M1 Carbine Family of Weapons
The M1 Carbine is a family of weapons consisting of the U.S. Carbine M1, M1A1, M2 and M3. All models of the M1 Carbine family fired the "Cartridge, Caliber .30 , Carbine" in 15-round and 30-round magazines, a unique cartridge used only by the M1 Carbine family.
M1 Carbine History
MP with M2 Carbine.
In September of 1941 the new Winchester-designed "Carbine, M1, .30 Caliber" won Ordnance approval and was adopted for service. As the M1 Carbine was originally issued, there was no bayonet lug but one was added by the end of the war. A fully automatic version was issued as the M2 Carbine, as in the photo to the left showing an M2 Carbine armed Vietnamese MP looking for contraband. Despite its convenience, many soldiers never liked the M1 Carbine and it had a reputation as underpowered and mechanically tempremental, not to mention inaccurate beyond about 150 yards. Nonetheless, the M1 Carbine proved an effective light weight weapon that was frequently carried for protection as something between a pistol and a full rifle.
The agreement with Winchester gave the U.S. Government rights which they used to license nine primary manufacturers to build M1 Carbines and its variants during World War II, using parts from scores of subcontractors. In addition to Winchester, M1 Carbines were made by two divisions of General Motors (Inland and Saginaw), IBM, Irwin-Pedersen Arms Co., National Postal Meter, Quality Hardware Machine Corp., Rock-Ola Manufacturing Corporation, Standard Products, and Underwood-Elliott-Fisher.
M1 Carbine Models
The models in the M1 Carbine family consisted of:
- M1 Carbine: semi-automatic only/li>
- M1A1 Carbine: semi-automatic only, with a folding metal buttstock, issued to paratroopers
- M2 Carbine: selective fire, semi- or fully-automatic determined by selector switch on receiver top, left side
- M3 Carbine: sniper version with a specially modified grooved receiver for mounting an infrared 4X "Snooper Scope"
Carbine, Caliber .30, M2.
Carbine, Caliber .30, M2 selector switch.
The M3 Carbine was produced in limited quantities, only a few thousand in total. In contrast, 6.2 million M1 Carbines were manufactured by the nine World War II contractors during 38 months of production. No other weapon was produced in such large quantity during WW II.
M1 Carbine Bayonet
The first M1 Carbines were designed in the late 1930s without a bayonet, but one was quickly developed and supplied. In May of 1944 the M-4 bayonet was standardized for use with the M-1 Carbine. Early M1 Carbines can be recognized from the missing bayonet lug. After World War II, the M1 Carbines and M2 Carbines have a ramp-type rear sight (photo, left) and a front barrel band with the bayonet lug assembly.
Recommended Books about the M1 Carbine
- War baby!: The U.S. caliber .30 carbine
- Complete Guide to the M1 Garand and the M1 Carbine
- US M1 Carbines: Wartime Production
- Army/Air Force manual TM 9-1276 M-1 Carbine Manual
- M1 Carbine Owners Manual
Technical Manual: TM 9-1276 was the Department of the Army Technical Manual for the M1 Carbine. It also covers the M1A1, M2 and M3 carbines.
Learning marksmanship with the M1 Carbine at Warner Robins Air Service Command, Robins Field, Georgia, July 1943.
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