why would anyone collect M1 30 caliber carbines?

[alde]

I was one of the lucky people who picked one up from CMP when they were available last time. I got a Service Grade IBM and love it. I don't shoot it often but when I do it's a bunch of fun and always attracts attention at the range. It's like a 10/22 on steroids. It may not have been a perfect battle rifle but it was never meant to be. I can see where they would be more handy in the jungle or in urban fighting than that big old Garand though.

 

[AKJeeper]

Please excuse my ignorance, but does anyone know who manufactured the "UN-Quality" marked M1 Carbines?

 

[rcmodel]

Quality Hardware made M1 carbines during WWII.

However, they were not marked UN-Quality.
They were marked Quality Hardware.

Nobody made carbines marked UN-Quality that I ever heard of.

rc

 

[Trebor]

Quality Hardware made M1 carbines during WWII.

However, they were not marked UN-Quality.
They were marked Quality Hardware.

Nobody made carbines marked UN-Quality that I ever heard of.

There are indeed "UN-QUALITY" marked M-1 Carbines. It is a rare variation.

These were Quality Hardware contract carbines where the receivers were made by Union Switch & Signal because QH was having problems. US & S marked the receivers "UN-Quality" for "Union Switch & Signal - Quality Hardware"

The are pretty rare birds and command a premium.

Here's a link:

http://www.riverbankarmory.com/history.html

 

[henschman]

I think lots of people like them because they watch all the WWII movies or play the WWII video games which they think are pretty cool, and want to have the real gun. Plus, people have always collected militaria. Also, it is a short, light weight, light recoiling rifle, and lots of people enjoy shooting them at the range or popping critters with them.

I agree with the guy who said they are better for small critters than they are for anti-personnel.

I had one in the past and wasn't a big fan of it. I certainly wouldn't buy one at their current price point. That's fine... there are plenty of people who dislike AR-15s, .30 cal battle rifles, sniper rifles, scout rifles, and all the other stuff I do like.

 

[RCArms.com]

You need to keep in mind the role that the Carbine was intended to fill.

It was a service support weapon that was to be issued to rear area personell, crew served weapon teams, vehicle drivers, cooks, clerks, administrative, artillery, etc, etc, etc. Basically anyone that would have been issued a pistol or SMG because a full sized rifle like the M1903 or M1Garand where the full sized .30-06 rifle would be to cumbersome or not needed.

When troops saw the carbine and appreciated how handy they were and light, they adoped it as a front line rifle and thats where the complaints started. Soldiers complained of lack of accuracy, lack of power, and lack of range with the .30 Carbine. Had they been using a .30-06 rifle, they would have no complaints at all, but they expected a .30 Carbine to do the same job of the .30-06 round. Simply not going to work.

The Carbine emerged from WWII with an excellent reputation for reliability and was one of the weapons that helped us win the war, but the soldiers either loved it or hated it.

For the ones that hated it, if you asked them what they would prefer to be armed with in combat....either the M1911 .45 pistol or the .30 Carbine which was designed to replace the pistol, I'd bet every one of those combat vets would choose the carbine.

Don

 

[Seanski]

Carbine for home defense

I wouldn't sell the little M1 carbine short as a home defense weapon. A CorBon DPX 100 grain pill @ 2000fps is nothing to sneeze at. Especially with 30 of 'em stacked up in a magazine.

 

[M2 Carbine]

As a reloader, .30 Carbine is a pain since you have to lube the cases and use carbide dies, not the normal routine for pistol calibers (or straight-walled cases more accurately).

I've loaded a LOT of 30 Carbine. Never lube the cases. No problem.

International Harvester made tanks and LCVT Tractors during WWII. However, IHC did recieve a contract to produce M1 Garand rifles in the 1950's.
Don

The M1 Garand I was issued (1956, USMC) was a new International Harvester.
Good rifle.
It easily shot Expert for me and that was 500 yards.
I kept it for three years but when I got off active duty they made me give it back.


The first M1 Carbine I bought (from the government) cost $20. The receiver finally cracked from shooting full auto.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

I've mentioned it before, but apparently Audie Murphy preferred the M1 carbine because he could engage more Germans more rapidly than the M1 Garand. Some have surmised that because Audie was of small stature, that THAT is why he liked the carbine. Since Audie was no slouch, and earned his Medal of Honor by employing a bunch of weapons, including massive amounts of ammo through an M2 .50 Machinegun, I feel that Audie tried to use the best weapon for the purpose at hand.

 

[rellascout]

I like mine.... IBM with a Winchester stock.

 

[CZguy]

I read all three pages and RCmodel had the best answer in post number 2.

Underwood 1943

 

[KingMedicine]

Christ, this is my next current bucket rifle... you can send it to me if you want.

 

[tundraotto]

great piece of history but a POS for any purpose but a mantlepiece/investment in todays world....sorry granpa! lol

 

[FMJMIKE]

Un-quality

Here is photographic proof of the rare UN-QUALITY M1 Carbine. It's my favorite Carbine.......

 

[CZguy]

great piece of history but a POS for any purpose but a mantlepiece/investment in todays world....sorry granpa! lol

I wonder if you could explain the logic behind your interesting theory.

 

[Twmaster]

There is no logic. Haters gotta hate...

 

[fpgt72]

I wonder if you could explain the logic behind your interesting theory.

Sure...it is not black, plastic, and have tons of junk hanging off of it...oh and shoots a .22.....therefore it has to be junk, the only reasons the other old guns get a pass is because they make a bigger boom.

 

[Madcap_Magician]

Speer is making .30 Carbine Gold Dots now. I really want an M1 carbine...

 

[fpgt72]

All goofing around aside...they are great fun to shoot....and if you reload they are not that expensive. Anyone that has shot one with an open mind will come away with a smile on their face....and its big short fall is not likely to happen as I doubt I will see wave attacks by chinese in the middle of missouri.

 

[USSR]

IMHO, perhaps the ultimate PDW when updated with 21st century sights.



Another quality of the M1 Carbine, is the ability to reload for it at nearly the same price as you pay for .22 rimfire.



It's size, weight, and virtual lack of recoil make it a joy to shoot.

Don

 

[RCArms.com]

The M1 Carbine as a PDW.... The US Arms converted the M1A1 Folding stock to a short barrel carbine with a 12" barrel. They were issued as personal weapons to US Advisors in Vietnam. That would be the ultimate PDW in my opinion.

Don

 

[Ranger30-06]

The M1 Carbine as a PDW.... The US Arms converted the M1A1 Folding stock to a short barrel carbine with a 12" barrel. They were issued as personal weapons to US Advisors in Vietnam. That would be the ultimate PDW in my opinion.

Don

Only problem there is an M1A1 Thompson weighs upwards of 10lbs loaded. An M1 carbine is barely hitting 5lbs. While the caliber of the M1A1 is hard to beat under 75 yards, the M1 carbine is extremely hard to beat as far as weight to caliber ratio goes.

 

[Bojangles7]

How's a rainbow made? Why's the sky blue? How does a posi track rear end on a plymouth work?

 

[Ranger30-06]

Anyone see this puppy? .45 WM Underwood M1 carbine. Pretty awesome if you ask me...

 

[RCArms.com]

Only problem there is an M1A1 Thompson weighs upwards of 10lbs loaded. An M1 carbine is barely hitting 5lbs. While the caliber of the M1A1 is hard to beat under 75 yards, the M1 carbine is extremely hard to beat as far as weight to caliber ratio goes.

M1A1 Carbine, IE Paratrooper carbine with a cut down 12" barrel. .30 Carbine chambering. Slick little package.

I was not referring to the M1A1 Thompson SMG.

Don