RARE Beretta BM 62 (BM 59) Italian M1 Tanker Garand, Parkerized 17.5” Imported Semi Automatic Rifle, & 4 Mags
SOLD FOR:$2,835
LSB#: 160132WM86
Make: Pietro Beretta, Italy
Model: BM 62 (Civilian version of the BM 59)
Serial Number: 002137
Year of Manufacture: There is a 1980 date code on the barrel. Imported into the U.S. in the 1980’s.
Caliber: .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm)
Action Type: Semi Auto, Detachable Magazine
Markings: The import mark is on the left side of the receiver. It reads “MOD. 62. 308 W BERBEN CORP. N.Y. N.Y.”.
Gas Tube Screw: “PB (Pietro Beretta) / star / BM 59”
Receiver: “P. BERETTA / MADE IN ITALY / 002137”
Trigger Group:”PB BM 59”
Hammer:”5546008 BR”
Magazine Release: “P.B. BM 59”
Op Rod:”6535382 PB” on the bottom and “PB BM 59” on the side.
Bolt: “03-033-3 PB”
Barrel:”PB” and with a “boxed AP” date code.
Stock: “BM59 / PB” on the front of the nosecap.
Magazines: “BR BM 59” on the bottom rear and the bottom of each of the floor plates.
Barrel Length: Approximately 17.5 Inches; 19 inches to the end of the replacement muzzle device.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a bladed post set between two protective ears. The right side is marked “PB / BM 59”. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture. The knob on the right is marked “S arrow” twice and “PB”. The adjustment knob on the left is marked “2 4 6 8” and “PB BM 59”.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece, hardwood stock has a beautiful fiddle back pattern to it. It has a pistol grip, two sling loops, and a hard rubber recoil pad. The recoil pad is missing a few small edge pieces. It also shows scrapes and cracks. The underside of the forearm shows a surface repair near the nose. The left side of the buttstock shows scrapes and compression marks. There are various other light scrapes and handling marks on the wood. The LOP measures 12 7/8 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the recoil pad. The stock rates in about Fine overall condition, as repaired.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright. The rifling is sharp and deep. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish, as refinished. The left side of the receiver shows a small surface repair and discoloration near the wood line. The bolt shows some thinning consistent with cycling. There are various light handling marks on the rifle. The screw heads are intact. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine to Excellent condition, as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We have not fired this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork& Accessories: The rifle comes in its original cardboard shipping box, with 4 magazines and with a sling. The cardboard box is very sturdy and much thicker than normal rifle boxes. It has a thin pressboard insert in the bottom half of the box. it is marked with the Beretta logo and “BERETTA”. The model number and serial number are in pen and marker. The box shows various creases and dents. It is in about Very Good to Fine condition. The four magazines show scrapes, thinning and handling marks. They are in about Very Good Plus condition. The magazines are not available to residents of California or any jurisdiction with magazine capacity restrictions. The unmarked green, canvas sling has metal attachments. The metal is shows thinning and scrapes. The canvas shows some staining. The sling is in about Very Good Plus condition.
Our Assessment: This is rare Beretta BM 62 that uses BM 59 parts. This civilian version of the Italian BM 59 is basically an Italian Tanker Garand in .308 Winchester. The finish on the metal is in great shape and the wood looks amazing. These rifles aren’t seen up for sale to often because they are rare and their owners don’t like to sell them. It comes in its original shipping box with four 20 round magazines. The rifles were sold without a flash suppressor, as the original BM 59 flash suppressor was also a grenade launcher. The replacement muzzle device is removable and can be replaced with a muzzle brake (in California) or a flash suppressor.
Here is some history on the BM 59 and BM 62 from Wikipedia: “The Beretta BM 59 is an Italian-made rifle based on the M1 Garand rifle, but chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO, and modified to use a detachable magazine. Later revisions incorporated other features common to more modern rifles. After World War II, Italy adopted the US-designed M1 Garand rifle in .30-06 Springfield (7.62×63mm) and also manufactured it under license. This semi-automatic rifle proved itself well during World War II, but in the late 1950s it was considered outdated and obsolete and the Italian military also wanted a new rifle chambered for the NATO-standard 7.62×51mm round. To meet these requirements, Beretta designed the BM 59, which was essentially a rechambered M1 fitted with a removable 20-round magazine, folding bipod and a combined flash suppressor/rifle grenade launcher. The BM 59 is capable of selective fire. The BM 59 was adopted in 1959 and served with Italian, Argentinean, Indonesian, and Moroccan armies. In the early 1980s, semi-automatic versions were imported to the United States and sold to private collectors. The earliest BM 59s were manufactured from U.S.-manufactured M1 parts, including re-chambered barrels. In 1990, the BM 59 was replaced in Italian service by the Beretta AR70/90 assault rifles, although some may be in service in the Italian Navy. The rare BM62 and 69 are civilian sporting rifles with the grenade launcher and sights removed, with the following:
BM62: Semi-auto chambered in .308 Winchester came with 20-round magazines, civilian flash hider (no bayonet lug, no grenade launcher, no tri-compensator (extremely rare to have gas cylinder with bipod capability) Does not normally have bipod capability on gas cylinder, or gas-compensator
BM69: Semi-auto with a bipod and tri-compensator.
