PB Garand - So what do I have here?

J

Jim_Hbar

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West of the Rocks.
I've been a CGN member since 2004, but find most of the information I want by searching and reading, and only post if I can add something to the conversation on this and other forums.

But this time I need to ask a question. I purchased this PB Garand off the CGN exchange back in 2004, and don't even recall if I have fired it more than once. It's just not my thing.

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It is in excellent condition, in fact, most of it appears to have been hardly fired at all. Serial number is PB 68**.
Obviously a replacement stock.
The receiver has a real green tinge to the parkerizing, and in natural light appears more like the image below, on my monitor.
The colour in the other images is "off", and is probably influenced by the green blanket in the background.

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It is one of the PB's with the receiver manufactured by BMR, and the rest of the rifle appears to use BMB parts. The only PB marked parts that I can find are the operating rod catch assembly and the hammer itself.

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However, the trigger group appears to have seen more use than the rest of the rifle.

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Barrel is marked RSC 1955.

So, what is this, a collection of parts assembled into a rifle? Or a Breda with a PB serial number?
And what would be a fair price for it?
 
I have a PB Garand serial# PB 30. PB means it was made by Berreta in Italy. in the 1950,s Denmark needed some Garand rifles so they got a Italian company called Breda to build them some. Breda is marked BMB or BMR. the Breda company could not build them fast enough so they got Berreta to build some. Berreta parts are marked PB. all parts on mine are marked PB except the bolt which is marked BMB.
these facts are as good as I can remember and I do not mind being corrected.
I have shoot my Garand a lot and it shoots very well. very accurate at 200yds.
Brownie

P.S.
mine is all original and I paid $750 about five years ago.
 
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That is a beatifull rifle. Don't sell it. I would give my left nut for it. Unfortunately, unless the OP has some very weird fetish, I can't afford it.
 
Not sure what a fair price would be, but I am willing to bet if you put it on the EE it'll be gone within an hour (if it's fairly priced of course). Like the above poster, probably out of my price range at the moment. Too many awesome guns, not enough money.
 
Sgt Fox - Thanks for posting that magazine article. This is evidently an example of what that author refers to in the last paragraph in the left-hand column on page 25.
Being that it's a bit uncommon, is it of greater interest to collectors?

I originally acquired the rifle as an example of the inconsistency of the Canadian gun laws - Semi-auto centre-fire rifles may only hold 5 rounds - except M1 Garands.
I now have one of those classic hunting rifles, the CZ858.

When I purchased the rifle, it came with a cool accessory that I've not heard of or seen otherwise. And that is shown in the first picture of the first post, to the right of the loaded clips.
It's a replacement clip that allows you to load cartridges individually into the rifle, and does not eject or go "ping" when the last round is fired.

BTW, the trigger group isn't as bad as it appears in those zoomed in flash images. I used the flash to capture details that weren't showing up otherwise.
It just needs some time in the ultra-sonic cleaner I don't have.
 
Jim_Hbar said:
When I purchased the rifle, it came with a cool accessory that I've not heard of or seen otherwise. And that is shown in the first picture of the first post, to the right of the loaded clips.
It's a replacement clip that allows you to load cartridges individually into the rifle, and does not eject or go "ping" when the last round is fired.
Click to expand...

That is what is known as a SLED- single load enhancement device. Very popular among people using the Garand for match shooting. Instructions to make them from a standard clip are all over the internet if you search using that term.
 
Jim_Hbar said:
Being that it's a bit uncommon, is it of greater interest to collectors?
Click to expand...
Good question. Two years ago, someone unloaded a crate of 14 of these danish rifles at a local gun store. They sold for $1200 over the next year, although prices seem to have gone up over the last year. I personally bought a gorgeous Springfield with a VAR barrel.
 
Well I will throw in my right nut, 1895 Marlin and I can then share the use of that fine rifle!! Just kidding, you shouldn't have any problems getting at least $1200 - $1500 for it. I am gonna run and check my lottery ticket now....
1895Marlin said:
That is a beatifull rifle. Don't sell it. I would give my left nut for it. Unfortunately, unless the OP has some very weird fetish, I can't afford it.
Click to expand...
 
I'm not sure if the pb serial number with a breda marking by the drawing number on the receiver is all that common? There are a few parts floating around out there that are stamped both PB and BMB - I have a safety marked so. The overstamped bolt is typical. The stock looks newer. The trigger group, minus the hammer, looks all sprinfield wartime. The windage knob is also a replacement - would ordinarily be marked with a V instead of left. Great looking piece, the PB versions tends to be seen less, so at a bit of a premium over breda rifles...
R
 
If I remember correctly, I think I sold you that one!


brownie said:
I have a PB Garand serial# PB 30. PB means it was made by Berreta in Italy. in the 1950,s Denmark needed some Garand rifles so they got a Italian company called Breda to build them some. Breda is marked BMB or BMR. the Breda company could not build them fast enough so they got Berreta to build some. Berreta parts are marked PB. all parts on mine are marked PB except the bolt which is marked BMB.
these facts are as good as I can remember and I do not mind being corrected.
I have shoot my Garand a lot and it shoots very well. very accurate at 200yds.
Brownie

P.S.
mine is all original and I paid $750 about five years ago.
Click to expand...
 
Jim_Hbar said:
I

The receiver has a real green tinge to the parkerizing, and in natural light appears more like the image below, on my monitor.
The colour in the other images is "off", and is probably influenced by the green blanket in the background.

So, what is this, a collection of parts assembled into a rifle? Or a Breda with a PB serial number?
And what would be a fair price for it?
Click to expand...

Jim_Hbar, If you examine the chamber and bore, you may find evidence that it was parkerized. If it is, that indicates that it was restored and a special green parkerizing was used. If the bore and chamber is bright and shiny, that is really good news. That would indicate the rifle was stored for a long time covered in grease which caused the green discoloration. That is rare and does increase the value and collectablity of the rifle. Why the trigger does not have the same finish suggests it was swapped out. The stock appears to be in such good condition that it was propably restored by a process that involves boiling it in water. Again, one look in the bore will tell you either way.
 
Man, these rifles have gotten so ridiculously expensive it's not even funny anymore!

I too have a Danish Beretta Garand, which I bought about 14 years ago for enough money to allow you to buy nothing more than a Norinco M305 today. Boy am I glad I haven't sold it? And believe it or not, not knowing much about them at the time I bought it, I chose my PB over an similar condition Winchester which was selling at about the same price. I went only by the looks, the Winchester looked like machined with a hand file whereas my PB looks like the product of a CNC master machinist.

My rifle has a receiver marked "Beretta Armi - Italia", PB marked bolt and sights and Danish barrel, all in a PB marked stock with same serial number as the receiver. It even had a Danish sighting sticker under the butt plate and a PB multi-tool (like the one pictured in the article) in the stock. The metal looks a bit darker (dark blue) rather than the greenish look on Jim_Hbar's rifle and it shows a slight bit of wear around the edges. But who cares, it is a used battle rifle. It also has the best 2-stage trigger I have ever felt, 5.5 lbs witch feel more like 4. Definitely way better than my modern wonder mouse gun!

I haven't shot it in years, but reading through this thread has given me the itch to do so, now. I think I'll get some ammo ready for next weekend. :rockOn:
 
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