M1 Carbine Field Maintenance

[JOHN42768]

I thought this would be worth a look from the CMP forum. US Carbine cal .30 M1 Very nicely put together by this gentleman. John

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[DICKX]

Nice job and good pictures - interesting post
Thanks
Dick

[INLAND44]

Good stuff, but perhaps a little lacking in some areas - like, the 'M' on the new mag catch was not to ID it as 'for the magazine' - it was to ID it as the 'modified' catch so armorers could quickly tell the difference. And, a partial purpose of the revised slide with angled extension was to allow more dwell time before opening the bolt. I was very glad to see the note about the use of raw linseed oil.

[painter777]

Would have to question a few of the dates, but he does state the dates are used "in general".
Really enjoyed the picture comparisons.
Be nice to see the complete stocks. Looks as though he may have some nice wood there.
Handy for a quick visual reference for newer collectors/owners.

Charlie-painter777

[USAFChief]

Hello everyone. I have participated here in the past although some time ago.

I am the author of the Field Maintenance page being discussed here and I thank everyone for the kind comments and critical observations.

I would like to include the following extract from a posting I made on another Forum as it seems appropriate here:

"It seems to me that Discussion Forum postings by "old soldiers" like me sometimes offer very precise information based on many years ago memories (in my case some fifty to sixty years ago) -- but I can't do that, my memory isn't that good, except when I unearth old notes that I happen to have made "back then". My memory has dimmed considerably since I turned eighty -- please bear this in mind as you read on. Another thing about some "old soldier" postings is that they offer information as though it applies to the US Military in general whereas policies and procedures often varied enormously depending on branch of service, location, combat situation, mission requirements ..... and so on. Most of my own experience with the Carbine result from my assignments in the United States Air Force Small Arms Marksmanship career field (753x1) starting as a SSgt (E5) Instructor in 1958 until my retirement as a CMSgt (E9) Superintendent in 1972. Incidentally, I was issued and carried a Carbine for the first time in December 1950.

The particular information we are discussing here relates to the time I was was in charge of a USAF overseas (Japan) Base Small Arms Marksmanship Training Unit (SAMTU) and firing range from 1960 until 1964. I was a Tsgt (E6) at that time and my staff consisted of seven USAF Small arms Instructors (3 NCOs & 4 Airmen - variable from time to time) and four Japanese contract civilian laborers. One of our missions was Field Maintenance of our assigned US Military Small arms: US Carbine cal .30 M1 & M2, US Rifle cal. 30 M1 (Garand) and US Pistol cal .45 1911A1. I assigned one of my NCOs (assisted by one Japanese laborer) the duty of Armorer/Gunsmith with responsibility for Inspection, Maintenance and proper storage of our SAMTU weapons; Inspection and Field maintenance of unit assigned weapons; ordering new, and disposing of old, parts and accessories and maintaining suitable stock levels via Base Supply channels; shipping weapons to Depot for repair and/or rebuild as needed; Maintaining records IAW the various Tech Orders as required."

Please excuse me if I make glaring errors in recalling specifications, procedures and nomenclature --and please feel free to correct them -- it was all so long ago.

JP

[USAFChief]

.......... Be nice to see the complete stocks. Looks as though he may have some nice wood there...........

I will take better photos Charlie (if I may) and post them whenever I get a chance. The ones here were taken at different times and under different lighting conditions and backgrounds.

The WWII era carbine (Top header photo on my web page) was assembled from parts and I think it is pretty historically correct. I bought it from a member of the Arizona Arms Society at a meeting in Phoenix several years ago. During the meeting I mentioned to a friend of mine that I would like to have an "historically correctly configured" WWII era M1 carbine - a fellow member overhead our conversation and said he had one for sale ($700) if I was interested. "Very Much" I said. He lived quite near to the VFW Post and so we were able to consummate the deal when the meeting ended. He told me he had built up the Carbine on an early Inland barreled receiver (see first photo below) using historically correct USGI parts including an original "I cut" Overton stock that he had lightly sanded and treated with raw linseed oil. I wanted to ask him several questions regarding his restoration, but it was getting late and we had to drive back to Tucson. I thought I would ask those questions at the next meeting, but I was suffering from kidney stones at that time which now required surgery (eventually prostate surgery/low grade cancer). By the time I was able to attend meetings again the gentleman was no longer a participant and I lost contact with him. Any way, I really liked the carbine -- I think the restorer was very meticulous and conscientious in his work. As far as I can determine, all the parts are historically correct and USGI. I think the stock is quite nice as depicted in the following photos:

I bought the Post WWII Depot rebuild (Augusta Arsenal) carbine (second header photo on my web page) because it looks exactly like a typical SAMTU M1 Carbine that we used for qualification in the 1950s and 60s -- the appearance (finish) of the stock is about right with the requisite dings and scratches. It is a 4m. serial number range National Postal Meter carbine with (what I believe) is an original "I" cut Trimble stock. Unfortunately, the cartouches are quite faint, but the proof and rebuild stamps are bold and clear.

JP

[Col. Colt]

Outstanding Job, John!!! And thank you so very much for the recollections! Your insights will help preserve the history of a very important military specialty - caring for the weapons that protected our soldiers, sailors and airmen. I had the great good fortune to speak to Col. Robert Morgan, the pilot of the famous B-17 "The Memphis Belle" a few years before his passing. He was raising money for the Belle's preservation as a monument to our fighting men. Her was a certified Hero of WWII, and both my exwife's Dad and my Father had been Army (MP from Normandy-end of War, and 82nd Airborne, respectively). We kind of made light of our father's contributions, since they were not "heros" to anyone but us - and Col Morgan stopped us COLD! He very quickly and intently looked us both in the eye and said, forcefully, "EVERYBODY DOES THEIR PART". After that sank in for a few seconds, he started recounting the importance of everyone in the supply and maintenance chain that produced VICTORY in WWII. He started with the Merchant Mariners, who brought him all of his ammo, fuel, and parts - and who were left to die in the cold North Atlantic if their Liberty ship got torpedoed - the convoy could not stop or they would be torpedoed. He reminded us of all the servicing personnel - his ground crew sometimes worked 72 hours straight - without sleep - to get the "Belle" back in shape for the next mission. (9 engine changes, tail repairs, much more). He then spoke about all the people that were up all night preparing food and coffee, preparing navigation and weather information, the flight surgeons and chaplins that had crazy hours to take care of the men. His only wish is that they could ALL have been better recognized - as they were HEROS to him.


So thanks so much for your Service, and for your continued service by recalling a history that must not be forgotten.

[USAFChief]

Very nicely written indeed Col Colt. Thank you very much for your post.

JP

[frankderrico]

Col. Colt, that was a good post.....Frank

[USAFChief]

Thank you John, Dick, Inland44 and Charlie-painter777 for your kind comments and critiques. I am not in your league regarding manufacturing technical information relating to Carbines and your corrections are most welcome. I have changed some of the notes on my page to reflect those corrections. I have now noted parts modification manufacturing implementation dates in a very generalized way -- the thrust of my page is, after all, Field maintenance in the 1950s and 1960s and I think the content of my page is better for those changes.

James