Garand indentification

[tankerman]

How can you tell if a Garand is a Dane, Greek or American? CMP says these guns do not have import marks. If they have US marked barrels and receivers and no stock marks how else can you tell for sure?

[30Cal]

Greeks sometimes have a very dark (inky black, sometimes a little purple) parkerizing. They can also have funky wood and biscuit repairs to the stocks. The Danish ones you can tell from the stock if it's still attached--the bottom of the pistol grip will have a small circle inlet plus the last 4 of the serial number will be stamped above the lower swivel. The presence of Danish ("VAR" marked) or Italian ("PB" marked) parts would also point towards a Dane.

Ty

[Joe Register]

Greeks may be ugly black color, firewood stocks often carved on with someones initials, girlfriends name, etc., parts look used and abused, sometimes coated in what looks like wheel bearing grease. Wood looks like it was carved in Cub Scout day camp - some interesting colors of bright orange. Or you may get an old WWII stock with high milage. Some came out of CMP looking quite nice - the majority are dogs and look like it. CMP sent out several Greeks to people that ordered USGI and payed USGI prices - including me. Some people returned them and were told it was a shipping error. CMP started off saying that Greek rifles were USGI as they were all made here. True except for the nasty stocks (and if your butt plate was nailed on it wasn't a USGI nail). It quickly became clear that many of the greek rifles were dogs and people wouldn't pay the higher prices for them. Now that most other grades have sold out the CMP can move a bit more.

Most Danes have little if any finish left on them. They often have a lot of interesting earlier parts and nearly all are WWII serial numbers. Beech stocks are common and often have the serial number carved in the butt. Some have the cut out on the bottom of the grip. Some have a sighting sticker inside the barrel channel. There are a few barrel makers including VAR. CMP website used to have a nice write up on the Danes. Lots of BMB/PB parts. You may get a sight cover with an anchor on it. Came from CMP coated in cosmoline. These rifles, while well worn, seem to have been much better cared for than Greeks. They are my favorite Garands.

You can get lucky with both and you can get stuck with a dog with both.

[tankerman]

I was asking because I have a CMP Dane with a SA receiver and barrel and the stock has no marks indicating origin. Looks like Beech but very dark. In excellent condition.
A couple of years ago when I ordered it I looked at both the Greeks And Danes. Having been to both countries and enjoying them both, I did notce that the Danes keep there country much cleaner and much more orderly. Thats what I based my decision on when purchasing. Made good sense to me.
So I guess I need to look to some of the smaller parts for a sign of Italian/Danish parts?

[NRAhighpowershooter]

The Danish Garands may have some Italian parts (PB, BMB) if the barrel is a VAR barrel , that is the defining part that would make the rifle Danish.

[stevie]

But keep in mind many of these parts have been replaced/transferred at the CMP. I've gotten USGI service grades with PB operating rods and other smaller parts. So very hard to tell, unless the CMP paperwork (if available) shows origin of rifle.

[metalhead357]

But keep in mind many of these parts have been replaced/transferred at the CMP. I've gotten USGI service grades with PB operating rods and other smaller parts. So very hard to tell, unless the CMP paperwork (if available) shows origin of rifle.

Dont forget that ALL these guns were Originally made here; any changes like you're describing pretty much were done overseas; CMP just does NOT have the man power to swap out parts...and they've said as much, One of the very few questions I got to ask Orest in person; they've enough trouble keeping up on orders as is without getting into playing the parts game. Could they/will they/ do they? If some keen eye realizes only a part or two is needed to make a collector or a correct I'm sure they'd try. But its not a daily occurence at least what I got from the man himself.

To me, wherever 'they' did thier 'tour of duty' is irrelevant other than historical novelty. "Origin" has little to do with shootability and accuracy' Ask HPS here- sold me a Dane that he took 1st with. I've a Greek that outshoots my USGI non re-import pretty dang well.

[stevie]

What you say is true. But as i stated, i have received rifles from the CMP graded as US service grades with parts other than USGI.

These parts were replaced by either the Army or CMP. The CMP will replace parts if not up to specification. No doubt they have boxes of spare parts sitting on the selves.

So by stating its a Dane Garand due to a PB part maybe incorrect.

[Hunter]

Also this discussion only applies too grades up to "Service". The Correct and Collector grades that came back from Greece are undetectable from guns that never crossed the pond. They are 100% correct in parts, including wood and type of metal finish..meaning orginal parkerizing as SA or HRA applied to them in the factory.

[tankerman]

So mine has all SA parts except for the gas cylinder. Thats the only part I can find that shows it has Danish history. It's a 1,650,--- numbered gun SA(I think makes it from 1943) barrel also SA is dated '49' , parkerizing looks original, stock looks to be Beech with Walnut handgaurds. Should I replace the gas cylinder to make it correct? Is the Beech original? Has no marks on the stock.

[NRAhighpowershooter]

is the gas cylinder stamped BMB or PB?

[tankerman]

is the gas cylinder stamped BMB or PB?

Stamped PB

[icormba]

So mine has all SA parts except for the gas cylinder. Thats the only part I can find that shows it has Danish history. It's a 1,650,--- numbered gun SA(I think makes it from 1943) barrel also SA is dated '49' , parkerizing looks original, stock looks to be Beech with Walnut handgaurds. Should I replace the gas cylinder to make it correct? Is the Beech original? Has no marks on the stock.

Beech is not original to a USGI rifle... most likely a Dane replacement, could even be a Greek replacement.

Nothing wrong with Italian (USGI spec) made parts (gas cylinder), in some cases they could even be better since they are "newer".

I know NRAHPShooter knows, but in case you didn't...
PB = Beretta
BMB = Bretta