Interesting short articled on the Israeli use of M1 carbines as PDWs, including the "Magal" with a bull pup stock.
.30 Carbine PDWs
Followed some other links and did some digging, and the little M1 Carbine is still on the TOE for IDF
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Interesting short articled on the Israeli use of M1 carbines as PDWs, including the "Magal" with a bull pup stock.
.30 Carbine PDWs
Followed some other links and did some digging, and the little M1 Carbine is still on the TOE for IDF
The M1 Carbine was never in the IDF inventory in any form. The Border Guard, a national paramilitary/police organization, distributed them to kibbutzim and other settlements. They are found in kibbutz armories (I know, I ran one for 3 years), and are used for local guard duty and for trip escorts. The Civil Guard, lots of little old men who used to patrol bus stations, also got some. It was always amusing to see these little old guys walking around with little M1s and huge M14s. These units are not the IDF however, who never used the Carbine in any role at all.
Their use by MashAz civil guard is well documented. The statement about TOE was based on the following Israeli web page under "Misc. Weapons"
isayeret.com - The Israeli Special Forces & Special Operations (Sayeret) Database™
Many were shipped after WW2 to Israel. My understanding was that more Carbines were shipped more recently to Israel in the 70s as military aid, then distributed through IDF to Police and Civil Guard units.
Israel Police - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://www.police.gov.il/english/Vol...s/default.aspx
Even tour guides carry them now.
M1 Carbine still in use by Israeli tour guides | The Firearm Blog
I was not implying it was an IDF issue weapon. I understand that our DOD actually has carbines held in reserve.
I used the term "trip escorts", but yes, lots of tours, of both of foreigners and Israelis, use the M1s. I seriously doubt many M1 Carbines went to Israel after the war. They never were in IDF service or inventory, or came as "military" aid, but went straight into the stores of MaGav (Border Guards). Also, I never saw or even heard of a folding-stock M1 in Israel, and I visited many other military, police, and kibbutz armories. I couldn't get into the Isayeret site, but I still don't buy any IDF connection to M1 Carbines.