M1 Carbine: A Whole New Class of Weapon
Vložit
- čas přidán 14. 05. 2024
- / forgottenweapons
www.floatplane.com/channel/Fo...
Cool Forgotten Weapons merch! shop.bbtv.com/collections/forg...
The United States developed the M1 carbine very quickly at the beginning of World War Two, once the German "blitzkrieg" made it clear that highly mobile enemy forces could threaten rear echelon troops in a modern war. The M1911 pistol was seen as a difficult weapon to use well, and a light carbine would offer much greater effectiveness with less training. It was estimated that 500,000 would be needed, and more than 6 million were eventually produced during the war. The M1 Carbine would equip drivers, artillery crews, mortar men, headquarters staff, paratroops, and many more.
The M1 Carbine was developed by Winchester, but they were not participants in the first round of trials, Instead, their design came about when Rene Studler (head of the Ordnance Department) saw Winchester's "M2" rifle prototype, a lightweight .30-06 intended to compete with the M1 Garand. He urged them to scale it down for the light rifle trials then ongoing in 1941, and Winchester complied. The design used a Garand-like rotating bolt and a gas tappet system designed by David Marshall Williams for the .30-06 rifle. The new carbine was cobbled together in less than two weeks, and is a truly fantastic achievement.
Thanks to InterOrdnance / Royal Tiger Imports for providing this M1 Carbine for filming!
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle #36270
Tucson, AZ 85740
You have a rifle designed by *the* John Browning?
We have a rifle designed by *a* Jon Browning.
Jonathan "Half-Brown" Browning.
We have a rifle designed by John Browning.
No the other one.
technically correct is the best kind of correct.
No. David Marshall Williams (Carbine Williams), invented the operating principle for the M1 Carbine while in a North Carolina prison
Kid: Can we get some John Browning?
Mom: We have John Browning at home
John Browning at home:
I can remember when the going rate for an M1 Carbine was $50. Of course, I didn't have $50.
50 bucks used to be something
My dad mail ordered his in 1960 for $20.
@@Bilabius ~$175 in today's currency. That's damn cheap
@@rotteneggs29 Supply and demand sometimes sucks when one looks at one's wallet.
@@427med He meant the 1960's $20 is equivalent to today's $175 dollars (i.e. adjusted for inflation)
I love the concept of a "wimpy" round. Like you dont wanna be hit with anything moving faster then a baseball. Let alone a piece of metal cooking down range at 2000ft per sec lol
I never understood the caliber wars. Just go to any news website and look at the list of homicides and what weapon killed them. You'll find that just about any caliber of bullet will infact kill a person rather effectively.
@@astrotrek3534 Stopping power is the issue. You can mortally wound with any round, but unless they enter into a shock that overrides the amount of adrenaline pumping in their veins, they'll be shooting back at you for a while.
Imagine assaulting a building and shooting someone at close range. You hit them once. If that doesn't incapacitate them, they'll shoot back at you potentially killing you too.
@@karhu96 that’s not how it works. Wounding someone is generally sufficient to stop them from firing back
@@EL-gv1dg Generally. However, when it comes to fighting a war that involves hundreds or thousands of firefights a day, exceptions happen regularly.
You can find video of police shootings where the officer in question unloads half a magazine into someone and they still keep coming. This has been a genuine issue for many militaries and is the principle reason why the UK and USA demanded a .45 calibre cartridge for their small arms at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Their colonial troops were shooting native warriors at close range without any immediate noticeable effect.
E L hahahah no
My great uncle was a doctor in Korea. He carried one of these and had it up until the day he died a couple years ago. He loved guns. Even had a really nice old colt revolver. Dementia sucks.
The worst of diseases. Bless him.
When my dad's senility went full blown, he thought it was the 1930s and he finally escaped the trauma of WWII
@@rosiehawtrey my grandpa also served in Korea and he had Alsheimers
@@rosiehawtrey is it BMAA toxin?
@@rosiehawtrey The lead exposure from being at gun ranges (especially indoors, but even outdoors as well) is also no joke. Probably not something people on these kinds of channels like to think about though, and of course it's no guaranteed death sentence, but it is a very potent neurotoxin, too. And that's not to mention all the other toxic stuff you are exposed to in the military...
"This video is getting a little long"
NO IT'S NOT, KEEP TALKING PLEASE
Every time he says something like that on a video I always end up saying to myself, "You're fine man, keep going". These videos could be 45 minutes to an hour long and I wouldn't care either way, shit's interesting as hell.
Dabi If you like humor and power tools check out AvE.
@@Big_Money_Salvia Are you familiar with C&Rsenal?
"Sorry, honey but this video's going to run a little long. Looks like you'll have to start dinner!"
KEEP TALKING IAN
You can keep talking for another 3 months please I woudnt mind
Watching Ian make videos about non-forgotten weapons makes me wish for a sister channel simply called "Weapons".
Or "Unforgotten weapons"
@@-J--vx7nv unforgettable weapons
Unknown weapons
'Infamous Boomsticks'
Let get this straight. if it were Ian doing all of the content, I’d be more than happy to watch forgotten microwaves
I used one for 15 months in Vietnam and have the utmost respect for it. It probably was the best functional rifle the military ever had.
Was it REALLY an M2??
My dad was a marine in Vietnam. He was an M60 gunner but qualified with the m14 in bootcamp. Says it was his favorite gun even if he didn’t get to use it much haha.
Thank you for your service :)
I agree, Vietnam 65,66
An old guy my dad worked with was in both Korea and nam . My dad was also a nam vet . I actually remember him saying the m1 carbine was a fine weapon unless you were fighting in the Korean winter .
In 1958 living in San Diego at 6 years old my father would take us fishing at the Coronado Island in Mexican waters and he would let me and my brother pop off a few rounds at the 1 unpopulated island with his M1 from the war. Catching 20lb. yellowtail and shooting an M1 carbine all in the same day. Wow thanks Dad ❤
@rodneysmith247 those must’ve been the days. The only time I’ve ever just popped off some rounds in the great wide open was during my USMC enlistment while stationed in Twentynine Palms, CA between ‘98-‘02. There was so much desert out there, you could just pull off the roadway in the middle of nowhere and conduct target practice.
While the M1 Carbine isn't Forgotten, the story behind it is fascinating.
I imagine it's the case with many not "forgotten" weapons. I'd love to see Ian's take on more popular rifle tbh :)
Straka Zulu the M2 carbine however...
Isnt that what he said in the first 20 seconds?
not really forgotten, but underappreciated, for sure. Especially the cartridge. 30 carbine is a very interesting round, I wish there were more firearms that used it (mostly so it was cheaper to shoot my M1 :P)
@@Maddog1911
The M2 is best forgotten.
