Breda M1 Garand Danish FKF .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle MFD 1950’s C&R

SOLD FOR: $1975

LSB#: 220117RW031

Make: Breda of Italy. Danish Contract Rifle.

Model: M1 Garand

Serial Number: BMR 6553

Year of Manufacture: 1950’s

Caliber: .30-06 Springfield

Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed

Markings: There is no import mark. The gas tube lock screw is marked “P.B.” for Beretta.
Receiver: “BREDA MECCANICA ROMANA / ITALIA” on the left and “crown / FKF / Nr. / BMR 6553” on the rear- A Danish (FKF) Forsvarets Kriegsmaterial Forvaltning (Defense War Material Administration) mark and an Italian serial number (page 224 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition).
Trigger Group: “D28290-8-SA” – A USGI Springfield part.
Hammer: “C46008-3 SA” – A USGI Springfield part.
Safety: “SA-11” – A USGI Springfield part.
Follower: “13” – A USGI Springfield or Winchester part.
Receiver Leg: “circled D 597” and “B.M.R. / D.652291” – An Italian Breda part (page 225).
Barrel: Unmarked
Bolt: “D-28287 / P.B.” and “5855” – An Italian Beretta part (page 225).
The stock and sights are described below.

Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade set between two protective wings. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture sight. The windage knob is marked “LEFT arrow” twice and “W in a hexagon”. The elevation knob is marked from “2-12” in increments of 2.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The bottom of the butt is marked “733212”.
The hardwood stock has a pistol grip, metal nose caps, a stacking loop, two sling loops, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage in the butt. The buttplate shows several scratches, wear and surface erosion. The wood shows a few compression marks that have damaged the surface wood. The wood shows several other scrapes, scratches, and handling marks. The LOP measures 13 1/4 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Very Good overall condition.

Type of Finish: Parkerized

Finish Originality: Original to Rebuild

Bore Condition: The muzzle & grooves are gray. The rifling is deep; less pronounced at the muzzle. There is erosion in the bore. It is more prominent at the muzzle and in the grooves. There is some light intermittent pitting in the grooves. The bore shows an M.E. of 2.3 The throat shows a T.E. of 2.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% of its metal finish. The underside of the receiver shows discoloration from oxidation and some surface erosion. The receiver legs show scrapes, thinning and a spot of light surface erosion. The metal shows scuffs, scrapes, small scratches and areas of discoloration from oxidation. The right side of the receiver and bolt show operational wear. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle has a Danish web sling attached. It is marked with a Danish “crown / FKF” (Forsvarets Kriegsmaterial Forvaltning – Defense War Material Administration) mark and a Danish “crown / HTK” (Haerens Tekniske Korps – Army Technical Corps) mark. It shows soiling and discoloration on the webbing as well as scratches and oxidation on the metal. It is in Very Good condition.

Our Assessment: The U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1 is known affectionately as “the Garand” after its inventor, John Garand. The rifle would become the first standard-issue semi-automatic infantry rifle in the world. While some countries entered the war with limited issued semi-automatic rifles or developed such rifles during the war, America was the only nation to enter with its Army issuing autoloading rifles on a large scale. General Patton famously referred to the rifle as “the greatest battle implement ever devised”. Millions were produced during WWII and hundreds of thousands afterward, seeing use through the Korean War and into the Vietnam War.

One year after WWII ended the Danish Military purchased 30 to 40 thousand M1 Garands from the U.S. Military. As these Garands began to wear out Denmark purchased an additional 13,966 M1 Rifles & spare parts from Beretta and Breda. In 1960’s the Danes began manufacturing their own M1 Garand barrels which are marked differently than the Italian barrels.
This M1 Garand was made by Breda in Italy as a contract M1 Garand for the Danish Military. The rifle has been rebuilt and uses a Springfield Armory trigger group. The rifle looks good and has lots of deep markings on the metal including the Danish “crown / FKF” mark on the receiver. It will add to your Military or Garand collection. Good luck.

Breda M1 Garand Danish FKF .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle MFD 1950’s C&R
Breda M1 Garand Danish FKF .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle MFD 1950’s C&R