"New" Danish Breda

[ltcboy]

Today I was at the Kane County gunshow. I went there because last month I ordered a bunch of cast bullets from a vendor and had to pick up my order. As I was walking around, I went about looking at the various M1's that were out there. Same typical overpriced mixmasters, same over priced ammo, guys running to their cars with ammo paying premium prices.

There was one vendor that I came upon and his rifles caught me eye. He had a lot of neat stuff. He had a Colombian Madsen, had an SVT 40 sniper (repro), had a Mosin sniper, and then some M1 Carbines and Garands. Now I need another Garand like I need a hole in my head. But I looked and what caught my eye was a Breda that he had. So I picked it up, looked it over, saw that from the outside the rifle looked in very good condition. I opend the bolt, measured the TE and saw it was under a 2. Measured the MW and saw it was under a 1. It was more like .05. I saw that the barrel was a Dane VAR barrel. Took out the trigger group, all correct Italian. Looked at the oprod, correct Italian. The gas cylinder looks correct, but the lock is not a high hump. I don't know if it really needs to be to be correct. The stock has it's typical character of some minor dings and dents. The stock looks like a real dark walnut as does the front handguard. I think the rear handguard is beech. But, the color on all three matches very good, almost as if it was meant to be. I did notice a small little crack (repairable) on the rear handguard in front of the receiver. All in all I think I got a decent deal. With tax, I got it out the door for $1060. May seem like a lot, but I have seen these on auction for more. More like $1400-$1500. I definatley cannot wait to shoot it.


Here are some pics;

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Mike

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[Dan Shapiro]

Nothing wrong with that puppy!

[AKA Hugh Uno]

but considering that clean Breda/PB receivers could be had for 120 each from that place in Sacremento for a short window of time (I got three) and parts kits were endemic, unless the rifle screams "all original," you should assume it's a put-together based upon a bare receiver and parts kit stuff. You paid more than I would, but it wasn't a nutty price either.

Also, that stock is for virtual certainty not original. Pretty sure the wood should be marked PB with the correct matching SN. Also, likely the same SN should be on the label in the stock channel.

[mack]

Danish Garands were surplused into the US market many years ago and sold rather cheaply even though DCM rifles were hard to get. People knew that M1 scrap rifles were being sold and most didn't want them even then. I cannot guess as to the origins of your rifle, but agree with Hugo that wood is put together, as the Breda rifles I saw those many years ago sport beautiful French walnut stocks that were pretty nice stuff on milsurps.

Price is not unreasonable for an important piece of Garand history that you cannot import any longer into this country, but likely a put-together considering your sellers other table goods. The parts kits were from new rifles as I recall, so you got all there is to be had unless you come across one of the unissued original import rifles.

Nice rifle and great pics.

[Art]

I agree with the above posts but you didn't get "hosed" either. The rifle would certainly retail for at least what you paid for it most places as a good shooter. All in all I think you got a really good buy.