The father of a good friend, who was a Korean War veteran commented that the greatest advantage to the M1 was “you could run like hell with it.”
Roger Harris
That’s a good one !!
My grandfather was an army truckdriver in the Korean War . He carried an M1 Carbine riding shotgun when he wasn't behind the wheel . He also carried one on guard duty around the camp .
@Roger Boyd I salute your grandpa . The service our grandparents shall not be fogotten or held in vain .
I’ve read accounts of WWII guys in rifle squads who lost their Garlands in combat and picked up the carbine to keep going. They said they did not like the M-1 Carbine and as soon as they could reacquired an M-1 Garland. I can understand as the Garland has more punch.
Victor Waddell My dad ran a PX on base in Korea during the Korean War and they issued him a grease gun. An officer asked him during an inspection why someone running a PX would need a machine gun and he said that was what they issued me. They took it away and issued him a 1911 handgun after that.
Imagine pulling one out of an ankle holster. "This is my new holdout pistol, check it out."
"Dis my M1-30. Dis my problem solver right heer."
An ankle holster did existed for the M1, a belt holster. I have one and it is kind of fun to walk with it.
I just love how he focuses so much more on the story behind the weapon instead of the weapon. For gun noobies like me it’s just more interesting
Totally agree, while it is fun to see the shooting vids these ones on the back story are just fascinating and informative
@@senshidoKB always been my favorite part of his videos. Sets him apart and love the history
I have been a gun-nut my entire life and finding this type of information in this format is so rare, its the primary reason I keep coming back. People talking about the physical gun they have in front of them is fairly common. Ian's approach isnt and I love it.
@@tinuzz88 I like C&Rsenal, too. Paul, Ian and Othias are my Holey Trinity. lol
Gun history is much more interesting than most of the firearms that you are looking into.
I was in the 63rd US Infantry Division -- 563rd Signal Company back in 1943 - 46 -- took part in the later stages of Operation Dragoon,, the invasion of the South of France, and was issued the M1 Carbine. Nice and easy to carry.
I had reason the other day to look up Lord Lovat who lead the British 4th Commando in the Normandy landings and the assault on Pegasu Bridge. He was often said to have carried his personal Winchester 303 rifle in this action but he himself said he carried an "American short barelled carbine" so presuamably the M1 Carbine!
PS I'm not kidding about serving in WW-II -- I'm 95 and still going strong.
Did you ever carry the Garand at any point? If so, how did the two compare in use?
Happy New Year ! I love elders sharing history ! THANK YOU .
My Father also served in the 63rd. It’s an honor to greet another member of his division. He was training at Camp Van Dorn before shipping over when I was born in 1944. He and I were lifetime members of the 63rd Div. Association . Dad passed away in 2010 at 93 years of age. We’re SC people and there was one other man from our home town that served in the 63rd.
Oddly enough I have a friend that lives in the same city that I do currently whose father also served in the 63rd. They’re from Altoona, Penn.. His dad was an armorer and my buddy was one day telling me his dad had sent captured weapons home. I inquired about his division and the response was “Blood and Fire…the 63rd Division”. Coulda knocked me over with a feather. We had been friends for 20 years at that point. Guess the subject never came up before.
Thank you for your service…particularly at that time. I wish you well.
Thank you for your service and our freedom! God bless you Sir.
Thank you. Welcome home!
M1 Garand - M1 Carbine
M14 - Mini14
AR10 - AR15
It's like father and son
True , though the M4 and m16 used the same ammunition. (Edited) with the AR10 and AR15 we have a grandfather to grandson in the list
M16-m4 is more like big brother and younger brother, the others are father and son tho
M110 and M4, maybe? Even though the M110 is younger?
more like the hotter petite little sister
Sorry, but no family relations at all....
This was NOT forgotten in my house. My Dad was a combat officer in Korea. Company Commander. He carried m1 Carbine. Preferred it over anything else. Could have carried anything he wanted. Liked the lightness and accuracy. Used to shoot birds off trees as target practice and to remind anyone watching that he was a good shot. Unfortunately he passed 4 years ago. Great man carried a great weapon. .
What a dick to kill those birds who were minding their own business just to show everyone he's a "good shot"
My Grandpa was in Korea & he also carried an M1 Carbine.
He was a heavy machine gunner.
18 year old kid Drafted off his farm & sent across the world.
Hell of a generation of men & women.
My grandpa told me that during 1954 battle of Dien Bien Phu, he (A Viet Minh soldier) and his best friend tried to disassemble a M1 carbine in their free time, but they never managed to reassemble the gun back to one piece. They laughed it off every time they talked about that story. Most of my grandpa’s comrade has already gone, including his best friend. My grandpa is 90 and he is still going strong. His stories about war and firearms are really nice to hear.
Congratulations 🥳🥳🥳 you are among our lucky winners 🤩🤩🤩message me now to claim your prize 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
You need 5 thumbs and two assistants to reassemble the M1 carbine bolt.
If your grandfather is still with you you should consider videoing your conversations with him, maybe on your phone! It's nice to remember stories but alot nice to see him and hear the stories again in his voice!
Wow. Dien bien phu! A legendary battle and victory by your grandpa and his buddies. They just wanted their freedom. I hope his days are filled with joy and good health.
Wow! Your grandfather's accounts of battle are gold, because it's not often people like me get to hear the other side of the story. They would be interesting to listen to.
M1: Carbine, Garand, Helmet, Bazooka, Abram, 8-inch Gun, Mine, Flamethrower, Thompson, Bayonet
That escalated quickly.
Don't forget the Thompson lol
bayonet, mine, 8 inch gun
Flamethrower!
Damn it i forgot lol
Ian: "This video is getting quite long already...."
Viewers: "Please, sir, may I have some more?"
Yeah, he says in a way like this was something bad.
My Dad was in the field artillery in WW2. He didn't use a rifle very often, but he had a M1 carbine for when he needed a weapon.
My grandpa carried an M1 carbine for guard duty in Korea during the war
My dad was in Europe in WWII as a combat engineer; carbine also.
@@raxideezxxx8752 My Dad had the highest respect for the engineers, he crossed the Rhine River on a pontoon bridge built by combat engineers.
@@jimtaylor1204 My dad was a combat engineer for a while in Korea, and, though he was infantry during WW2, always had the greatest respect for the engineers. Though I wasn't an engineer, when I went into the army my basic was at Fort Leonard Wood.
