Thursday, November 5, 2015

Nobody Wanted to Give Up the M-1 Carbine

Via Jonathan via SSI

 

A grim-faced U.S. Army major led a group of armed men away from a tropical village he decided not to attack. Wearing jungle boots and olive-drab battle dress, Edwin Brooks grasped a lightweight, reliable, .30-caliber weapon in his right hand as he walked.

It was an M-1 carbine. ( I am sure he would have been carrying the M-2, my favorite.)

4 comments:

  1. I have a commecial copy of the little M-1 (Universal). I used to shoot it quite a bit before .30 carbine factory price went through the ceiling. Great little gun, easy to carry and empties were conveniently dropped right next to me (vs. other designs that fling the brass under the spiny bush / cactus). My then girlfriend (now wife) particularly enjoyed shooting it - hardly any recoil and the report was not bad at all. The 'jungle magazine' (curved 30 rd.) was not particularly reliable - the straight 15 are good to go. I keep a butt cuff with 2-15 round magazines in the pouches, so have 45 rounds ALWAYS attached to firearm. Good to go.

    Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I remember in past articles, they mentioned many of the South Vietnam troops and Kit Carsons liked the gun as well, its small size fitting their frame.

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    1. Interesting and thanks. I remember when someone kept stealing the fan out of my car in Saigon, so I laid out on the porch one night with my trusty M-2 waiting to even the score, but nothing happened. :) http://namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?p=239#239

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  2. I was at a gun show recently and was amazed at the price those M-1 carbines now command. I remember too, when they first came on the civilian market back in the late 80s how "cheap" they were. Now all I can do is shake my head and say; "not on my paycheck". Like the M-1 Garand, I can't afford it.

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    1. Yes, too bad. It would be interesting to see what is left of my M-2 that has been at the bottom of a well since April '75.

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