Danish M1 Garand FKF, Italian Breda .30-06 Semi Auto Rifle 1950s C&R
SOLD FOR: $2,925
LSB#: 240418GD005
Make: Breda Meccanica Romana, Italy. A Danish Contract Rifle.
Model: M1 Garand
Serial Number: BMR 8600
Year of Manufacture: 1950s. 1955 Barrel date
Caliber: .30-06 Springfield
Action Type: Semi Auto, En Bloc Clip Fed
Markings: There is no import mark.
Receiver: “BREDA MECCANICA ROMANA / ITALIA” on the left and “crown / FKF / Nr. / BMR 8600” on the rear.
Trigger Group: “D28290 BMB”
Hammer: “C46008 BMB”
Safety: “BMB”
Follower: “BMB”
Receiver Leg: “B.M.R. / D.652291” – Correct for a Breda M1 Garand.
Barrel: “B.SID. 62 1955”
Bolt: “D-28287 BMB”
Gas Tube Screw “BMB”
Clip Latch: “BMB”
The stock and sights are described below.
Barrel Length: Approximately 24 Inches
Sights / Optics: The right front sight wing is marked “BMB”. The right rear sight wing and the windage knob are both marked “BMR”.
The front sight is a blade set between two protective wings. The rear sight is a fully adjustable aperture sight.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The left side of the butt is marked with the serial number. The interior of the forearm is marked with a Danish sticker. The buttplate is marked “BMB”.
The stocks are 3-piece smooth wood with a pistol grip, metal nose caps, stacking loop, 2 sling loops, and a metal buttplate with hinged door for storage in the butt. The wood shows scattered scratches and compression marks. The LOP measures 13 inches from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The refinished buttplate has cleaned surface erosion showing the new finish. The stocks rate in about Very Good Plus to Fine overall condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The muzzle & grooves are light gray. The rifling is deep. There is fouling in the bore that should clean up some. There is erosion at the muzzle and in the grooves. The bore shows an M.E. of 0.9. The throat shows a T.E. of 1.5.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 95% of its metal finish.as refinsihed. The bottom rear of the receiver has surface erosion showing through the new finish. This area shows light thinning and light discoloration from oxidation. The left side of the receiver has thin scratches showing through the new finish. The gas tube has been refinsihed in gun paint and shows small scrapes. The receiver legs show light thinning. The action shows operational wear. The markings are deep. Overall, this rifle rates in about Very Good Plus to Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action Does function correctly. This firearm has not been tested, these are used items. While we have performed a mechanical function check and noted any discrepancies we cannot guarantee the suitability of this firearm.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: The rifle comes with a Data Sheet and a copy of the purchase receipt. The rifle has a canvas sling attached and cleaning gear stored in the butt. The cleaning gear includes a plastic oiler tube, combination tool, grease pot, and a 5-piece cleaning rod.
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 the 1960s 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 receiver is marked with a Danish “crown / FKF” stamping (Forsvarets Kriegsmaterial Forvaltning or Defense War Material Administration) and an Italian serial number. The rifle uses Italian-marked parts. This M1 Garand looks impressive and will add nicely to an M1 Garand collection.
…Now go shoot something!
