View Full Version : Found VAR Garand kits in safe
Gang,
Dug down another layer in my gun safe and found two Danish Garand kits with Beech wood and mint VAR barrels. Bought them a long time ago along with M84 scopes and chinese mounts and barrel sleeve mounts. All the kit parts are italian other than the barrels and wood. All parking and parts in mint condition. These were only a vague memory and could have been stored in my barn somewhere so this was a great present. :)
My original intent many years ago was to have Tony Pucci use these parts to assemble onto one of the USGI receivers that I have and thus have two repro M1Ds that would be tack drivers (as M1ds go) to give to my two brothers. All that would be needed would be the "smithing" and two repro rear upper handguards which I assume can be had. Tony quit doing the Garand assembly work due to insurance costs and then I took a big hit and have been mostly in VA hospitals since so I'm out of touch on current status.
As I understand it, the Danish FTK receivers are almost impossible to find or I'd get two and have two Danish Garands assembled and forget the M1Ds.
Any suggestions on what one of you would do with these kits? I don't need specialized match quality Garands, just excellent shooters that could chow down on Greek HXP ammo (my favorite).
This is just like Christmas as I dig through the safe. :)
God Bless,
Hagar
Dave Waits
08-30-2009, 06:27
Hagar, I feel your pain sir. In leiu of all your problems with what to do with those old, dusty VAR kits, I am willing to allow you to send them to me for proper installa...er, disposition.
Your Friend;
Dave
Dave,
That's what I've missed while being away from Dick, Gloria and the CSP gang, the unselfish giving of members like you. To be willing to take these greasy, foreign made, incomplete old rifle parts off my hands in order to give me more room in my safe deeply touches me (I won't say where). What a noble gesture to a wounded comrade in his moment of need :rolleyes:
If you would just send me $2000.00 in cash in order to cover shipping, I'll send you some Garand parts. It's the least that I can do to acknowledge your very generous offer :D
Somewhere deep in the safe I have a SA M2 .22 rifle and a 1903A4 with mounted M73B1 scope. When I get to them I'll really find out if my clean with Kroil, wipe down with RIG really works :eek:
Thanks for your helping to re-establish the old spirit of rhe Culvers board!
I've really missed this!!!
Hagar
CMP has barreled receivers with worn barrels for sale.
Rider,
I already have bare CMP receivers and a dozen worn CMP Garand barrels. I'll check with CMP in case you're telling me that they have Danish stamped receivers with worn barrels. If they do, you've solved my problem as I'll' buy two, discard the worn barrels and be able to assemble two complete and authentic Danish Garands.
Many thanks,
Hagar
Tom in N.J.
08-31-2009, 04:37
Don't forget the Danish M84 scopes were FKF marked also. Here is a home built M1D on a Danish return M1 receiver, with Danish M84 scope.
Rider,
I already have bare CMP receivers and a dozen worn CMP Garand barrels. I'll check with CMP in case you're telling me that they have Danish stamped receivers with worn barrels. If they do, you've solved my problem as I'll' buy two, discard the worn barrels and be able to assemble two complete and authentic Danish Garands.
Many thanks,
Hagar
It's my understanding that the CMP can only receive rifles thru the army that were produced in the US, (nothing but SA Win IHC and HR)
IIRC that's why so many parts kits became available, the Dane's shipped the US rifles back (lend lease) and sold the rest to importers, who parted them out,
please correct me if I'm wrong,
guessing there may be a possiblitiy of a Dane receiver slipping in,
but probably only a few, and they would probably been auctioned,
I bought a 'less wood' Dane a few years ago from the north store, all 50 or so they had on display were US
Lyman,
That was my understanding also. I also found the two FTK marked M84 scopes (Dane's) that I bought and the Chinese barrel sleeves and M84 mounts that I bought then asd Tony was using them to build up the M1Ds off the Danish kits. I also have two SA open-box cartouched walnut USGI stocks and upper wood sets for a USGI M1D. I intended to have Tony either build up two Danish M1Ds if I could find two Danish receivers or build up two Danish M1Ds with regular USGI receivers that won't be authentic. Is there any chance of finding two Danish marked (FTK) recivers and if so where could I find them and what should I pay?
Many thanks for the info!
