson were postwar makers, and are considered pretty good guns. The two Italian makers were strictly postwar, and are much better made than any US rifle. Those companies were competing against the Americans for contracts, so they simply had to be better.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
In retrospect they are a little better IMHO.
These are the only factory made army issue 30-06 barrels with full chrome lining.
Kind of neat. And at CMP John C. Garand matches south of our border, the VAR barrelled (Danish arsenal) M-1s are sought after by those in the know.
Merely because, these well made Danish barrels are almost match grade, but because they were standard issue to Danish soldiers, these 30-06 Garands qualify as "normal rack grade" rifles as opposed to match grade rifles, which are not legal at these rifle matches.
Hell my VAR barrelled, Springfield made, Garand was reconditioned in 1992. It says so, on a sticker underneath the barrel, seated facing upwards in the rifle stock. Not many USA issue Garands were worked over by armourers that late.
As a rule they are in better condition.
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stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
I don't have a lot of experience with Garands, so take this with a grain of salt...
1) Are the Danish M1 Garands any good?
My research found that the 30-06 Danes are highly-regarded as well-manufactured, fully-interchangeable with USGI, rifles. The issue with interchangeability comes with the 308 Danes which where manufactured by the Italians and have shortened barrels and op rods --- these can be hard to get replacement parts for since they are specific to that model.
I believe the Danes had shipments of US-made surplus Garands that they arsenal-rebuilt to a very high standard (specifically using their own VAR barrels). The Danes also contracted to Beretta/Breda to make brand new Garands. In either case, the Dane Garands are post-war (ie. no expedience cost cutting) so are well-maintained/finished.
2) Values are all over the place. Over the last year, I've seen prices on the EE of $600 (very good!) to $800 and dealership prices in the $800-$900 range. I just bought my first Beretta-made Danish Garand at auction for $420 and I feel that I got quite a bargain.
A complete arsenal-produced Italian Garand is also pretty pricey in the US as only a very limited number made it into the US as complete rifles. The majority of Italian Garands in the US were put together from parts due to the aforementioned Clinton/US policy.
3) If you're primary interest is a shooter-grade Garand, you can't go wrong with the Danish models --- they generally have excellent barrels and little wear. We were very fortunate to have received them instead of the US so I'd take advantage of the opportunity.
The Danes used standard US GI Springfield and Winchester rifles when they re-armed after WW2. In the 1954-55 timeframe they contracted with the Italian Breda and Beretta firms to procure additional rifles. These may be termed the uniquely Danish Garands. Receivers are marked with an FKF and crown device and serial number with a "BMR"(Breda) or "PB" (Beretta)prefix behind the rear sight. Most parts incorporate either a PB or BMR/BMB stamping.
The Italian contract rifles are made to a high standard with forged receivers and parts are completely inter-changable with standard US GI parts. The Breda and Beretta barrels shoot very well as do the Danish made replacement VAR barrels. The Danes maintained very good technical control of their small arms and replaced parts when required. In the course of checking and re-building many Garands I have had to replace few parts on the Danish surplus rifles. For these reasons they are a pretty good choice when buying a Garand.
The Italian contract rifles are made to a high standard with forged receivers and parts are completely inter-changable with standard US GI parts. The Breda and Beretta barrels shoot very well as do the Danish made replacement VAR barrels. The Danes maintained very good technical control of their small arms and replaced parts when required. In the course of checking and re-building many Garands I have had to replace few parts on the Danish surplus rifles. For these reasons they are a pretty good choice when buying a Garand.
Ex-Dragoon
Member
- Location
- Halifax NS
Who is selling these Danish M1s?
Itallian M1's are about as good as it gets fit and finish wise. Made in peace time on Winchester machinery, with all the latest drawing numbers. If you want a shooter, these are the cream of the crop. Originally issued with real nice Sile walnut, many were restocked to the ugliest danish beech wood you will ever see 
Here is my Breda with original wood.
Here is my Breda with original wood.
theres some for sale at the gun show in chilliwack bc
burnt_servo
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- right in the middle of b.c.
any idea on price ?
stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
A good check to rule it out of being a "parts" gun that someone put together is to find the barrel markings. Pull back the operating rod and see what's written on the barrel between the rear handguard and the buttstock. Mine says "1955 RSC" and has a dk or pk in a circle --- that at least dates the barrel in the same timeframe as the Italians were shipping them to Denmark. Other barrels of the same vintage/provinence will say VAR. There are likely other authentic barrel markings, but I'm not sure what they would be. If you see Springfield, H&R, or other American markings, it might (but not necessarily!) mean a rebarrel stateside. A rebarrel is not a bad thing, BTW, as there are few Garands that have not had significant parts replaced during their lifetimes.
You should also be aware of the issue regarding rewelded Garand receivers and how to detect rewelds --- I don't know if this would ever be an issue with Danish Garands, but it's worth knowing about (check google).
stickhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Victoria, B.C.
Itallian M1's are about as good as it gets fit and finish wise. Made in peace time on Winchester machinery, with all the latest drawing numbers. If you want a shooter, these are the cream of the crop. Originally issued with real nice Sile walnut, many were restocked to the ugliest danish beech wood you will ever see
Nice Breda! My Beretta is sadly afflicted with the Danish beech wood stock --- ugly as sin. And to top it off, the handguards were replaced with plastic versions, so I'm doubly hexed. I'd love to find replacement Italian-made walnut stocks, but have only been able to find buttstocks and no handguards.
well have you? more fun than eating crackers in bed!mikebaker1129
CGN Regular
- Location
- TEXAS, U.S.A
These are the only factory made army issue 30-06 barrels with full chrome lining.
Do you have any pics of the chrome barrels ? I have never heard this before about the Italian made 30.06 barrels being Chrome lined.
Do you have any pics of the chrome barrels ? I have never heard this before about the Italian made 30.06 barrels being Chrome lined.
The Danish VAR barrels are not chrome lined, nor are the Breda and Beretta barrels made on Danish contract rifles. The gas port area on the external of the barrel is chrome plated, as are the post war US GI barrels, as a precaution against corrosion.
around $900.00
