My 1970s Vietnam Advisor M1 Carbine

[@hoilst265]

For those wondering: A trainer shoots at paper target and says "That is how you will kill the enemy". An advisor shoots an enemy and says "That is how you kill the enemy".

[@asdasd-ty9se]

Allegedly

[@905SOu]

In theory

[@louvin44]

FYI: 'ROK" is an acronym for Republic of Korea, more commonly known as South Korea. South Korean were and as far as I know, still are referred to as "ROKs." The South Korean troops did fight with the Americans in Vietnam.

[@eze417]

South Korea (aka Republic of Korea) sent thousands of soldiers to fight on the American side in the Vietnam War between 1965 to 1973.

[@alancoventry4406]

The "ROK's are some of the toughest hombres you ever gonna meet .

[@oban6051]

Just left a rotation in SK. We still refer to them as ROKs.

[@terrysaunders2026]

@louvin44:The Army of the Republic of Vietnam was Abbreviated “ARVN” and actually used as a word to describe them. Sounded like Arvins.

[@terrysaunders2026]

@@alancoventry4406The Vietnamese (both sides!) feared them.

[@guaporeturns9472]

My dad made all 4 jumps with the 82nd in WW II and he preferred the carbine to all else. Said he was issued Garand twice and Carbine twice , and one of the times he swapped his Garand for a Carbine after he was on the ground. He liked the Carbine because he could carry a lot of ammo and still had room for two canteens (said they always thirsty) Also said it was perfectly reliable. He said the Carbine had plenty of power to stop enemy combatants and he highly doubted the claims from Korea , saying poor marksmanship was probably the real problem most of the time as in Korea they were often engaging enemy at over 100 yrds. Wish I would have recorded his stories when I had a chance , he’s been gone for a long time now.

[@MaximusOverhead]

Thanks that’s some cool info and insight

[@walterkurtz4360]

I had an uncle that carried an m2 carbine in Korea he didn't have any issues with it and he used it plenty while he was there

[@MegaBait1616]

I've owned at least a dozen carbines over the years and all did not always cycle perfect.... Mostly mag issues but great lil rifles.. be well.

[@walterkurtz4360]

@MegaBait1616 I'm having feeding issues only with 30rd mags which sucks because the ones I have are original U.S. military ones but they suck I'm assuming they just need the springs in them replaced but I don't know

[@MegaBait1616]

@@walterkurtz4360, yeah I stick with the 15 rder.'s even then I get FTF now n then.. be well.

[@JaredAF]

I'm glad that you maintained the original parts and everything you've done here is fully reversible. That's the exact same way I approach my projects on vtg items unless they've already been bubba'd.

[@MegaBait1616]

Same.....Plus he did his homework too.. As long as he saved the OEM parts to put back.... 👍.

[@richardross7219]

A buddy of mine was a crew chief. He carried an M2 with a very short barrel and a paratrooper stock that was cut way down. He went down several times and really loved that pistol.

[@Manfred-cf9rn]

@richardross7219 13:39 A close -in Presidential Security l talked with ( outside the USA) said he preferred the chopped BARREL M-2 Carbine to the UZI.. His Barrel was Chopped to 81/2".. very compact. It is More lighter than the UZI.... More powerful (.357 Magnum velocities at close range).. Very manueverable INSIDE the confines of a vehicle 🚜 He adopted the retractable "wire" stock from an M3-"Grease GUN for a stock. 😊👍

[@SchwererGustavThe800mm]

That M1 build is HOT! I have a custom Fulton Armory M1. I love that the M1 Carbine has been making a resurgence in the past 10 years!

[@davidjamessandling]

Man I bet Ian would love that thing, maybe as an Elbonian Paratroopers Carbine.

[@MaximusOverhead]

Lol

[@Calvin_Coolage]

Nah this is far too sensible for the Elbonian Paratrooper Corps, they'd be issued those M1 Garand tanker conversions.

