M1 Garand danish

Vlad92 · 10-19-2009, 07:18 PM

Hi all,
I noticed in my collection i have a M1 garand, dates 1943 july-august made. Its danish navy i guess, barrel was rebuilt in '61. It also has a 4 digit number and an "anchor" right infront of the rear sight. Whats the deal with these? they are made in the U.S. i take it?

Dookiebutt · 10-19-2009, 08:04 PM

The Danish M1s were USGI M1 Garand rifles that went to Denmark after WWII. The first shipments of Garands went to Denmark in 1950. These were not true "lend lease" weapons as Denmark was occupied during the war. Some of these weapons were simply loaned to Denmark. About 30,000 were later purchased by Denmark. These were WWII weapons, so they will be made up of mostly Springfield and Winchester.

The Danes did not stamp their own proof marks on these rifles like other countries did. And, as they were just "borrowed", they contain no import marks. However, there are certain things that one can look for to determine if the rifle they are about to put down their hard-earned money on is a true USGI WWII Garand, or if it was a Dane return sold through CMP.

It must also be known that NATO had chosen Beretta as the new offshore producer of the M1 Garand. The United States sent Winchester machinery to Italy where production of rifles and parts took place. The Italians also used Breda as a manufacturer of rifles and parts. The Danes bought many replacement parts from Italy. The Italian Garands are fine rifles, but I will devote another post to them.

Some tell-tale Danish markings include serial numbers stamped on the underside of the stocks, disc cut-outs in the pistol grip, anchor-marked sight covers on Navy rifles, VAR barrels and sights, and the use of Beretta or Breda replacement parts.

Beretta and Breda parts are usually marked "PB" and "BMB". For the most part, these replacement parts are high quality and comparable or better than US wartime produced parts. These markings can be seen on virtually any part, including op rods, bolts, trigger housings and parts, handguard metal, etc.

Danish manufactured barrels include barrels marked VAR, HTK, HMAK and FKF. These barrels are marked similarly to USGI barrels, but contain obvious post-war dates. They also have crown markings visible when the op rod is pulled back. I believe all of the Danish barrels were made in the 1960's. Most Garand owners praise the accuracy of the VAR barrels.

Danish replacement stocks and handguards were made of birch or Arctic beech. While similar to birch, Arctic Beech has tell-tale flecks of very light grainin the wood. Some say they look almost like fish scales. I have several beech stocks and front handguards. The Beech rears are hard to find. Many of the stocks have a sticker in the channel marked "KAMPVISER" and contained sighting-in information for that particular rifle.

If the rifle someone is trying to sell you contains any of the above-mentioned parts, you should be on the lookout. While there were many parts and parts kits made up of Danish and Italian Garand parts inported into the US through Canada, the likely story is that your rifle was loaned to the Danes. This does not make the rifle bad. Rather, it just means it was a rifle loaned to the Danes and not a true vet bring back rifle.

Vlad92 · 10-19-2009, 08:09 PM

If it first went in 1950, then how could the serial number on the M1 be of 1943? (i looked up the SN)?

Vlad92 · 10-19-2009, 08:31 PM

Serial number on mine is 1,877,xxx. According to sources that is around august of 1943.. is it possible they took a GI M1 and sent it to the Danes?

Dookiebutt · 10-19-2009, 10:22 PM

They are USGI rifles loaned to the Danes.

Vlad92 · 10-19-2009, 10:30 PM

Alright, but im guessing the rifles made during the war that were loaned to the danes didnt see action?

Orlando · 10-19-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vlad92

Alright, but im guessing the rifles made during the war that were loaned to the danes didnt see action?

No way of knowing if the rifle ever saw 'action" Could have seen"action' in WWII, then loaned to the Danes, if it has a VAR barrel they rebarreled it.
Absolutly no way of knowing

dodgeman · 10-20-2009, 03:02 PM

I have a Danish Garand and the above post is pretty accurate. I have a few of the Itialian parts on mine and it was rebarreled. My front wood is beach but the stock is walnut. As I recall, mine was made in late 1943 also. My guess is that is was rebuilt at least once before it was sent to Denmark. I would say mine is a good shooter, but I don't really have anything to compare it to.

One thing I can add, when you take the rifle out of the stock, there is a card glued in the stock written in what I assume is Danish and appears to be sighting in distances.

