ARTV: The U.S. M1 Carbine Story

Of all the small arms developed and used by the U.S. during World War II, one of the most produced and storied was the M1 carbine. From the men who designed it to the various manufacturers that made it, it serves as a prime example of speedy engineering brilliance and wartime mass production prowess demonstrated by U.S. industry during the 1940s. One of the men responsible for the development of the design that would later become the M1 carbine was David Marshall Williams, who had been convicted for the death of a sheriff's deputy. Serving out his sentence, Williams worked out the fundamentals of the short-stroke piston system that would later be used in the M1 carbine. His work at the time also garnered attention from several firearm manufacturers, including Winchester Repeating Arms, which hired him in 1938.
Williams' piston system was introduced into an experimental, magazine-fed, .30-cal. rifle that the firm was developing as a replacement of the newly adopted M1 Garand. Winchester's bid to have its design replace the M1 rifle went nowhere, however, but the firm was made aware of a new light rifle project that the U.S. Army was seeking entries for in 1941. It was suggested that Winchester's .30-cal. prototype rifle design, if sized down, would be a promising entry. However, the Winchester design team was left with only two weeks to come up with a working example. In an impressive feat of quick engineering, three men were able to develop a working prototype that garnered the attention of the U.S. Army during trials and was officially adopted as the M1 carbine, chambered for the new .30 Carbine cartridge, shortly before the U.S. entered World War II.
Weighing in under 6 lbs., loaded, and feeding from a detachable magazine, the M1 carbine was not intended as a front line combat rifle, but rather as a suitable arm for those not intended to be in the front lines or who would be hampered by the weight of the 9-lb. M1 rifle in their tasks, like cooks, MPs, mortar men and medics. The carbine also had more range and accuracy than the M1911. Despite this, the M1 carbine did make its way to the front lines during the war, where it proved to be a light and easily controllable combat arm. During the war, the M1 carbine was produced by a wide range of manufacturers, many of which were firms that had no background in making firearms previously, including U.S. Postal Meter, Rock-Ola Jukebox Company and even IBM Corp. The monumental task of gearing up the production of M1 carbines across this wide range of companies was no small feat in itself, and it serves as a prime example of the ability of U.S. industry to adapt to production needs in a time of crisis.
After the war, the M1 carbine continued to undergo development and saw use with U.S. troops even into Vietnam. A select-fire version of the M1, called the M2, was also developed, along with a 30-round magazine in place of the 15-round magazine that had been standard before. Many carbines were sent all across the globe during the Cold War to friendly nations, and it continues to see use in some of those countries even today. There have also been a wide range of reproduction and commercial versions of the carbine that have been released over the years, as it is still considered a popular design to shoot, as well as to collect.
To watch complete segments of past episodes of American Rifleman TV, go to americanrifleman.org/artv. For all-new episodes of ARTV, tune in Wednesday nights to Outdoor Channel 8:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. EST.
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[@codys5727]

I have an IBM M1 that me and my grandpa used to shoot together when i was much younger. A very managable recoil and reliable as any gun I've ever shot. Such a cool gun and the sentimental value and memories of shooting it with grandpa warms my soul

[@SchwererGustavThe800mm]

M1 Carbines have made a serious resurgence in the modern gun community in the past decade. I would know, I own one too.

[@Voucher765]

The M1 Carbine is also the first ever gun picked up in Call Of Duty, Back when the series first came out it was once about WW2 and depicting the war authenticity and later moved foward to Modern Warfare and futuristic stuff and Black Ops.

[@Oregun44]

I love my m1 carbine. Everyone loves shooting the thing too. What everyone loves the most the is the beautiful sound of racking it back and hearing the action.

[@charleswest6372]

Good defense weapon. Not great accuracy but ok

[@trumpetmano]

LOVE my M1's ! Such a great rifle. Fun fact: in 2022, I was in Eugene, Oregon and saw a custom M1 chambered in 44 Mag - part of an estate sale. Shoulda bought it.

[@scotttwombly6528]

Glad I bought two of them 30 years ago. Nice condition non import marked. Prices on surplus guns are very high today.