[@davidjamessandling]

Probably some side folding Johnson Carbine.@@Calvin_Coolage

[@Sosaparks]

@@Calvin_CoolageI mean, it does have awkward para stock+ heat shield, it at least made it to the trials 😂

[@andyzagray7962]

I love when you see pictures of real operaters customized guns not just the stuff from the armory

[@greybone777]

I encountered a "spook"gun a number of years ago. Spook guns are not identifiable. There were no manufacturing marks. No brand ,no serial numbers. The back of the receiver said M1 carbine. During the conflict in southeast Asia, special forces (CIA), used weapons that were devoid of markings. The operator went in without unit insignia or rank insignia. They went so far as to print erroneous information on cartridge headstones to confuse the enemy. Those caught were executed as spies. These weapons if found are illegal to possess as they are bring backs and not serial numbered.

[@longshotpunk]

Serial Numbers were not required on Firearms until 1968. Technically they still are not required if you manufacture the firearm yourself. Additionally, it is completely legal to own a "bring back" weapon from that era. Barring being an NFA firearm.

[@MrSloika]

Up until the M1 carbine was declared obsolete by the US Military they were not available on the civilian market. In the early 60s a company called Painfield Machine produced copies of the carbine for the commercial market. Painfield Machine was located in New Jersey and there was a rumor of mob involvement. The story goes that Plainfield Machine had supplied 'sterile' firearms...both long guns and handguns...without serial numbers to US intelligence agencies. It's been documented that Plainfield Machine did supply large amounts of newly made carbines to the South Vietnamese Military. My guess is that they also supplied some 'sterile' versions. If you found a 'spook' carbine it was likely produced by Plainfield Machine.

[@oni_goroshi]

From someone who's been gunsmithing for about 30 years, you did a pretty good job! There were some m14 stocks converted to paratrooper folding wire stocks back several years ago. I thought maybe you had some weird m1 carbine prototype. The thumbnail fooled me!

[@hunterhess8433]

This is awesome! I love these early special warfighter weapons. All it needs is another M16 pistol grip bolted to the handguard, if you ask me.

[@AtlatlMan]

Absolutely gorgeous build. You have top tier taste.

[@csipawpaw7921]

If I remember correctly, the "Rocks" were the South Korean Rock Marines who were allies. I was trained in Hopkido by a retired Rock Marine. Hopkido was a fighting style favored by the special forces at the time.

[@ericsissenwein3601]

ROK=Republic of Korea 😊

[@GunstockBayA90]

This is a solid build very nice. The carbine has low recoil, so it should last. Audie Murphy killed hundreds of enemies with his carbine. They have more power at 100m than a 357mag does at the muzzle.

[@ryanvargas4889]

Coolest M1 build I’ve ever seen.

[@MaximusOverhead]

Thanks !!

[@child_warlord]

Agreed

[@ticket2space]

It's so nice bro it's ridiculous

[@sirelwood1078]

No shit, mate✌✌

[@TakNuke]

This is the version of M2 carbine that I think should have been in Korean war i.e. M2A1. The traditional stock and the light weight makes it difficult to control which result in misses and contribute to the notion of .30 carbine's lack of stopping.

[@Bacon9064]

Idk how my algorithm threw this in but I’m glad it did. Looks dope, great idea with the canteen sling. That was hella common. I want one now lol, if only M1s ran better. One small thing, ROKs are South Koreans (Republic of Korea). But they fought in Vietnam too so who’s checking 🤷‍♀️

[@MaximusOverhead]

Ahhh ya ROKs that’s how it’s spelled, and ya m1s require some babying to run good. Honestly would love to know how they ran in ww2 and Korea. Troops loved them but damn are they temperamental, never had a problem with legit surplus military ammo though so it’s most likely just that.

[@guaporeturns9472]

My 43 Underwood has always ran great

[@1924ab]

@@MaximusOverheadthey like to be run wet.

[@YodasKitchen]

Nice, lots of history in some of that equipment that was used, refurbished, modified again etc.

[@kaciegiles9235]

Not familiar with this firearm but I had failure to feed issues and they sell a kit to polish your feed ramp. Makes it smooth as glass. Resolved all issues. Great piece of history. Great video.

[@dividualist]

Sick build. There were a lot of weird ass guns used in Vietnam, one of which I learned about recently was the H&R produced T223, a copy of the HK33, used by Navy SEALs with 40 round mags.

