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| Top : sharpshooter Karabijn Dutch Army. The star is lower classed for first class shooting (Dutch Army) |
With 6.332.000 produced Carbines, the M1
was one of the most succesfull hand
weapons in use during the
Second World War.
What made this Carbine so usefull and popular ?
The carbine design was intended to fill the gap between the pistol and the heavy rifle for second-line troops like drivers and mechanics.
But after time it was also popular with front-line troops.
It all started in 1940, the Winchester design was the winner of a competition with the idea of a gas operated self loading carbine in the calibre
7.62 mm, 0.30 inch with a firing range of 100 m. The ammunition was half pistol and half rifle design but had one main drawback, it proved to be underpowered.
This lack of stopping power was popular in later use by the policeforce in dense area's like airports and city centres with low risks for people near the target when the cartridge was fired.
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| Dutch national police (Rijkspolitie) with M1 Carbine. Also used for firing teargas rifle grenades with special equipment. |
The M1 Carbine was light (2.36 kg) and easy to handle. Just what a tired soldier needs when he travels true the jungle, here the name jungle carbine came in use.
The Germans also liked the carbine and they used captured weapons with their troops and gave it the name Selbstladekarabiner 455(a).
High quality parts which are easy to change.
After the Second World War the carbine was not long in use with frontline troops, but with the Dutch 543 Signal Bat. it was in use untill 1993.
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| Fire exercise at 100 m. shooting range Gilze Rijen |
Special versions :
M1A1 = Folding stock for Airborne use.
M2 = Automatic version with fire switch and 30 rounds magazine.
(the M1 basic had a 15 rounds magazine).
M3 = Night vision version (infra red) only 2000 build.
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| A strong combination with both the same 0.30 inch ammunition. Top : M1 Carbine with 30 rounds magazine. Low : Ruger Blackhawk For civillian use. |
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