My uncle loved this weapon. He was issued a Garand M1. He fought on Tarawa. He was always worried about how much effort it took to whip the Garand around. Without asking anyone, he took an M1 Carbine from a stack of weapons of wounded soldiers. Swears it saved his life in one altercation. He said the criticism of its lack of "stopping power" was bunk. He said, "better to get a bullet in an attacker than to not get a round off".
Plus if the thing's heavy and bulky you're tempted to take it off if you're fixing a vehicle, lugging supplies or whatever. By Murphy's law, that's going to be when you need it in a hurry. They say about cameras - the best one is the one that's with you.
The bunk part comes mostly from the Korean War era. The Ammo lost a lot of firepower when it got cold so that it was less effective in the brutal cold they had.
@@gravelydon7072 I would wager most of the fudd lore from korea came from the guys who didnt know how to shoot. The thing hits the same as a .357 from a lever gun.
@@Justownerthey wore a lot of clothing which could limit it's penetration.
Any american weapon: exists
Military bureaucrats: *Its an M1*
i mean,
what kind though?
The helmet? carbine? rifle? helmet? SMG? we shall never know
*Laughs in soviet/russian GRAU-Index*
@@JustaGuy1250 what about the M1 Bazooka or the M1 Abrams?
The same thing goes for the M2 to a slightly lesser extent.
@@stevenbobbybills M4
This is of course just a way to confuse politicians.
"Scuse me congressman, we kinda need a thousand more M1's, could you please sign this budget bill?"
"Why of course, a thousand carbines? That's nothing! ... Oh, I see the new carbines are called 'Abrams', never heard of those before..."
"Dirt in the rear sight aperture: pass revoked" NCO screams internally...
Is that dust on your jump wings?
wasn't expecting a band of brothers reference lol that really got me
Heigh-ho silver!
How do expect to slay the Hun with dust on your jump wings, with a rusty bayonet, with dirt in your rear aperture?! That’s it! That whole company is running up Currahee. Hi ho Silver!
You know Capt. Sobel hated Winters and the men of Easy Company till the day he died... of malnutrition at a nursing home, after a botched suicide attempt... yikes...
During my time in the Dutch military, from 92 until 95, I initially had a FN FAL, after my basic training this was replaced by the Canadian M-16, the Diemaco n7. However, my last 4 months, I served as chief of a storage area and my personal weapon during this short period was, no joke, a carbine m1. And I loved it! On the 150 meter range, every shot was a "headshot", so to speak...what a nice, comfortable gun to shoot with!
My old man loved this little gun even though he was in the royal navy.
A ranger let him have a pop off with his and he said for close up and house clearing it was so much better than the Enfield
The carbine was way ahead of its time and the ideal weapon for the South Pacific in ww2
And VietNam.
Boondocker it was very good for the Arvn.
Still in use today by some countries.
South Korea uses them for reserve forces.
@Mike Gee Israelis would do that lol
The U.S. marine's hated this gun cus it got them killed by the japanese in ww2 and the army would trade them for m1 gerands in germany cuz when they shot a german he shot them back
Got no joke, i just like the M1 Carbine.
One of my favorite guns to shoot at family gatherings when I was a kid. That and a mini 14. My grandpa had his garand, a lee enfeild and his dad's springfield 1903 but those all hurt when I was like ten.
M4, M1, Mini14👌
@@badlaamaurukehu I picked up the Mini-14, and it has been one of the finest rifles I've seen in most analyzed scenarios and demonstrations. AR-guys still arguing about Direct Gas Impingement versus Piston Driven BCG.... MEANWHILE, Garand-Men already have functional Direct Impingement, with offset, blast shield, and zero gas travel distance 🤓
Like the baron of hell I'll be gone when the morning comes*
I own an M1 Garand, a Mini-14, a number of AR-15 and I used to own an M1A. But the rifle that stays loaded by my bedside is my M1 Carbine. I is light weight, reliable and easy to manipulate inside a house. I have owned it for many years, shot it a lot and trust it completely. Probably would not get the job done if a herd of elephants were to invade, but against human sized targets, it will do quite well.
@Colin Cleveland you've never heard meat loaf sing drunk before have you?
When I was teen-age I used my Father's M-1 Carbine for deer hunting, worked well . I now own it .
I LOVE my M1 Carbine. It was manufactured by GM (Inland Division) and is such a sweet firing rifle even after 75 years or so!
My bro has a “Singer” one. I find the IBM manufactured ones to be strange, from the M1 to RISC Systems in 30 years.
Aah yes. The 1940s. When you could legitimately hire an ex-convict out of jail in your gun factory & find he's a pretty darn good gun designer.
I swear you try that today and you'll be sued out of existence.
Sad but true
@@toki89666 which right? To hire an ex con?
@@sam8404 you stupid? Guns fool. You should never be less armed than the government. To be so is to welcome authoritarianism.
@@SkinnerBeeMan Off topic rant.
@@WALTERBROADDUS I agree should have stopped at stupid and guns.
Carried one of these many miles while in the Army Engineers. Thanks for the memory recall of 65 years ago.
I have one that my grandpa got after leaving Vietnam
My dad came back from the Philippines after the war, got on a ship with a thousand other guys, packed his M-1 in his duffle and came home.
Gave it to me on 1954, still works great all these decades later. Best weapon in my arsenal.
My grandfather fired heavy morters during korea and was issued a m1 garand. Part way threw his tour a buddy rotating out traded his m1 carbine for the garand. He had nothing but good things about the carbine. He could not stress enough how the lighter rifle was so much nicer to carry for his intended roll. Near the end of his tour someone higher up noticed he was not carrying his issued weapon and took it away and gave him a garand again.
I would totally love carrying a Garand, a Lee Enfield or any other fullsize rifle on top of 1/3 of a mortar. Who wouldn't?
@@himoffthequakeroatbox4320 can I carry the baseplate , pleeease?!
“Threw”???
Why are ammosexuals always so illiterate?
I've been watching "the Pacific" and I liked that at the start of the show everyone is using bolt action rifles, they around the middle of the series a few people managed to get their hands on M1 Garands and towards the end of the series it was Garands and Carbines.
Ian is suggesting, without endorsement, that this is the primo weapon.
A look at the US regiment organisation show as much M1 carbine as M1 Garand.
I love that series
@@louisbarraud7853 apart from all the shitty love/relationship scenes.
That’s the Marines for ya. Want logistics, Supplies, and Equipment? Join the Army. Marines make do😂
My father was a company clerk, Signal Corps in the Pacific. He said they issued him a 1911 and he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with it. Overseas, he swapped it for, I think, a tommy gun with a guy who thought wearing the pistol would look cool. By the end of the war, he was issued an M1 carbine, which, he felt the most comfortable with..