[@Toolness1]

CMP still has Garands trickling out steadily, but M1 Carbines have been gone from there for decades even though they made way more of them. I guess we gave too many away and never got them back (or certain politicians wouldn't let us get them back)

[@crashoverride4881]

Great video. I love these weapons. I own two of these M1s. One is quality hardware. The other is a standard product. They produced 6,000,000,100

[@Toolness1]

6 billion, dayum!

[@vodoofedelin5918]

Six million

[@ethanhart5237]

Look i like the heck out of the M1 Carbine, great piece of kit. There's just something about that damn M1 Garand though. I've loved the Garand since I saw one for the first time in 7th grade.

[@Rustebadge]

Have owned 10 and love them all. Carbine Williams was a jerk and did not create the M1 Carbine. He imagined the "short-stroke gas piston" which was later used in the M1 Carbine. He was such a problem during Winchester development that he was not allowed to participate in most engineering efforts. He slowed down the development due to lack of engineering skills and was an arrogant employee. Winchesters, Edwin Pugsley, should get primary credit for development and General Motors with initial mass production. Thanks America.

[@SemperParatus1234]

Agreed. Great story and movie about Williams but he wanted nothing to do with the development of the rifle. Of course he tries to step in when he realized it worked.

[@vodoofedelin5918]

And J. Browning !!

[@coltsfan79]

Mine was made by Underwood a typewriter company it is barrel stamped/dated 6/43. A little fun fact is not every company made every single part, for example Underwood made barrels for some of the others like again it's a Rock Ola receiver with an Underwood barrel it could still be a parts correct rifle.

[@tdolz]

I watched this video in a public park in LA. It traumatized 32 bystanders.

[@barneyrice8502]

I Have An M-1 carbine I bought Growing UP IN South west L.A. And Picked Mine Up In 1973 And Mine Is Plainfield Model Made IN New Jersey

[@nebelwerfer199]

Sweetest shooting rifle but .30 carbine is horrible on the wallet these days.

[@chris.3711]

I have a '44 National Postal Meter. Awesome little rifle, looks good with the rest of my rifles and military gear.

[@lalchawimawiaparte191]

It's one of my favorite world war 2 small arms.

[@kimwarfield1587]

It was made to replace 1911 pistol not the garand.

[@drjohn5801]

I have a 1949 M1 A1 (M2) converted (USA MILITARY) version.. shoots great up yo 200+ yards, is so light to handle, smoth to shoot, and fun to shoot.. I'd have enjoyed this and been confident in battle with it.. IMHO is better than my (seveal iterations) Ruger Mini 14 and 30 rifles.

[@ralphgreenjr.2466]

I own a Inland 1943, WWII correct that I got from the DCM. I opened the plastic bag it was put in at the factory. It was never rebuilt. The barrel is a zero. I got lucky.

[@johnsheetz6639]

This was a killer early-morning movie whenmovie when I was a kid and then I found out it was a true story

[@virgilhilts3924]

"the M1 carbine was not intended as a front line combat rifle" 100% FALSE Nor was intended to replace the 1911 All one has to do is read the original LRP documentation to see that the US Army wanted a light rifle to try out in combat as it was becoming clear that modern combat was going to be fought at far closer ranges than what previously had been. They also were seeking magazine fed and select-fire capability. It was ALWAYS intended to be a weapon for front line service including paratroopers.

[@sealove79able]

Who would know they would dump these into the sea after the WW2?

[@charleswest6372]

Stupid fools.

[@tech9auto223]

I heard in like 50s and 60s outside hardware stores there'd be dust bins full of carbines being sold crazy cheap wish it was like that today I'd love to own one sadly here in Scotland it's not possible

[@chrisbond7324]

That's how far the second amendment has been in French.This guy would be a criminal now.Just for touching a gun.He'd never be allowed to possess a weapon for the rest of his life.The way the laws are now

[@JohnDoe-ud2cc]

If they would make a modern one in fn5.7 would be cool.

[@prebaned]

Ironic how a cop killer felon can have guns, let alone make them.