Patton, an 03A3, and a Silver Star

[JGaynor]

General Patton wore two revolvers. A Colt Single Action Army in .45 LC and a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum double action on the other hip. They were his personal sidearms.

Not sure exactly when bayonet lugs o the carbine were introduced but it was later in the war. The carbine guys will know.

[firstflabn]

I don't think it's hypertechnical to correct some misconceptions about specialties and small arms. The Rifleman (SSN745) only appeared in the rifle company - nowhere else. That's around 12% of a 1944 infantry division and a bit under 2% of the entire army at its 1945 manpower peak (if including USAAF personnel). Unlike when we were ten year old boys playing in the back yard, the rifleman was a small part of the real army in WWII. They receive and deserve our attention because of the almost unbelieveable casualties they took in proportion to their numbers and our fascination with the question of how they summoned the courage to do what they did.

The reason blacks are often seen in WWII photos carrying the '03 is twofold: racial discrimination and low education levels. This combination led to blacks being overrepresented in the support units like QM and greatly underrepresented in the technical units like signal and air. Nothing close to complete data is available on service units, but it comes as no surprise to see lots of 03s in their photos.

[Rick the Librarian]

I believe the bayonet lug on the carbine was devised in late 1944 and went into production in early/mid-1945.

[Harlan (Deceased)]

Rick is correct - Inland and Winchester began using the 'Type III' barrel bands with bayo lugs along with 'Type III' adjustable rear sights late before all M1 carbine production ceased in 1945, but few are known to have seen service before WWII ended.

By far, the majority of both were installed in the massive post war rebuild programs.

[Emri]

Looks like a single action Colt. Yes, the carbine has no bayonet lug.