Yeah a Thompson is pretty dang big and heavy for what it is. For a signal corps guy the M1 is purpose designed just about.
My Dad was a Seabee in the Pacific during WW2. He fought the war with shovels, hammers and paint brushes. As I learned more about them then any weapon.
One thing that he did talk about regularly was the Thompson. When we’d be watching the WW2 movies from the 60’s and 70’s and some actor would be using a Thompson rattling off a whole magazine, he’d say, that’s bull shit, after 4 or 5 rounds you’d be shooting at the clouds with one those, there’s no way you can hold it level.
Being as the Seabees went ashore with the Marines, I’d like to know which weapon they were issued.
My father was in the army in WW2. The army and Marines were"island hopping" through the Marianna's. They took his "big rifle" (he couldn't remember the make...he thought it was either an Enfield or Springfield!) and issued him the 30 cal.carbine which he was much more comfortable with. He wasn't a very big guy. He liked it for its maneuverability and rapid fire but he said it had no knock-down power compared to his "big rifle"!
Da was an nco at the start of the war and a captain by the end. He HATED the Tommy gun. Too heavy and couldn't hit shit with one. For him the M1 carbine was perfect. He always said if he had to use his weapon they were already in a bad way. But he sung the praises of the M1 carbine till the dayhe died.
I literally just bought one today and I get it. Light. Handy. At the ranges combat actually happens it would do just fine.
@@davidvines6498 Most of the time it would have been an M1903 and later in the war, M1903A3s. Same rifle dad carried on Guam in the early 50s to go to the Navy's antenna field.
Never owned a weapon, fired only very few in my whole life, but the mix of mechanical and historical details is truly great and very attractive to me.
One of the best military guns ever invented put to good use by the greatest enlisted Army soldier Audie Murphy
I was one of the fortunate NRA members to acquire through the DCM (predecessor of the CMP) an arsenal refurbished Winchester shipped to my door for $20 in 1967.
My dad did the same in 1960.
Ron That is AWESOME!! That would be so cool!
My dad got 2!
Why did you let them pass the GCA in 1968, the Hughes Amendment in 1986, the 1989 "assault rifle" import ban, and the 1994 "assault weapons ban"?
@chris younts I can't find an m1 garand priced at what the cmp charges, if you know of a place please share
Me: A M1 carbine forgotten?
Ian: This is by no means a forgotten weapon.
Me: Ian really is the best!
@Projekt:Kobra He did.
I went in the US Army in June 1965. M-14 in basic and the 45 in flight school. I was assigned to Vietnam in November 1967 and prior to leaving I had to qualify with the "new" M-16. It was a disaster to say the least. All the rifles just became inoperative due to a mirid of problems. When I arrived in Vietnam, I was issued an M-16 which was not reliable at all. I traded a few captured AKs for a M-1 Carbine and carried it for my tour. Every time I needed to use it, it worked perfectly. Saved my life a couple times in tight spots. The pilots, crew chiefs and gunners in my company carried a mixture of rifles and pistols but very few carried an M-16. Also no one carried an AK-47. We flew SOG missions in Laos and North Vietnam and were involved with "Project Eldest Son".
When Project Eldest Son was underway, that's when my dad quit carrying his AK47. He did carrying an M1D sniper with him a lot.
Rest in peace dad
Gary Goofy Grape Gilmer SFG camp A325 Duc Hue
@Ben I've got an M1A Socom 16 and I love that rifle.
Why didn’t you use the Aks?
@@TheTimbs_ the blasting caps on the ammo was being booby trapped with C-4
@@Cervezadog ah, ok
My dad and number of uncles served in the Army during World War II. Dad was in North Africa, Persian Corridor, Italy and Austria. His transportation unit started out with ‘03 service rifles which were soon exchanged for .30 carbines. Three uncles - a medic, a combat engineer and a military policeman were likewise armed with carbines.
Very interesting. I carried a Carbine when I was in the USAF/SAC, assigned to Security Police in the late 60’s. Stateside troops were issued the Carbine since most M-16 production was going to Vietnam. I loved the weapon...easy to break down and clean and oh so comfortable to carry. The side sling allowed one to adjust the sling just tight enough to lay comfortably on the back without having to hold the sling with your hand to prevent the weapon from constantly slipping off the shoulder. This was of more importance to us than firepower when humping a perimeter post or close in on an alert B-52 on a long cold midnight shift In wester Oklahoma, where the most hostile intruder might be a coyote cutting through the alert area.
The models we were issued were both semi as well as fully automatic. My memory had told me that they were M-1 Carbines but I’m learning here that it was actually an M-2. I’m still running the original 1950 model hard drive up top so I’m sure there has been some data corruption over the years.
Thanks!
I carried my M2 carbine from 1961 to 1964 with USAF/TAC Air Police With NATO. We also carried the 45 Colt automatic pistol. It was a more relaxed security guard duty than you had with SAC. We wore anything we could get our hands on to keep warm in the winter time in northern France. Good memories.
Nice story my friend.
I TO LARRY WAS A SP IN THE 80'S JUST M-16'S AND 38 SPECIALS
I live in oklihomie
Another SP here...(1980-86 active/1986-1996 Air Guard and Reserve). I humped BUFF's in West Texas for 2 years or so before getting enough rank to be Team Leader on SRT's, ART's and Fire Teams. We had Vietnam era M-16's, GAU-5A's and S&W Model 15 Combat Masterpiece's! I spent my last 2 years active duty working for the Commander in Chief of Tactical Air Command, in the Command Guard (a lot like like the SAC Elite Guard)...we carried S&W Model 19 .357 magnums.
"If you're gonna scale down and test that, it's gonna be without me because I want nothing to do with this" - "Carbine" Williams
No choice...he was in PRISON!
@@deanbenson6879 You didn't listen to the story.
@@deanbenson6879 no he was not anymore in jail at that time.
Nice presentation. As a Huey gunship pilot in 1966 and 1967 in Vietnam, a Korean war vintage model was my weapon of choice instead of the M-16 (along with my 1911). It was small enough for me to carry in the cockpit, and served me well for 2 years without a single malfunction. My current range weapon is an Auto Ordinance version (instead of any AR-15 platform) - Frankly, I prefer a little heft and feel over technology. Even though I qualified at 500 yds back in the day, I never seriously found the need to engage an enemy on the ground at more than 150 (from the air, I had miniguns and rockets) - the side arms were there if we went down in unfriendly territory. It would be highly unlikely that I would ever have to engage one at more than 75/100 for home defense, so this one, a 1911, and shotgun are all I should ever need (although a few claymores would be nice).
