Beretta M1 Garand Danish FKF .30-06 Semi Automatic Rifle MFD 1961 C&R
SOLD FOR: $2050
LSB#: 210514MW08
Make: Beretta of Italy. Danish Contract Rifle.
Model: M1 Garand
Serial Number: PB7686
Year of Manufacture: 1950’s. 1961 Barrel Date
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed
Markings: There is no visible import mark. The front & rear sight wings, windage knob, follower assembly, gas tube cylinder lock, and gas tube screw are each marked with small Italian stampings for Beretta or Breda.
Receiver: “crown / FKF / Nr. / P.B. 7686”. A Danish Forsvarets Kriegsmaterial Forvaltning (Defense War Material Administration) mark and a Beretta serial number (page 224 of Joe Poyer’s M1 GARAND 1936 to 1957, 6th Edition).
Trigger Group: “D 28290- PB”- An Italian Beretta part (page 225).
Follower: “PB – An Italian Beretta part (page 225).
Receiver Leg:”20” and “P.B. / D 6528291” – An Italian Beretta part (page 225).
Barrel: “crown / VAR”, “D 6535488 10-61 16”, “crown / DK”, “M”, and “KOA in a circle” – A Danish part (page 223).
Bolt: “D28287 / BMB” – An Italian Breda 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 set between two protective wings.
Stock Configuration & Condition: 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 refinished buttplate has scratches & surface erosion showing through the new finish. It also shows some light scrapes. The wood shows a few scrapes and small scratches. The LOP measures 13 ? inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The grooves are grey and the rifling is deep. There is erosion in the grooves. The bore shows an M.E. of 2.5. The throat shows a T.E. of 3.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish as refinished.The metal shows scuffed, light scrapes and light thinning on the leading edges of the metal. The right side of the receiver shows a drag line from cycling. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine condition as refinished.
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: There are cleaning tools stored in the butt. They include a Danish oiler marked “crown / FKF”, pull through thong, chamber brushes and combination tool. These items show use and oil residue. They are in about Very Good condition. A green canvas sling is attached to the rifle. It shows light soiling. It is in about Fine condition.
Our Assessment: This M1 Garand was made by Beretta in Italy as a contract M1 Garand for the Danish Military. At some point it was Arsenal Rebuilt and a 1961 dated Danish barrel was installed. The rifle looks Great 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.
Here are some Danish Garand basics from our source material.
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.