[@TylerMcL3more]

My Pop carried an M2 as a Green Beret in Vietnam- very cool build! :)

[@thinkingofyouto1]

That’s a sweet build

[@MaximusOverhead]

Thank you !

[@Ace_1944]

Glad you kept all the OG parts to put it in its original config, really cool build though, something straight out of Black ops 1

[@craighansen7594]

I also tried 115grn lead cast bullets in my M1 carbine. Firing and ejection were ok, feeding no. I agree the soft lead bullet snags on the feed ramp. I build receivers from demilled cut receivers. I am willing to modify the feed ramps on my rewelds as the collector value is low.

[@WillyMandingoWinchester]

That's a helluva makeshift paratrooper rifle...nice job man 👍!

[@scotthaddad563]

In the eighties I bought a new Plainfield manufactured “M-1 configured very similar to the specimen you have there. It did not have the Colt M-16 style pistol grip though. My take on the one I had was --Flimsy Stock, decent action, poor accuracy but cool look. I bought a surplus M-2 stock and did a slick re-finish on it and it made a nice wall-hanger. Damn that gun was LOUD!

[@richardferrara]

The stock work is ingenious, Tight and solid. Five stars

[@MaximusOverhead]

Thanks 🙏

[@StrictlyPlinking]

Excellent work! I am a huge GI M1 Carbine fan!

[@guaporeturns9472]

Great job on the stock. Thanks for sharing (Not inlayed but inletted.)

[@LouisGriffin-x3d]

I remember the second rifle I bought was an M-1 carbine I'm 69 years old always had an M-1 carbine in my collection.

[@child_warlord]

I click the like button every time you describe *anything* about it

[@bjornl9458]

All.your surplus looks good. Even your gear at the range! Killer jacket

[@claygoodwin8108]

The clamp on cone flash suppressor was designed for the M3 carbine which used it for the infrared scope. A clamp on muzzle break was designed for the M2 carbine developed in late World War two into the Korean War

[@axellocke854]

That thing is incredible! Nice job!

[@codywork-us7wu]

Cool build, thanks for making a bubba refit into a great piece.

[@the40scall90]

You scared me for a minute when you said you cut down an OG Stock lol. Gun looks dope. Def has that Nam Craftsmanship.

[@bombfog1]

Great video. I respect your mad skills.

[@tylerdouglas480]

Always had a thing for m1 carbines really cool gun

[@TheCandBExperience]

Very, very nice work. Looks great!

[@chicorodriguez3964]

That one cool little piece

[@ticket2space]

Man you really know what ylure roing huh? Holy cow You absolutely killed it brother good stuff. Thats easily one of the nicest guns ive ever seen, just my opinion. great job my man

[@rikiorikio9368]

This thing with a select fire feature would be sick

[@michaelmcatee221]

Really awesome build!!!

[@rastenborg]

The utility strap used as a sling comes in three different lengths. It was used to carry the WD 1 wire reel for communications or the field phone. It was used with the two quart jungle canteen. The clips attached to the belt. Few know what to do with the ( patrol-butt-pack) when the Alice pack was worn. The strap attaches to the two rings from the y/H harness. It can then be worn on the right side as a foraging bag on the belt with cross shoulder strap.

[@Soldat177]

Looks dope as hell

[@MaximusOverhead]

Thanks brother!

[@gunner678]

Looks good. Not a fan of altering historic weapons usually, but fair play you have really done this justice!👍

[@Butch273]

Awesome build and Incredible work. If you would like some advice, from one original production carbine owner to another. You should look at replacing the recoil spring and firing pin if they are original. The decades haven't been kind to either of those parts. Springs wear out and get sloppy which can lead to malfunctions and the firing pin on my M1 broke in half during normal operation. Hated to lose an original piece like that and wished I'd known to replace it. As you said, many carbines have feed issues and this is often due to the original magazines, which were never designed to be reused for decades and decades. Often the magazine springs and feed lips wear out and deform causing failures to feed. A modern reproduction magazine would probably be more reliable but I think it's also totally understandable to deal with minor malfunctions so you can use original mags. Again, amazing rifle. Definitely the kind of thing to hold onto and pass down to your kids. Thanks for showing it off.