Congratulations 🥳🥳🥳 you are among our lucky winners 🤩🤩🤩message me now to claim your prize 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
My father. then a US Army captain, was armed with an M1 Carbine while fighting the Japanese in the Philippines in WW2.
He survived the war and later on was assigned in Vietnam as a foreign service officer..
I inherited an M1 carbine on my 21st birthday that was my grandfather's. I never knew him as he passed away long before I was born but I am extremely glad to have that connection to a member of the greatest generation.
What an awesome family heirloom. I hope it stays in your family forever.
You are lucky... I am one of two grandkids in my family... We were robbed of all inheritance and heirlooms by a very evil aunt who took the entire estate. It isn't the material value, it is the sentimental loss, and the principal of the matter... But my point is... Cherish it, dont be afraid to utilize it, your grandfather will most likely be proud that you have it.
My grandfather just gave me my family’s m1, my great grandfather used it in the battle of the bulge under Patton.
Adam Koch. With an aunt like that you sure could have used an M-1. Or even a 1911...
@@adamkoch3424 "don't be afraid to utilize it" wtf does that mean?
11:35 don't ever apologize for too much detail, backstory or minutia. That's what makes your videos so fascinating, Ian. This is practically living history you're passing along to us. We lap this stuff up.
Thank you for all of the wonderful information. I'm 62 years old and I have always loved these carbines. My Dad was in WW2 and Korean wars. When I was 14 I got a Crossman BB gun that looked like the M-1 Carbine as a Christmas present. I sure wish they made dependable replicas. What a cool firearm.
I still have my Crosman from 1967, the last year I think that they made wooden stocks, not plastic. I added a retaining pin to the storage magazine, which was prone to drop away. Fine feel and pretty accurate, even with my compromised vision.
My Dad was Army 45 Infantry Division Brigade. He was a communications person. The story I was told is that he found a m2 carbine in a military dump, he pulled it out and cleaned it up and had the Armory guy check it and it worked great. I still think I have a picture of him carrying a 1911, M2 and a M3. I will have to hunt down.some pictures. I just month ago seen one in a store in Northern Washington State.
(11:36)
"We'll cut it short - this video is getting quite long already.."
That's fine Ian, you carry on - make it feature length if you want - I'm going nowhere.
Ian Macfarlane honestly. We’re all stuck in quarantine. What else are we supposed to do?
"Ah! Germans!" That should have been incorporated into the scoring system somehow.
Ah! NAZIS! Should have been the catchfrase ;)
@@waikschoner4885 Eeee... Why? Nazis were Germans. Those words are kinda synonymous in the context of WW2...
@@mooseontheloose-2531 Where did i say all Germans were Nazis? I would suggest you learn to read. I was talking about country as a whole. We call it "Nazi Germany" for a reason.
Even if i wasn't, it would be an obvious generalization.
I think their mistake was using "hospital" data. Very few guys who were shot with a 1911 made it to the hospital.
@@lieutenantcoloneltanyavond8273
BS!!!
Very interesting, I carried one of these as a back-up weapon while serving as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. As a pilot in Nam my issued weapon was a 45 cal. 1911 which was more than worn out having seen combat in WW2 and Korea. Although being very worn out it was still very dependable, the standing joke among the pilots was to hurry-up to use-up your ammo so you could throw it at your enemy, Ha Ha!
The weapon that gave me the most confidence for survival was an M1 Carbine with the aft stock sawed of leaving a pistol grip. This weapon came to me as a recovered battle field vc weapon. It came with an ammo box some banana clips (30 round) along with several smaller clips and lots of ammo. It was also full auto or single shot and rather sloppy but I was glad I had it if I ever needed it.
Thank you for posting this video!
Thank you for your service!
Thanks for your service. A family friend, Jim Harvey, also flew helicopters in Vietnam. A crazy guy.
My grandpa and uncle (as well as a lot of Hmong soldiers) loved the m1 carbine during the Secret War in Laos aka Laotian Civil War in the 60s and 70s. It was due to their small stature, average 5'2 to 5'4. Either they got the m1 carbine or the m1 garand as surplus from WW2, the garand was pretty big and heavy for an average Hmong soldier, but most managed. It wasn't until the late 60s early 70s that the US/CIA started handing out m16s to frontline Hmong soldiers to battle the communists. The m1 carbine and m1 garand was still used by Hmong militias protecting their villages and family in the rear and isolated mountains.
I love how CZcams just decides it is okay to advertise a "fuel filter" under this video, yet actively demonetizes gun videos. For crying out loud youtube doesn't even use the word gun, they call it "precision sports"
Yep. Thats why I refuse to pay for no commercials and why I refuse to watch a commercial when possible.
I will back out of a video & restart then ff.
It's a pain, but screw the man
If you shoot a guy with an M1 carbine once and he's still coming at you, just keep shooting. After all, would you shoot a guy with a PPSh-41 or MP40 just once?
Problem is you have to hit a moving target twice. That's the benefit of a more powerful round, more often, one will do it. As it was explained to me by grandpa, 'when you hit someone with a 45, they stayed hit', and that's why they kept using the 1911 pistol for so long. I'm lucky; I missed having to go to Vietnam by one year. I was terrified; a guy who lived down the block from us had came back in a box a few years earlier.
@uncletigger It's natural, you're brain will automatically tell you, that you gotta stay alive and don't do anything stupid, only this sense differs for everyone. We are not the same, not everyone would like to be in a war that noone really needed and was not necessary for your freedom, just some flexing between two nations.
uncletigger Death at 20 isn’t inevitable though? Lol, keep trying to sound like a badass, but just because death is inevitable for everyone doesn’t mean Im alright with dying violently in war 50 years before my natural time, not that hard of a concept to understand😂
uncletigger You have such a disgustingly pessimistic view of the future that I honestly feel bad for you lol. Naturally, someone who learns that they are about to be (or in the original comment’s case, potentially)exposed to an intensely dangerous situation are going to have much more fear of losing their life. Obviously life is unpredictable, and death can come at literally any second, which is why I don’t spend every second of my life worrying that I may suddenly have an aneurysm, or a blood clot, etc. But by your logic, someone should treat a stroll through a minefield with the same level of fear they treat a trip to the grocery store and that’s just nonsensical
uncletigger If you want to pretend to be some sort of fear-less badass on the Internet that’s fine, but I’m sure you’ve never been in a firefight, or taken a stroll through a minefield (nor have I). So until we have to go through it, let’s not pretend to understand the mindset of those that have?
