G.I. Ingenuity: M1 Carbine Battlefield Modifications
BY PGF
1 year, 3 months ago
Battlefield Mods to the M1. Clever. What’s the saying; necessity is the mother of invention.
When the M1 Carbine (officially the United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1) began to reach American combat units in late 1942, the handy little rifle quickly gained a reputation as the “soldier’s pet”.
And why not? The little M1 Carbine weighed just 5.8 pounds (loaded with a 15-round magazine) and was only 35.6” long. By 1942 standards, it was a semi-automatic sweetheart.
Consequently, as the Carbine quickly made its way from its intended role as a weapon for officers and specialist troops (like artillerymen, tankers, and paratroops) into the hands of the long-suffering infantrymen, the G.I.’s penchant for customization created some interesting field modifications for their new favorite rifle.
They had plenty of opportunities — there were 6.1 million carbines made during World War II, and they were issued in every combat theatre.
Several interesting field upgrades with pictures are at the link.
On August 17, 2023 at 2:29 pm, George said:
Jim Cirillo said the stakeout unit used the M1 Carbine to good effect. But, with Winchester Hollowpoint ammunition and the weapon was tuned by the armorers to be 100% reliable with that ammunition. He never said they only had one shot stops either.
On August 17, 2023 at 10:35 pm, scott s. said:
I love my little S’G’ M-1. It’s a mix-master of parts, but even examples with “correct” parts were probably built up from mix-master unless you can show provenance. Of course would be nice to find a Rock-Ola or IBM just for talking points.
On August 18, 2023 at 5:06 am, jrg said:
Wow, quite a few I had not seen before. The web ammo sling, the ‘Clip-Carrier’ among them.
Dad was at Guam after it had been liberated from the Japan. He was a MP and the issued weapon carried was a M1 carbine. His eyes lighted up when I showed him my commercial Universal version of it. He insisted I install the stock cuff carrier and never thought the 30 round magazine was worth it. Too much bulk – he far preferred the 15 round straight magazine.
I almost purchased an ‘Enforcer’ handgun version of the carbine, but when picked up, I couldn’t find a comfortable way to hold it stead, especially when using the iron sights. I’m sure there is a technique, I just never learned it.
Sweet little rifle that M1. It has a lot to recommend it, though finding .30 carbine ammunition now can be a challenge.
On August 18, 2023 at 5:07 pm, Georgiaboy61 said:
@ jrg
Re:”Dad was at Guam after it had been liberated from the Japan. He was a MP and the issued weapon carried was a M1 carbine. His eyes lighted up when I showed him my commercial Universal version of it. He insisted I install the stock cuff carrier and never thought the 30 round magazine was worth it. Too much bulk – he far preferred the 15 round straight magazine.”
Those 30-round mags were jam-o-matics, and never really worked well, which is why in old photos you see guys taping together two 15-round mags instead. Or using a butt-cuff mag pouch. The 30-rd. magazines were developed in tandem with the select-fire M-2 Carbine, but someone dropped the ball someplace, because they were known to be unreliable and not worth the trouble.
“I almost purchased an ‘Enforcer’ handgun version of the carbine, but when picked up, I couldn’t find a comfortable way to hold it stead, especially when using the iron sights. I’m sure there is a technique, I just never learned it.”
Maybe its just me, but cutting down a carbine that much, you may as well go back to a handgun – your old M1911A1 45 ACP. Maybe I’m mistaken, but wouldn’t the muzzle flash and blast from that 9″ barrel be stupendous?
IMHO, you are much better off getting one of those paratrooper folding stocks and using that instead to create a compact easy-to-handle carbine with it. You’re still keeping the full-length barrel – which don’t forget is what the cartridge was designed around – and the higher MV and extended range which comes with it. And since the folder has a pistol grip, it could be used folded if the need arose.
“Sweet little rifle that M1. It has a lot to recommend it, though finding .30 carbine ammunition now can be a challenge.”
You’re not kidding! Where I live, 30 Carbine ammo – when you can find it at all – costs as much or more than .308 Winchester on a per round basis, which is crazy if you ask me. There’s no way that a straight-walled cartridge like that should cost near that much to make. Price gouging? Not sure what’s up, but it isn’t cheap anymore or easy to find. Too bad most of the mil-surp 110-gr. FMJ stuff has dried up. It even had non-corrosive primers….