[@MaximusOverhead]

Mines a 1950s factory refurbished model from the CMP the firing pin and recoil spring are brand new. I’ve also rebuild all my original mags with Wolff extra power springs, all the malfunctions I was experiencing was due to the handloads I was experimenting with soft lead bullets kept getting stuck on the feed ramp.

[@The_Austin_Doell]

Just a heads up, form a habit of not putting powder on your bench other than what's in the measure. Love the build, hate to see a guy blow it up!

[@theintrovertedcalifornian5047]

The M1 carbine is still a very effective weapon system especially for close quarters combat.

[@doorswhofan]

DUDE! Kudos. This rocks 100%!

[@chrisloUSA]

Man this is a cool build.

[@christopherhayes3742]

awesome work on your M1

[@nickybjammin7629]

The A-Team! Just subscribed 💯🇺🇸🗽

[@MaximusOverhead]

The A-Team used chromed mini-14s with side folding stocks

[@nickybjammin7629]

@@MaximusOverhead not all the time, this was a prop style gun most people mistake as the mini 14. These were definitely used in the A-Team but anytime it’s referenced people only go to the episodes with the mini 14. …..as a kid, I would notice things because I was a kid and these look a little cooler than the mini 14, , another thing I’ve tried to explain to people that they don’t get. These were used in a lot of 80s flicks/TV. People normally run with the easiest thing to spot. These are really, really cool. I knew when I saw the thumbnail I knew it was not a mini 14 that’s what made me jump in. The answer to what I’ve been trying to explain 😆 Seriously, way cooler than the mini 14. Imagine being frustrated every time you bring it up somebody immediately says …mini 14 !!! You think to yourself well fck it …I give up, everybody knows everything now 👏🏼😆 But yeah dude thanks for sharing this because most people do not know what this gun is and they think it’s the mini 14 because they saw a similar gun like that on the same show or whatever lead them to believe so. But yeah, cool info dude thanks for sharing 💯❤️ There are other guys like me that won’t one of these and not the M4 specifically because of the television shows …. We didn’t want the 14 when we grew up we wanted the other ones the cool ones we saw. The prop guys would run with whatever research they could get on hand normally by asking questions and just like right now people would tell them it’s the mini 14. And because of this, that’s why people say the A-Team only used mini 14s same with politics and everything else…people will go with whatever is easiest spot first, without question. There was probably a handful of prop guys that fell in and out of that job.( prop’s)

[@GazB85]

Gorgeous gun!

[@bigtasty42069]

Dude fully leveled up his black ops loadout

[@jerrydickerson1111]

the wire stock reminds me of the grease gun

[@hewhoeatscheese]

Heard the SVA hated the advisors because they glow in the dark.

[@dlmsarge8329]

Yup OG Glowies

[@richardmeredith69]

Nice job.. you would’ve been happier being a Gen X. I did the same stuff when I was your age. And I saw your Atari in the background..

[@travhammer]

Original set up u have there is M2 automatic. CIA didn't use it as it was not sterile. Yes. Advisers carried it. ROC is Korean. Nam Was ARVN. What u have is a parts build copy. Still. It Looks good

[@ZimbabweGoblin]

Very cool build

[@pauta9]

perfect those georgia country roads

[@chrisdoe4999]

The paratrooper m1 carbines also had the pull out metal stock.

[@sixoffive]

Next time you go to the range put a drop cloth down to catch your spent brass. I see you’re checking the length. Speer use to sell 100 grain plinker that worked for me. I use to load H4227 at 10% below max load. I also put a little crimp on the case, seemed to help with feeding. You might need to chamfer the primer pocket on that milsurp. Swab out the chamber last when you clean it. Cool project, bayonet?

[@FrankSessano]

I could see this being perfect for a paratrooper.

[@deadmeat8754]

The US referred to the South Vietnamese Army as "ARVN " ( Army of the Republic of VietNam / Armée de la République du Viêt Nam ), which was an acronym derived from the colonial French.

[@bamsannen]

I see you’re wearing the superior camo

[@willgillies5670]

Lovley, love a modded M1.

