US Equipment and Uniform Reference Thread.

[Parus Ater]

The reason people tell you the M1 carbine wasn't made with a bayonet lug until after the was is because it's true. The weapon was overhauled post war for the Korean War and almost all were retrofitted with new spec parts, including the bayonet lug, different type rear sights and a flick switch safety instead of the flawed push button one. The most obvious is that there was never a carbine bayonet made before 1945 and given the 90 from manufacture to ETO rule enters the earliest one could arrive is the first week of march 1945. Worth noting that the Carbine was a 1911/1917 replacement so wouldn't be issued to the same individual. Love the vehicles, I'm a bit obsessed with WC's, they're a seriously under regarded vehicle.
I'll be honest, I've been keen to avoid reproductions since they seldom look right and are easily told to the point I can pick out individual manufacturers reproductions and always give the totally wrong impression to what colour they are supposed to be.

[Parus Ater]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/M1-CARBINE-flip ... 500wt_1202

This kit's been doing the rounds on the re-enactment scene, and can be used on live fire weapons.

[Cubster]

Spotted the ammo pouches (I assume that's what they are) on the stock of the carbine for the first time when watching Pacific the other week. I thought what a good idea and a handy place to keep 'em.

[Parus Ater]

It's actually designed to do that, very handy. there's a second type that had larger pockets that could also fit a garand clip and had gromits on so you can hang something from it.

[Comte Michel]

Agreed on the repros, but I just use the stuff to wear when we help out the re-enactors with the vehicles.

You're right that the same person normally wouldn't have both a carbine and a colt, though the carbine wasn't a popular replacement because of it's 'perceived' lack of stopping power. For that reason people would 'obtain' a Colt for personal use even after the issue of the carbine. I hadn't realised that they retrofitted the older carbines, though I guess it makes sense considering the numbers issued.

The second type of ammo pouch you refer to was designed for a belt, the grommets allowing a first aid pouch or similar to be slung underneath. The standard Garand ammo belt has the pouches built in, with grommets all the way round for other attachments. It should be noted that only the pouches for M1 Carbines were designed to slide over the butt - you can't do the same with a Garand.

I have a second carbine with the fittings as shown on that ebay page, but it is a definite post-war model that's been 'doctored'. I'm reluctant to mess about with the WW2 dated one, especially as it's usually mounted in the jeep scabbard and I carry the Colt.

[Parus Ater]

At the very least get the lug off, it's just a couple of bolts. I'd be tempted to swap the parts over to make one complete post was and one complete war one but that's me. Carbines are collectable in their own right though but the value of the WWII date one would go up by far more than the post war one would go down. hundreds different, in fact and many, many hundreds if the de-ac cert is pre 1995.

You know, carbines issued to radiomen and mortar men, if I had the choice I'd take a Thompson, easier to sling and if you ever end up needing a weapon then they're close enough for a carbine to be useless and a thompson to be perfect.

[Comte Michel]

Thompson's are nice and all, but have you ever felt the weight of one? A friend has one and they are very uncomfortable to carry, especially compared to the M1 Carbine which sort of balances nicely in the hands. Hard to explain unless you try it but there is no comfortable way to carry a Thompson.

If it's just stuck in a Jeep scabbard for emergency use then the Thompson is definitely the better option, or even a grease gun. But if you need to walk around with it for any length of time the Carbine is a lot nicer.

I plan to do some work on both the Carbines soon, I have a full set of replacement woodwork for the post war one, which will leave me with a spare lugless forestock clamp for the '43 one.

The wartime Carbine is a late deac, the post-war one is early. Pity it's not the other way round huh?

The Colt however is an early deac, fully field-strippable etc.. Very hard to come by these days.

[Parus Ater]

It's not as bad as a BAR!
If you sling it on one shoulder, mag under the arm and muzzle down it stays put. the carbine on the other hand has a too short sling mounted to the side so it won't stay put.

I hate grease guns. I've got 70% hearing in my left ear and tinnitus because of one and could quite easily lost an eye. They're just zip guns with a stamp. Sticking your finger in the breach to cock it is a little ropey as well.

The best option if you're going to walk around for a long time is medic gear!

[Comte Michel]

I see your grease gun and raise you a Sten haha. Damn near blew my hand off with a blank firing one. Have you ever seen Lock 'n' Load on TV? Some awesome footage of R Lee Ermey doing walking fire with a BAR.

[airborne321]

Yeah, Lock'n'Load is a great show, but about the BAR, it weighed 20lbs! the bipod alone weighed 2.5lbs by its self. By the way,about the Thompson, most models had a 20 round magazine such as the 1921 and M1.The 1928 Thompson mostly had the 50 round drum Mag. but the M1-A-1 was the only model of the Thompson that had the unique 30 round mag.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson_s ... _Thompsons