10-19-2009, 07:18 PM	#1
Vlad92 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kaliforniastan Posts: 91	M1 Garand danish Hi all, I noticed in my collection i have a M1 garand, dates 1943 july-august made. Its danish navy i guess, barrel was rebuilt in '61. It also has a 4 digit number and an "anchor" right infront of the rear sight. Whats the deal with these? they are made in the U.S. i take it?

10-19-2009, 08:04 PM	#2
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 2,042	The Danish M1s were USGI M1 Garand rifles that went to Denmark after WWII. The first shipments of Garands went to Denmark in 1950. These were not true "lend lease" weapons as Denmark was occupied during the war. Some of these weapons were simply loaned to Denmark. About 30,000 were later purchased by Denmark. These were WWII weapons, so they will be made up of mostly Springfield and Winchester. The Danes did not stamp their own proof marks on these rifles like other countries did. And, as they were just "borrowed", they contain no import marks. However, there are certain things that one can look for to determine if the rifle they are about to put down their hard-earned money on is a true USGI WWII Garand, or if it was a Dane return sold through CMP. It must also be known that NATO had chosen Beretta as the new offshore producer of the M1 Garand. The United States sent Winchester machinery to Italy where production of rifles and parts took place. The Italians also used Breda as a manufacturer of rifles and parts. The Danes bought many replacement parts from Italy. The Italian Garands are fine rifles, but I will devote another post to them. Some tell-tale Danish markings include serial numbers stamped on the underside of the stocks, disc cut-outs in the pistol grip, anchor-marked sight covers on Navy rifles, VAR barrels and sights, and the use of Beretta or Breda replacement parts. Beretta and Breda parts are usually marked "PB" and "BMB". For the most part, these replacement parts are high quality and comparable or better than US wartime produced parts. These markings can be seen on virtually any part, including op rods, bolts, trigger housings and parts, handguard metal, etc. Danish manufactured barrels include barrels marked VAR, HTK, HMAK and FKF. These barrels are marked similarly to USGI barrels, but contain obvious post-war dates. They also have crown markings visible when the op rod is pulled back. I believe all of the Danish barrels were made in the 1960's. Most Garand owners praise the accuracy of the VAR barrels. Danish replacement stocks and handguards were made of birch or Arctic beech. While similar to birch, Arctic Beech has tell-tale flecks of very light grainin the wood. Some say they look almost like fish scales. I have several beech stocks and front handguards. The Beech rears are hard to find. Many of the stocks have a sticker in the channel marked "KAMPVISER" and contained sighting-in information for that particular rifle. If the rifle someone is trying to sell you contains any of the above-mentioned parts, you should be on the lookout. While there were many parts and parts kits made up of Danish and Italian Garand parts inported into the US through Canada, the likely story is that your rifle was loaned to the Danes. This does not make the rifle bad. Rather, it just means it was a rifle loaned to the Danes and not a true vet bring back rifle. __________________ The nerds will never understand the awesomeness of it.

10-19-2009, 10:22 PM	#5
Dookiebutt Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: America's North Coast Posts: 2,042	They are USGI rifles loaned to the Danes. __________________ The nerds will never understand the awesomeness of it.

10-19-2009, 08:09 PM	#3
Vlad92 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kaliforniastan Posts: 91	If it first went in 1950, then how could the serial number on the M1 be of 1943? (i looked up the SN)?

10-19-2009, 08:31 PM	#4
Vlad92 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kaliforniastan Posts: 91	Serial number on mine is 1,877,xxx. According to sources that is around august of 1943.. is it possible they took a GI M1 and sent it to the Danes?

10-19-2009, 10:30 PM	#6
Vlad92 Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kaliforniastan Posts: 91	Alright, but im guessing the rifles made during the war that were loaned to the danes didnt see action?

10-20-2009, 03:02 PM	#8
dodgeman Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Macomb, Illinois Posts: 20	I have a Danish Garand and the above post is pretty accurate. I have a few of the Itialian parts on mine and it was rebarreled. My front wood is beach but the stock is walnut. As I recall, mine was made in late 1943 also. My guess is that is was rebuilt at least once before it was sent to Denmark. I would say mine is a good shooter, but I don't really have anything to compare it to. One thing I can add, when you take the rifle out of the stock, there is a card glued in the stock written in what I assume is Danish and appears to be sighting in distances.