I have an M-1 carbine, given to me by my Pappy, who served as a combat engineer in the ETO during WWII. Below is the statement he provided regarding his acquisition of the rifle:
On January 19th, 1945 I was making an engineer reconnaissance east of Vielsalm, Belgium when we approached a Class 40 Bailey Bridge spanning a railroad cut. In the middle of the bridge was a tank retriever with a medium tank in tow. The bridge had failed under the excessive overload and part of the bridge structure and the two vehicles were resting on the railroad bed.
After collecting technical data regarding salvage and replacement of the structure a suitable by-pass was located. On the west and east side of the bridge and several hundreds of yards to the east there was evidence of fierce fighting. There were wrecked armored vehicles and burned-out trucks and personnel carriers from the 7th US Armored Division, the 17th Armored Cavalry Regiment. Dead German soldiers destroyed tanks and vehicles littered the site east of the bridge.
Proceeding north of the bridge to the bypass I noticed a number of foxholes. One of them was occupied by a slumped over dead American with an MI carbine under his right shoulder. The man was a 1st Lieutenant wearing a tankers jacket. The carbine magazine was empty and there were many empty shell cases in and around the foxhole. With difficulty the carbine was removed from beneath the frozen body of the officer.
The serial number on the carbine is 701291 and was retained by me as war trophy and was given to Glade S. Wittwer Jr. on September 11th 2006.
Glade S. Wittwer
LTC CE [Combat Engineer] USA Ret.
Dad served on a PC during WW2. He wasn't sure that it was M1 carbines but they had a rack of some small rifles on the craft. His PC never saw any combat but the sailors would get in a lot of target practice when they were bored. I have a couple M1's but they didn't jog his memory. Nice firearm in any case. One of my favorite milsurp rifles.
Man, the M1 carbine really has a special place in my heart.
The M1...there is something about this carbine. It looks simple, reliable, handy, beautifull... the looks are just perfect. I fired one once and it was such a fantastic experience.
Edit= i made a post where i express my fondness of the looks of the m1 carbine, second highest votes....and 70 comments of fanboys shouting whats better= the AK series or STG44
not surprising Kalashnikov admittedly took many designs details from the m1
@@simone.Lmo.639-2 serious?
@@Aaron-mv1kd only if this troll lists the trigger and barrel.
@@Aaron-mv1kd no. It was more like a mix of M1 Garand, SVT and StG. Also AK mag was actually designed by Sudaev (PPS creator).
I fired an M2 at a range even full auto the thing is a great gun...although the one I had jammed 10 times in a 15 round magazine...paid for a 30 rd mag and it ran fine...I guess spring pressure was either weak or strong in the 15...
My dad was an infantryman in the 5th Division under Patton's Third Army. He landed in Normandy in early July 1944 and fought his way across Europe, ending up near Prague on VE Day. Saw a significant amount of combat with at least some of it occurred in close quarters. He carried two M1911s in shoulder holsters under each arm. I never asked if he had occasion to shoot anyone at close quarters, but he loved those pistols.
Carbine Williams was a very interesting character, in fact there is a movie about him and its played by James Stewart, it a black and white picture but it's worth a watch. What a great History Lesson here Ian, thank you. I had years ago an M-2 paratrooper model with the folding stock and a magazine of 2 thirty mags which were connected with a special holder. I seem to remember mine was Inland. What a simply efficient firearm
Two things about your posting. 1) The basic design which led to the M1 Carbine was designed by David Marshall "Marsh" Williams ... aka "Carbine" Williams ... while incarcerated in federal prison for the murder of a federal Alcohol Tax Unit (ATU: the forerunner of the BATF) agent who had come to break up Williams' Moonshine still. Upon his release, Williams went to work for Winchester, where the M1 Carbine was developed utilizing Williams' "tappet" system. 2) Re the Selective-Fire M2 Carbine ... and its Infrared Sniper version, the M3 ... the receivers were identical between all three versions, with the differences between the M1 and M2/M3 versions being the trigger group, the slide, the auto actuator lever, and the stock. This was the very first of the BATF's "rule creation", as they created the fictional "M2 Kit" as being a "machine gun" because "it" was "designed" to "convert" a Semi-Automatic-ONLY M1 into a "machine gun". ERGO: possession of all the individual component parts was "possession of an unregistered machine gun." Of course, the actual LAW passed by the Democrat Party did not "say" that: only the BATF "rule" their National Firearms Technology Branch promulgated. And the BATF has been "promulgating" such patently UNconstitutional gun control "laws" ever since.
no matter how high-tech and incredible new rifles get, I will just always love the M1 Carbine more.
I was not only willing to sit through another 40 minutes of introduction, I wanted to.
My Dad went through basic training in the NJ National Guard in the mid 60s. His primary rifle was the M1 Gerand, which wasn't optimal for a 5'6" man. He was so glad when he received his commission, because COs were issued the M1 Carbine. It wasn't the weight of the Gerand that bothered him, but the length and balance.
He did Basic at Fort Dix, right?
Congratulations 🥳🥳🥳 you are among our lucky winners 🤩🤩🤩message me now to claim your prize 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
My dad carried an M1 all through 1944 in Italy and loved how easy it was to handle. Because he stayed in the Army after the war ended, he was allowed to hang onto the weapon and it sat in a closet for decades. I was lucky enough to inherit it when he passed away. Other than cleaning, the only thing I've had to do to it is replace the recoil spring. When that spring gets fatigued enough, the bolt starts to bounce when it cycles. It actually jumped off its guide one time at the range. But a new spring put it back in perfect working order. Not bad for an 80 year old rifle.
I'm from Germany and in MyVideo neighborhood was an older man who passed away some year ago.
He joined the Bundeswehr as an conscript in 1957 as a soldier in an Engineer Battalion.
Le later became a professional soldier and whe talked about the weapons of the Bundeswehr when I joined the Bundeswehr in 2004.
He told me that his first weapon was a M1 Carbine with 12 markings on the butt stock, so it was used in WW 2 or Korea.
He says that he likes it very much because he was an operator of a Bulldozer in the beginning, and the overall length was perfect to take it with him when he operated his engine.
Later he was issued a FN FAL (G1) and later the G3.
He said that he has more confidence into the G1 and the G3 to stop a communist soldier, but the M1 was more comfortable to take it with him on the Bulldozer or when he had to do other works.
And this was his main job, because his Unit was a specialized Engineer Battalion that mainly work with Ponton bridges.
They were also trained in mine clearance and other combat engineer stuff, but this wasn't their main role.
And he said: when I had to use my rifle in a real firefight, there was gies dramatic wrong on the front line!
