28 June 2022 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Experimental infrared T-1 weapon sight

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.

[Bob Womack]

In 1954, Edwin Tunis pictured this rig on an M2 carbine in the modern weapons section of his illustrated book Weapons. I grew up reading my father's copy of this book.

There was another thread on this subject with color pics and you can find it HERE.

Bob

[fjruple]

Probably a test model which later became the AN/PAS-4 (Varo Model 9903 and Polin Model p-155) Active Infrared Night sight. These scopes were manufactured by Varo and Polin. About 4,000 units were built with some being sold to Canada to be mounted on their C1A1 rifles. Limited range out to about 175 meters. These scopes were mount on several different US old military weapon systems for use by the South Vietnamese military M1 rifle, M1 Carbine, M16 Rifle and m1919A4 Browning MG. The test deemed that the scopes were too heavy for use by the ARVN troops and the problem of charging the batteries as many ARVN installations lack electric power and charging equipment especially in a field environment. At the same time US Fores were starting to receive the passive AN/PVS-1 Starlight scopes which were initially classified CONFIDENTIAL. Military secrets being what they are fleeting as several scopes had fallen into NVA hands and were quickly downgraded to Unclassified.

[Mark in Rochester]

[RCS]

I know of two M1 Rifle collectors that have infrared night sights on their rifles. I was told the base for
the infrared scope has the same hole pattern as the M1C base. I noticed that these rifles are very
awkward to hold

[browningautorifle]

noticed that these rifles are very
awkward to hold

You bet. Ours were no different with the 502 scopes, just a top heavy piece of crap and not a great addition.

[fjruple]

I know of two M1 Rifle collectors that have infrared night sights on their rifles. I was told the base for
the infrared scope has the same hole pattern as the M1C base. I noticed that these rifles are very
awkward to hold

RCS-- The document that I have states the mounts would replace the rear sights on the M1 Garand leaving no provision for use of the iron sights. The document recommended that the scope mounts for the M1 Garand be made a stronger material as they were bent on installation to the Garand. Unfortunately, the document does not provide a photo or diagram of the M1 Garand scope mount.

[Bob Seijas]

I have told the story before... guy I worked with was a Marine in Nam and used an M14 with the early IR lash-up. One night he climbed a tree and was scanning the tree line across a paddy. Unfortunately, the bad guy evidently had a Dragunov with the scope that could see IR, so it was like shining a flasklight in the dark. Charlie didn't know the configuration because he fired directly at the light source instead of 6" lower to hit the shooter. The bullet knocked my friend out of the tree and destroyed the sight. He never used one again.