
30-'06, within reasonable distances it had enough oomph to be a reasonably effective combat round (110-grain FMJ bullet at 1,975 fps with a muzzle energy of 955 ft-lbs and a relative power factor of 16.3).

Although the round didn't have anything near the power of that of the. With a barrel length of just 18 inches, an overall length of three feet and a well-balanced heft of 5½ pounds, it seemed to have the word "handy" invented for it. His diminutive semi-auto, submitted by his parent company, was the arm selected by the government as most appropriate to its needs. 30-caliber straight-case rimless job that pushed its 110-grain bullet out of an 18-inch barrel at some 1,860 fps.Īfter his release from prison, Williams made something of a name for himself in the firearms field and in 1941 found himself working for Winchester.

In late 1940, a number of manufacturers were sent specifications and told to work up a light carbine. Though initiated in 1938, the request was shelved until 1940 when America's entry into World War II seemed imminent. But as great a piece of hardware as it was, it was not always appropriate for some applications.īasically, the M1 Carbine was developed in response to a requirement for a light, handy rifle to be carried by clerks, cooks, linemen, machine gunners, mortarmen and the like - soldiers who would not normally be issued a handgun, but for whom the bulkier Garand might be inappropriate. My own less than martial plinking forays with the M1 Carbine have been nothing less than enjoyable, and it's right at the top of my list of favorite guns to shoot - but then again, I never had to stake my life on one.ĭuring the Second World War, the American GI was armed with the best battle rifle of the conflict, the M1 Garand. 30-caliber repeater was either the best or the worst arm he ever carried.
#Inland m1 carbine serial numbers dates full
The vast number of these rifles in the hands of the troops for a period of around 50 years pretty well ensured a full range of combat experiences with it.ĭepending upon which vet you talk to, this neat little. Not counting the M16, more M1 Carbines (and variants) were made than any other American long gun in history.

In fact, the collecting, refurbishing, shooting and studying of the many variations of this handy little semi-auto have become so popular, it's easy to forget that it was one of America's most popular and widely produced military longarms, serving the country from World War II through Vietnam. It's like the manufacturers went out of their way to provide enough variations of a particular piece to provide buffs with a fertile field for study, accumulation and fun. With the advantage of hindsight, it almost seems there were some guns that were just designed for the later-day firearms enthusiast and collector. The M1 Carbine (M1A1 shown) was one of America's most widely used arms in three major conflicts and a popular lend/lease item to Allied countries.