I suppose big boy, in your next post you are gonna tell us all what you have in your toolbox! Kinda sick of hearing truck gun and toolbox guns. Nobody I know treats a firearm that way. If you would need it, what are you gonna do take 5minutes to dig it out to use it?
Sgt. York really skewed the "kill rate" of the 1911. 😜
When I was in Basic Training at Fort Dix in 1969, we trained with the M-14. Apparently, these weapons would then be part of an IG inspection after our cycle. Our cadre decided to have the receivers cleaned separately by one team. However, they discovered that the weapons had been fired so much that the wooden stock and receiver for each weapon had married together so that only the original stock would fit a particular receiver. So they had to go through 200 guns to match up the components. Fortunately, I was off to AIT before the sweet smelling hit the proverbial fan.
M14 A1 in .308 is a sweet machine
I sometimes regret trading mine for a M1 Garand (it was the early 90s and before the prices went insane); the Carbine was hard for me to shoot at 6'3 without replacing the issue stock with a polymer one; which i did not want to do. In the long run the Garand has a lot more upkeep and parts that wear out. Side note: the M203 grenade vest from the 80s & 90s will hold both size Carbine magazines.
Except for.... Sgt. York
Ian... Sgt. York used a weapon as a *courtesy* to the enemy.
I think that only in the movie. During the of filming that scene the 1911 would not cycle with blanks. With so many cast and crew on site, being paid, the Luger was used because it would cycle with blanks.
@@mikel2725 I'm exaggerating his prowess
A friend had an M-1 Carbine that I swear was built by IBM. I remember seeing IBM stamped on metal. It also had the oil tube and the strap as well.
Most likely you remember right. During WWII every stateside factory was in on the war effort. It's not uncommon to find guns made by Singer Sewing Machines and other such companies you'd never think to associate with firearms. There were no 1944-1945 model Fords because they were busy building B-24 bombers.
You're eyes & memory are all right, because IBM was indeed one of ten companies contracted to build the M1 Carbine. I owned one made by Inland, a division of General Motors, & a co-worker of mine owned one made by Rock-Ola, who originally made jukeboxes. One company was dropped for poor quality, but the remaining nine cranked out millions of Carbines during the war, & all with complete interchangeability of parts between manufacturers, no less. It's considered a monumental achievement in American manufacturing, in both engineering & production, & it's not uncommon today to find surplus carbines, assembled with parts from three or four different manufacturers, that function perfectly. "The Arsenal of Democracy" was the title the US of A earned in spades.
I bought my National Postal Meter carbine for $100 maybe 35 years ago. There were dozens at pawn stores, etc. Love the little rifle, it has "soul" unlike all the polymer wonders we see today. Keep in mind... for civilian use, you are not limited to ball/FMJ; load her up with soft points and the effect is huge.
It has only been about 30 years since general stores like Roses and K-Mart had a sporting goods section with surplus rifles as mine did here in NC. Mauser K98, M1 Carbines, and British Enfields were still on the rack. My first M1Carbine I bought from Monkey Ward around 1972, it was an commercial model, I think Auto Ordnance (I know it was not one made by the California fellow using mostly surplus parts, re-sleeved barrel, and some of his own) and it cost a whopping $99. Things have really changed now. My CMP Carbine that I paid pocket change for in today's dollars, is now worth close to 2 grand.
@@clintwilde1048, high demand & collector value have raised the cost of originals far beyond the budget of many shooters. In 1990, I bought my first mil-surp rifle, a nice minty Inland carbine, for $200, & I loved it, more than any other surplus gun I've ever owned. But, at the time, the only ammo I could get was pricey commercial fodder, my limited budget disapproved, & so it got traded off for something else. Thirty-plus years of hindsight later, if I could only have one surplus rifle today, the M1 Carbine would hands-down be it.
"They planned on making a very lightweight 30-06"... because they didn't much care for the well being of the shooter
I was thinking the same thing.
can you imagine the M1 carbine in 30.06?
point the butt at the enemy, pull the trigger and launch the whole gun at them like a missile.
Lol, thought the same
Garand in my opinion was overpowered. You don’t need to cut the guys in half man...
@@shrimpguy6900 - the BAR was for cutting men in half.
MrYfrank14 YOU AINT WRONG 😂
My father use to buy and restore the stock in the M1 carbines. I remember he bought a Postameter M1 and we took it to the shooting range one day the warden was impressed and wanted to show us how tell if you bought a good one. He loads up a mag, aimed down range, flipped it upside down and let it rip! That Postameter was a damn good shooter!
Wolf Springs make an awesome replacement magazine spring. I've replaced every one of mine with wolf springs and it runs flawlessly now.
My grandfather during WW2 said he would toss/trade a Garrard multiple times during the war. Much handier in his position (which unfortunately I don't really know since there are very few things he ever said about the war). From the little he did say a combination of engineer and mechanic.
When I served in Vietnam I saw this weapon was in use everywhere, not much by Americans, but by the South Vietnamese and the Vietcong. Many American MAAG and Special Forces advisers did carry one. In fact some helicopter pilots kept one aboard. Of course, some pilots preferred the Swedish K.
Back in the mid circa 1980's you could go into a F.W. Woolworth's to the Sporting Goods Dept. And they would pallets of these things. I bought 1 for $118 which was a hand pick excellent condition type. The other 2 I purchased cost $89 and were in decent shape. I still have them to this day.
Rick S . Wasn’t in Seaford Delaware was it? I bought a Swede 7x57 for $74 buck that is the most accurate thing I own. I saw m1’s in barrels in there but never grabbed one....I was more of a bolt guy back then.
My dad got his via mail order in the 60s
Dennis Robbins hym
Wow. Good story
wanna double your investment on one? :)
I remember in the 1950's/1960's the surplus stores were full of these weapons at bargain basement prices: Seems like $15 each. At any rate it wasn't much, and there were many dozens to chose from in our home town surplus/hardware store. I always wanted one...
I saw them at the downtown Woolworth's store in Houston in late 80s, wish I'd bought one, they had German Mausers and M-1 rifles too,
My M1 carbine is from National Postal Meter. I was having problems with it not ejecting the spent brass. Took it apart and cleaned it, I think it still had dirt in it from Korea. Then I noticed that the extractor was not returning with spring tension. I ordered a new spring and plunger from Sarco and now it's good. Been loading Berry's 110 grain fmj with 14.5 grain of Winchester 296 powder, runs like a dream.