[@TravisMcKnight-lk7gg]

Looks good 👍

[@williamswan9114]

I wanted to do the m1 carbine in a 256 Winchester, turn on the neck down 30 carbine to 25 caliber high velocity

[@leprechaunlex1771]

nice work man

[@jdmak5385]

Beautiful work. Bravo Zulu

[@bobbressi5414]

I once had a Korean War era M1 carbine that ran like a well serviced clock. Years later I bought a reproduction M1 made by Auto Ordenance/kahr. No matter how much tuning and tinkering I did I could not get that gun to run a full mag without a failure. Were I to buy another it would either be an original or a high quality repro made by a company that insured reliability.

[@VicFromFallout]

that's really cool man

[@LUVDOGS1954]

ROK was the acronym for troops from the Republic Of Korea, not South Vietnam.

[@williamprince1114]

ROKs were Republic of Korea troops (they did serve in Viet Nam fighting along side ARVN and American forces. I think you meant Ruff Puffs who were regional or provincial militia in South Vietnam.

[@visuals2763]

Badass build, 10/10

[@ralphh4131]

Good work

[@timothymadaras1613]

I would check the magazine as well.

[@SNOwyte]

Thats like the gun that shot escobar

[@billsummy2412]

Very COOL pard !🤠👍👍

[@eze417]

The ROKs were South Koreans. The South Vietnamese were ARVNs. The North Vietnamese Communists were terrified of the ROKs incidentally, but most ARVN units did not scare them.

[@chiefslief1886]

Hotdang! That is a very sexy rifle really! ❤

[@RalphIvanDelaTonga]

Its not cursed but beautiful.

[@jamestarbet9608]

ROKs were South Korean Army, and yes they were sent over to Vietnam. You were thinking of ARVN, the South Vietnamese Army.

[@goldiestfish]

good for u. in my country u cant go to range often if you are not rich and u cant buy something interesting or make your gun by ur own way

[@williamswan9114]

The rocks for the Republic of Korea my father used to train them,

[@A.R.American1]

That it super cool love it nice job

[@MaximusOverhead]

Thanks man

[@Jonesec1]

rok would probably be south korean marines. rok marines who served with distinction in nam

[@sirelwood1078]

WELL MADE👍👍

[@CharlesConover]

jams. yeah mine does that too all the time. it's got to the point where i'm scared to shoot it

[@MaximusOverhead]

Jamming is more annoying then dangerous

[@okolona1]

Hey Max, do you have any photos of the original M1 Carbine CIA variant?

[@MaximusOverhead]

I don’t think there are any photos, I just kinda made what I thought someone or unit would do if they made a one off custom.

[@blindfredy6128]

That’s hot.

[@uncledonkey675]

Badass, man

[@MrThomass281]

I have to trim my 30 carbine brass every time I reload it.

[@chrissinclair4442]

Does ATF want a word on overall length restrictions?

[@williamswan9114]

The mom in Laos used to like the m1 carbine grease gun

[@DEPORTMAN]

South Vietnamese Army were called ARVN ("arvin") Army of the Republic Of Viet Nam.

[@SM1894C]

The overhang where the original grip was cut off is bugging me, would’ve flattened that out but hey, this is a beautiful little unit regardless!

[@MaximusOverhead]

I needed the space for the stocks locking mechanism, that’s why it’s cut like that. Otherwise I agree it’s not the most pleasing aesthetically.

[@justinjones9042]

Very cool 😎

[@travischapin886]

ROK's were Korean Marines, not Vietnamese. Republic Of Korea, Marines. Some of the fiercest Marines in the world. Many Vietnam Veterans told me this. And the rubber butt pads were not "silly", it was how it was designed. To get a 30 round mag to reliably feed in the M-1 Carbine, you need the "lower metal" from an M-2 for it to work reliably, most times. The flash suppresors were generally not used much.

[@MaximusOverhead]

I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about in the second half, it was literally a jury rigged shotgun rubber pad that was bolted to the stock on mine. And there are no photos of any m2 carbines with rubber butt pads. What does (lower metal) even mean? The flash suppressors were made for the m3 infrared carbine for jungle warfare, but I like them because muzzle flash suppression is a better real world upgrade.