Posted 11 years ago
Chrisnp
(310 items)
Sorry to be doing my weekly post late this week. The M1 carbine is not from the period I normally collect. It’s so much fun to shoot, that I couldn’t let it go when I started to specialize in an earlier era.
After the M1 rifle was adopted, the army realized that it was unwieldy for certain troops - paratroops, tankers, engineers, support troops, etc. By 1941, firearms designers were competing to create a weapon that would have better range than a pistol and be lighter than the Tommy gun that was then in service. Winchester won with the design that would become the M1 Carbine. The action looks a lot like the M1 rifle, as it does use a Garand-style rotating bolt and operating rod. The difference in how it functions is due to a short-stroke gas piston created by an unlikely fellow named David Marshall Williams, who designed it while in prison for murder. (The warden recognized William’s engineering genius, and he was given unusual latitude for a prisoner, having full use of the machine shop, doing gunsmithing work on the guard’s weapons, and designing and building four different semi-automatic rifles while behind bars).
Beginning in 1942, and produced until 1945, the M1 Carbine would serve in all theaters of WWII, as well as the Korean War and Vietnam War. Although it’s diminutive .30 carbine ammo is frequently criticized for lack of stopping power and penetration, the little carbine is what it was designed to be – not a main combat rifle but a small, lightweight weapon with better reach than a pistol.
The M1 Carbine was made by many manufacturers that were not usually involved with firearms. Mine was made by the National Postal Meter Company of Rochester NY, probably in 1943. This company produced less than 7% of all M1 carbines.
It’s displayed with its original issue 15 round detachable magazine, with two additional magazines stored in a 1943 dated pouch on the stock. The pouch was originally intended for wear on a belt, but soldiers figured out how to fit them onto a stock and the practice spread. The original issue sling is held in place through the stock by a metal tube that also serves as an oiler. My carbine also comes with a bayonet lug. The M1 didn’t come with this option until 1944, but by the Korean War it was standard. As these carbines were reconditioned, parts were changed out and the stock on my carbine is milled out for the M2 (full auto version) select-fire switch. No switch or M2 sear, but the slot is there.
Ammo: The original .30 carbine cartridge fired a 110 grain jacketed round nose bullet at a velocity of 1,970 fps. As I mentioned at the start, it’s a fun little weapon to shoot, mostly plinking with cheap, readily available ammo that I’ve used without feeding problems. When I do bother to make reloads, I use 110 grain Remington jacketed round nose bullets backed by 15 grains of IMR 4227.
WARNING: Load data is provided for information only. Many vintage firearms are unsafe to shoot and I do not advise use of this load data for other firearms since I do not know the specific firearm that may be involved or its condition.
Nice piece, got the N1 Garand from the The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) collector's grade + bayonet(from the market).The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a U.S. government-chartered program that promotes firearms safety training and rifle practice for all qualified U.S. citizens with special emphasis on youth. Any U.S. citizen who is legally not prohibited from owning a firearm may purchase a military surplus rifle from the CMP, provided they are a member of a CMP affiliated club
I meant M 1, sorry my bad!!
One of my favorites. I was all set to post mine but I couldn't thread the sling through the slot. Looks like mine wasn't original and will be replaced.
Excellent presentation as always.
Sorry I'm late for class teacher. Little late in my life to get a note from my parents. Yeah, I know this one! They are a really handy light gun & never seem to jam. Of course that is in part due to loose tolerances. The off side is they tend to rattle a bit. "Carbine Williams" did a great job, but then I guess he had "the time". Wonder how they did that as he would certainly have at least dummy ammo to ck the feeding etc.?
I'm days behind on CW because of work. But still rattling around.
Sorry to be slow with my response, but was out in the mountains this Sunday and just got back yesterday.
Southcop: Welcome to CW! I've been looking at your stuff. I also got my Garand through the CMP. I reluctantly parted with it a few years back.
fortapache: A lot of repro stuff was made and the M-1 carbine was also produced post-WWII for the civilian market.
blunder: I'm the one perpetually late! I promised a post per week, but now that the weather is getting better, it's tough to stay inside. I have a kayak stored up since the fall that's just begging to get back in the water. Of course you know what it's like to get out after a long winter...oh wait! you don't! (at least not any more). I'm always a bit amazed by the Carbine Williams story. The man was in prison for shooting a deputy sheriff and had a significant criminal history (including firearms theft) before that. That anyone would even let him touch a gun while in prison is mind-boggling. Wouldn't happen today I'm sure.
This week's post will be in the Outdoor Sports category instead of the Military Category people are used to me posting in.
Thanks for the love Ilikeart, blunder, fortapache, Manikin, kerry10456 and tom61375.
Love these carbines. Have a Saginaw that's fun to shoot, thanks for sharing.
Chris, in the islands, I'm the anomaly! I'm the only one who is ever on time. The "Wouldn't happen to day" line I can refute from experiences in 1984. Not here, but if you aren't on my joke thread, my email address is on my profile. You will love it!
Thanks for the love Hems303 and ttomtucker.
I had a M1 carbine manufactured by International Business Machine Co. known today as IBM
We got a modified M 1 back in Nam in 67. A Special Forces Sargent was having a Short timers party, and traded the M 1 for a 40 lb case of steaks. It was cutdown to the pistol grip and carved with a Jungle scene on what was left of the stock. Fired it once on full auto Scary!!
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