Hagar
I found a Danish Baretta receiver about 5 years ago, used it to build an almost complete PB Garand. Was at a medium sized Gun Show.
I wager that they are out there, may have to look pretty hard to dig them out. You could put that kit on a regular Garand receiver for the time being, until you find the Danish receiver.
"Any suggestions on what one of you would do with these kits? I don't need specialized match quality Garands, just excellent shooters that could chow down on Greek HXP ammo (my favorite).
My suggestion is to use USGI receivers to build your shooters.
gabrielfrombelgium
08-31-2009, 01:42
Excuse me Hagar but
I hate you.
Enjoy your wonderful M1s !
Excuse me Hagar but
I hate you.
Enjoy your wonderful M1s !
Gabriel,
I just happened to be a collector in the right place and at the right time to get some of the gems that I'm now enjoying. You'd really hate me if you knew what I paid for these :)
I'm having a ball as I dig through the safe and see weapons I've completely forgotten about.
I don't know how your gun laws are But we drool with envy when we see the machine gun collections some europeans have legally put together. I live in California where the gun laws are draconian :(
Take care,
Hagar
:icon_salut:
Gang,
I really appreciate all the advice you've given me.
As I understand it, the Danish receivers are Italian receivers with "FTK" stamped on them and are extremely hard to find.
Sounds like my best move will be to use USGI receivers and have a good Garand "smith" assemble two M1Ds. I can then give them to my brothers while I begin a long and difficult search for two Danish receivers. If I find them, I can have a 'smith switch receivers and we'll have two authentic (not original) Danish M1Ds.
Any suggestions as to a good gunsmith?
Many thanks,
Hagar
Hagar,
keep an eye out on some of the auction sites, gunbroker etc,
I've noticed them listed every now and then, (but honestly I don't search for them that often)
most I have found, have been rather pricey, in fact , the last one I found on gunbroker was about 2x's what the receivers were selling for at CMP, and in the same condition,
one day I hope to add a Dane, and Beretta M1 to my modest collection,
JimW in Ore
08-31-2009, 07:19
:Dyou might try Ted Brown WWW.tedbrownrifles.com or 541-899-8109.
I have a 762x51, that I bought at the Reno Gun Show(2008) that shoots like a tack driver. I should say it was at his table.
I feel your pain! I am hunting for IHC recievers. Suggest trying DGR, he may even find a danish reciever for you. hth greg :headbang:
Joe the Butcher
09-01-2009, 02:04
Hagar....contact me via email at anthony@m1garand.com. I may be able to help you with a lead on two Breda FKF receivers as I know where there are several here in the states. However, genuine Danish M1D rifles will be found with USGI receivers. We shipped them the D's. They just marked the scopes with their nomenclature, numbered the stocks to serial number, and installed the sighting tag in the barrel channel. They also used some M82 scopes...... the vast majority being M84s.
Just to clarify, the reason I stopped doing the barrel work at that time was due to the fact that my then current insurance company ( AIG dirtbags International ) dropped my general and liability insurance during a 3.5 million dollar lawsuit against my company. I had some very sharp attorneys representing me and the plaintiffs could not prove anything wrong with a Orion built rifle that failed, even after a slew of experts tried to find negligence on my part. Case was settled out of court for very small change with no admission of fault by defendant ( Me! ) User error and incorrect ammunition was the real proven reason and a well known ammunition company ponied up the money. The outcome was a whole bunch of grief and no insurance for some time until I could secure an insurance company that would touch me. That was the reason I dropped gunsmithing for that period in 2002-2004. No liability insurance.
My shop no longer does the barrel block install because my machinist who I have used for close to 15 years and trust, has taken a break from working. There are several good smiths that advertise in the GCA Journal. I have seen Roland Beaver's machine work firsthand and must admit he is very good and I know he does the M1D block work.
T
Tony,
It was great to see your post. :headbang:
I'm just getting back into my shooting/collecting after several long VA hospital stays and you'd sent us notes telling us about the insurance problem and your consequent inability to do some of the rifle work that you'd done in the past. I'm really happy that you found a new carrier. AIG is the pits (I used to investigate insurance companies for perpetrating fraud).
I'll send you an email but having you available again makes my decision easy. I'll drop the M1D idea and go with having you build me up two Danish garands (non-matching numbers) with VAR barrels. With your tune-up skills and this base, I should end up with two unusual and accurate rifles.