I remember waiting for the Army-Navy store ads announcing the latest arrival of Army Surplus M1 carbines for $19.95 each . With my paper route savings over a 2 year period I bought 3 of these beauties each one was a different mfg and different shape , I had one without the bayonet lug and I was able to purchase several 10 round mags 2 for each . Very soon the Army Navy had the 30 round mags however these cost $5 a pop so I only bought 2 of these. The only change I made about 5 yrs later was I bought a folding paratrooper stock for $9.99 . Needless to say army surplus ammo was dirt cheap ! I loved these carbines so much at a time that everyone looked down their noses at them , not me ! Soon I was interested in girls and cars and these beauties were packed away in a “cruise box” for 50 years I sold one and I have kept 2 and I must say I am enjoying its new popularity. ! What is not to love about these carbines !
As an USAF Air Police security guard from 1961 to 1964 I carried the M2 carbine . The M2 was light enough with a loaded 30 round clip to be carried for a guard shift with out much notice. However, firing it on full auto came with a clanking sound that I still remember today. It operated in all kinds of weather without any problems.
Loved mine Inland , with original Paratrooper Stock. I owned some Universal's too. You can't interchange the parts, between them. My Grandfather served as a Tanker all through WW2 and Korea. He didn't think much of the performance of the M1 Carbine, on the Battlefield. I always considered it more of a Brush Gun, for light work. It's still a very fun and durable weapon.
The hook that holds the action in is known as a "hooked breech" and was invented for muzzle loading guns by one of the famous gunsmiths in London which makes removing the barrell/s from a flintlock gun for cleaning
Interesting how light and compact always attracts users when you have main battle rifles that are 44” long and weigh 10 pounds.
And also it is much easier to double tap with it, to follow moving target etc. If it is under 200 yards I would prefer shooting a carbine !
Congratulations 🥳🥳🥳 you are among our lucky winners 🤩🤩🤩message me now to claim your prize 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻
My grandfather served with the Air Force in Korea and one story I'll always remember was him saying that with an M2 with a 30 round mag you could "damn near cut a man in half"
I was a Navy combat cameraman in Vietnam. My unit had M-1 and M-2 cabines in country; besides the ever faithful Colt .45 caliber auto pistols. I always chose the M-1 carbine if I needed one because our M-2 carbines had an annoying tendency to drop the magazine after a few rounds in full automatic.
I did an aggregate of 32 months in country but, usually in 4 to 6 month increments. After my first stint In-Country, I purchased a civilian folding stock mail order in the States and carried it in and out of Vietnam. I then exchanged that stock for the military issue one in our armory. I would bring the stock home and return to Vietnam with it. I did have one problem when Air Force Customs searched my entire luggage at Tan Son Nhut Air Base trying to find the rest of the carbine - which, of course wasn't there. Since it was a civilian version of the folding stock, I had no problem with anyone thinking it was an unauthorized war souvenir.
Checked my manuals, your comparison of kinetic energy at 300yds. compared to a .357 Mag at the muzzle is a fact that I'll not forget in this lifetime. Having been this wrong for this long makes correction unforgettable.
My grandfather managed the whole engineering and production of the entire run. Over 1 million rifles produced.
Its amaze me that a single weapon like this have a tremendous amount of history behind it.
They are very neat rifles, and a whole lot of fun to shoot. The 300 meter effective range is a little optimistic to say the least. But ,as mentioned, it was never intended to be a long range weapon. It’s great for up to 100 yards.
My father was issued an M-1 Garand in basic training in '42-'43 and qualified expert with it. When they made him a deuce and a half driver they re-issued him an M-1 carbine. He always said he could have made room in the cab for his Garand, and wished they'd just given him a 1911 and more ammo instead.
I love the M1carbine and the SKS. Growing up that's what we shot with in local gravel pits in the late 90's and they are still some of my favorite rifles today.
The weapon was used against entrenched enemies because of their substantial magazine capacity. A squad would pour fire onto the position to suppress enemy fire while a soldier lobbed a grenade into the position.
Being an anemic round next to 30-06 is a pretty broad statement. These are a fantastic idea to improve the combat effectiveness of the personnel which would otherwise be issued pistols or anyone who's job isn't normally using a rifle. Not only is it light and handy but it is much easier to train a novice to shoot effectively with light recoil, a longer sight radius, and a flatter trajectory than a pistol. In war-time scenarios you don't want to waste more time than necessary training people who are unlikely to be shooting anyone. I can see the argument for replacing the sub machine gun given the type that were in service at the time in the US army.
Most decorated Audie Murphy said the M1 carbine was his favorite weapon. My Dad was a P-51 pilot with the 40th Fighter Squadron/35th Fighter Group out in the Pacific during WWII and they were issued full-auto M-1 carbines as survival weapons.
Those would be M2 carbines, with select fire.
My dad was assigned a M1 Carbine when he served as a sergeant in the Greek Air Force in the 80s , and I got to fire one when I did my tour as also a Air Force Sergeant
The sighting groove was actually wider and deeper on the handguard earlier on. This was found to have a deleterious effect on the strength of the handguard so it was made narrower and shallower later in production.
Dad fought as a marine In Guadalcanal & Bougainville he was originally issued a Reising sub machine gun. Which was acknowledged at the time as a POS. His CO dumped all the Reisings into a lagoon and reissued those marines M1 Carbines. He loved the M1 carbine.
As someone who has owned several M1 carbine’s I think it could be honestly described as, “ The right rifle, at the right time, for the right purpose.“ But when it was used for something other than its intended purpose, young men died needlessly.
Holding one in your hands gives you a direct connection to the past; yet can be used today for hunting, target shooting (if ammo prices ever drop) and home defense.
Outfitted with a folding stock, it can be ‘tucked away’ out of sight yet readily accessible.
Quite the little weapon!
Apparently, there are so many M1 carbines that the US could afford to give it to other countries after the war. It was used substantially in the French-Indochina War (that the French lost and Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia gained independence) and the Malayan Emergency (which the British and Malayan forces successfully quashed the Communist Insurgency; this includes the M1A1 Paratrooper model)
I remember it pops up in the extended version of Apocalypse Now - the holdout French colonists are armed with them. And MAT-49s.
Foreign Legion Paras LOVED the M1 carbine during the Indochina war.
Also gave grands, bars, 45 ect
In the summer of 1971 in DaNang it was routine to see "kids" riding bicycles carrying a carbine over their shoulder with the sling.
The M1 Carbine was provided extensively to South Vietnamese troops and other indigenous soldiers fighting alongside the US and South Vietnamese forces, as it was well suited to the small statured Vietnamese. Even the VC made use of the M1 Carbine (granted, they used anything and everything they could get their hands on).