Were the Danish rifles issued to US soldiers, then sent through a rebuild and issued to the Danes?  Or were they built new and sent over?  I'm out to buy a second one and trying to decide between another Springfield or one of the Danish rifles.  Any opinions either way?

Quoted: Were the Danish rifles issued to US soldiers, then sent through a rebuild and issued to the Danes?  Or were they built new and sent over?  I'm out to buy a second one and trying to decide between another Springfield or one of the Danish rifles.  Any opinions either way?

Yes.
The Danish rifles might have some Italian mfg'ed parts on them which will be as good or better than USGI parts.
Beretta and Breda mfg'ed complete rifles and parts. The Danes mfg'ed BBL's. All excellent quality!

medicmandan,

The Danes are US made rifles (both SA and Winny) from the WWII period that were all first rebuilt in US Arsenals after the war then loaned to the Danes in the early 50's.

The Danes kept them for 40 years, also rebuilding the vast majority of them one or more times before returning them to US Army inventory.  As "noname" sed, the replacement parts made by the Danes & Italians are excellent quality.

I own numerous Garands, all bought from the CMP.  Two of my best shooters are Dane returns with Dane VAR barrels.

Best regards,
Swampy

The VAR barrels are considered some of the most accurate (if not THE most accurate).  

Folks were lined up literally "around the block" to buy Danish returned M1 Rifles the first year they were available at Camp Perry during the matches.  Lots of smiling faces!

-- Chuck

I found that most of the Danes were in better overall condition than all of the other rifles at the store. Next time I get to go down there I am buying one with a VAR barrel. If you decide thats the way you wnat to order one, I'd go ahead and get a Dane. Chances are it will be in very good shape.

Somebody told me there that the VAR barrel has a "short" chamber of some type, permitting ease of bolt changes without to much worry of using a guage....I really don't know about this but I think the guy was talking out of his butt.

Yeah, he was.  Anytime you change a bolt on a center fire rifle it affect's the headspace.  It could go either way, make it tighter or looser.  Only a headspace gage will tell you for sure.

"Somebody told me there that the VAR barrel has a "short" chamber of some type, permitting ease of bolt changes without to much worry of using a guage."

What a load of barnyard fertilizer.   A completely idiotic statement made by a nimrod who would not know his headspace from a hole in the ground..... ;)

I sure would not trust anything this guy ever said regarding firearms again.

best to all,
Swampy

Don't discount the practice, it's valid.  They still have to be gaged though.

Short chambered replacement barrels are a good solution for worn receivers and bolts which will headspace long and there's no way make them headspace shorter shorter again.  

Recall the Danes had to make do with existing parts, there was no stock of new receivers or bolts available for this work.

We're talking a few thousandths here.  The M1 Rifle has a minimum headspace of 1.940" and a maximim of 1.946".  A barrel with a chamber undercut by .005" can bring a non-serviceable rifle back into spec.

Are any or all of the VAR barrels short chambered?  I don't know, but don't rule it out unless you've got specific information.

-- Chuck

I bought a 'new-in-wrap' VAR barrel off of E-Bay 3 years ago and it was short chambered... It went on a CMP Grade A receiver and it had to be finished reamed to go with the -12 bolt I used.

The condition of the Danes can be really hit and miss. I have gotten 7 from the CMP and 2 were really nice fresh rebuilds with new barrels the rest were dogs, some had broken parts, rust, worn or no finish and cracked handguards etc. I have never been disappointed with any of the regular SG's or RG's I have recv'd.