I'm one of your past customers and have always been very happy with the work and products that I've gotten from you at Orion 7. :1948:
Many thanks,
Hagar
Tonys work is always first rate,that A-hole who threw the lawsuit his way should be hung up by the balls and beaten severely.Regards to all. JT
Ping Sr.
09-07-2009, 06:48
Can you say "Tort Reform"?
I like my idea better,, lol:eusa_dance:
Schmitty,
Thought you'd appreciate these pics (and decals). I worked with the Luftwaffe at Holloman AFB and got interested in the details of the great 109s and 190s. There are some really great books out there, too.
Regards,
Maj Dad
I ran into a few luftwaffe guys at Edwards, they were flying Phantoms. The USAF insisted while they were over here that thier birds be repainted in USAF markings (on our dime no doubt) Dont know what they were here for but they liked being here. Nice pic on the G4,and i picked up on the "Me" Vs. the "Bf" , Bf did the initail design work but most were manufactured by "Me" my exposure to the 109 was always with the Me prefix JT
Messerschmitt's factory in Regensburg was the Bayerische flugzeugwerk, where they were developed. The original name was Bf109 but was standardized to Me109 in the late 30's. The Luftwaffe used both terms until the end, though Me was supposed to be the correct designation after the late 30's.
At Holloman they flew F4s in the USAF 20th FS, 49FW (training squadron, staffed by US & LW IPs) and later, Tornados (don't remember Ges. #). One of their Tornados flew into the side of a mountain northeast of the base in 01 or 2; hit the inclined slope at about 30 deg and really pancaked. Both crew members died, never figured out wha hoppen'd. They threw some hellacious Oktoberfests - Oompah bands, Oktoberfest biers, Apfelkorn, brats. Getting sick remembering... ;)
(I used to have a super pic of Black 6 as my desktop on my AF computer before they got snotty)
Tony is back to doing the work.
He also had a few Danish Garands in stock, I was just there and saw one full Danish Garand on the rack.
Give Tony a ring.
m1garand.com
Ramit,
I've already contacted Tony and am sending him the VAR kit. He'll find a Danish receiver and build up a "Danish" Garand for me. I also bought two of his Garands that are accurized and he's sending them to my brothers once we get the name of a Sacramento and a Marysville/Yuba City dealer that can accept delivery. Tony does great work and I trust him.
I already have two M1Ds that I got on two separate CMP lotteries so I think I'll just keep the Danish M84 scopes for future use. The Danes had M1Ds only on US receivers and I wanted a Danish receiver. I wasn't crazy about using the Chinese barrel block either.
In going through the two kits, I discovered that only one had a VAR barrel, the other had a Beretta barrel. I'll have to think about how to use this "PB/BMB" Danish kit.
Many thanks for all the help!
Hagar
Hagar, sorry if I missed that in the thread.
Most excellent.
A+++ on Tony and his shop. I live close by, he now has my CMP HRA for a tech inspection and cleaning.
I bought an Orion7 select grade with match barrel, built "like new" and JCG match legal (one step down from his match grade Garands). I wanted a Garand I knew was a good shooter so I would know it was me and not the rifle. Great great rifle, it is my 1st Garand, the CMP HRA SG is my 2nd.
Looking forward to hear how the project comes out when he's done.
I know your brothers are going to love the Orion7 Garands.
Embalmer
09-15-2009, 04:56
Still have and shoot my orion 7 battle M1 I got back in 2000. exception of barrel, was all WWII parts, and is still a tack driver.
That is a nice catagory he has. I had my heart and budget set for the battle grade. For the week or two I was making up my mind on my 1st Garand, he didn't have any battle grade in stock, and I wasn't sure when he would. There was already a waiting list for them and the utility grades.
The select grade I bought.... the final reason to buy it was that the receiver, bolt, and trigger assy are '43 SA (minus the milled trigger guard). Rest a mix of USGI parts.
Rear sights are sans lock bar.
I had my heart set on a WWII S/N SA Garand of sorts, and didn't want to trust the luck of the draw of CMP, and again, wanted to know it was me and not the rifle.
I get the shakes when I leave his shop without a rifle. - LOL...
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