Danish M1s

[Cessnapilot89]

Anyone here have any information on Danish garands?

[Eddie1965]

I think my M1 from the CMP is a Danish returned rifle. Overwise than that, no info.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

After WWII Denmark received M1 Garand rifles as military aid from the U.S. Later, Denmark purchased M1 Garand rifles from Breda and Beretta in Italy. Around the year 2000 Denmark returned all of the U.S. loaned rifles and they were sold through the CMP. All of the Danish returned rifles I got from CMP were early to mid WWII receivers with the original barrels. They all had some Italian parts on them. About that time Denmark also sold off all of their stocks of 30-06 ammo.

[Capybara]

In the world of M1s, is a Dane any more or less desirable than a regular M1 CMP mixmaster?

[Mustang]

Only if it has a VAR barrel in good shape on it.

VAR barrels are considered by many to be some of the best Garand barrels around.

I bought a "woodless Dane" (Danish return without a stock) a few years back to finish off a JCG legal match rifle. It had a collection of various M1 parts, including Springfield, Winchester and Beretta. I do not think it was any better or more valuable than any other mixed parts Garand.

[1-M-42]

My first M1 was a Dane with a crown marked VAR barrel, it's crazy accurate

[pro-nra]

Only if it has a VAR barrel in good shape on it.

VAR barrels are considered by many to be some of the best Garand barrels around.

True. IMO the reason they are more accurate is that they are newer all made in the 60s therefore generally shot less than older barrel. Also by this time the machining along with metallurgy got better and the Dane took their time making the barrel so quality is high.

My 6 digit SA and my 2.4 WRA both with TE 1 MW .25. Both rifles will outshoot my HRA wearing an LMR tube with the same TE/MW.

[Mustang]

My 6 digit SA and my 2.4 WRA both with TE 1 MW .25. Both rifles will outshoot my HRA wearing an LMR tube with the same TE/MW.

That is impressive, because the Line Materials barrels are also believed by many to be a great barrel

[pro-nra]

Yes LMR are outstanding barrels on its own or against USGI barrels of WWII and the 50s. However, if you compare it to other more modern tubes for the M1 (namely VAR, Criterion, Douglas and Kreiger etc) it falls short.

As I mentioned on my post above, I have it on one of my HRA and on my IHC but the VAR will still outshoot the LMR. I believe the Danes just took their time making the VAR barrel with better material and machining technique and quality control or maybe it could be the crown makes it more accurate.

[Mustang]

... or maybe it could be the crown makes it more accurate.

So, would you say that the VAR is the "king of barrels"?

[pro-nra]

Or queen? Don't queens wear crows as well? There must be something to the crown thing as the Swedes also put crowns on their rifles and they are accurate.

I'm going to buy a crown stamp and start stamping all my rifles.

[Garandimal]

Got a very nice 1.0M SA SG Dane my last go-round w/ the CMP this Spring.

Don't know if it was a Greek return or not... but it mounts a 3-66 VAR Bbl w/ a pristine crown and reads ME=0.0/TE+1.0 on my Stone-axe gauge.

Stamped USGI walnut stock ta boot.

Think I'll keep this one.

[pro-nra]

Nice 1M SA congratulation. Was that a mail order or pick up from SS or NS. That rifle came like that with a lock bar sights?

It would be left over Dane return as the Greeks never installed VAR tubes that I know of.

[sofbak]

this....

My first M1 was a Dane with a crown marked VAR barrel, it's crazy accurate

and this:

..

My 6 digit SA and my 2.4 WRA both with TE 1 MW .25. Both rifles will outshoot my HRA wearing an LMR tube with the same TE/MW.

Shortly after the CMP began selling the Danish returns, they were recognized by buyers as "lights out" x-ring rifles. Whether they had a VAR barrel or not, the Danes knew how to tune them to be excellent shooters. I have three Danes, two with VAR barrels, and one with a '47 SA barrel, and all three are excellent shooters. While the VAR barrel is known to be high quality, the gunsmithing talents of Danish armorers was of equal quality.

[pro-nra]

That is great! Both of my VAR were private purchase. I love mail order as you never know what you will get.

I overnighted an oder for 6M on Tuesday and it was received yesterday but no DBU yet. So maybe I did not make the cut.