WWII Bayonets, 03's and USMC Snipers

[John Beard]

The Marines didn't have many M1's at the beginning of the war and the 1st Marines that landed on the Canal didn't have any of them. They did have BAR's and Thompson's and even some Johnson's but no M1's or Carbines. This came from a foreman I had that was in the 1st wave that landed on as he called it the Canal. It is well documented that after the Army came in to relieve them that they had to watch their M1's like hawks or the Marines would have them. The Marines saw the distinct advantage of the M1 Garand over their tried and trusted 03's. BTW most of those 03's were low numbers just like this one

I have found no evidence to indicate that most Marine M1903 rifles carried on Guadalcanal were low numbers. Certainly some low number rifles were present. But, I very seriously doubt that their numbers were predominant. Most Marine rifles at the start of WWII were high numbers. And those were rapidly augmented with new Remingtons.

FWIW.

J.B.