Carbines and More... Detroit July 1967

[imarangemaster]

So, back on topic. When I first got into law enforcement in the 70s, M1 carbines we VERY popular. In the 1980s, I carried one as a trunk weapon before I got my Sterling AR180, then went back to the Carbine after I foolishly sold the 180 since it was NOT an AR15 (how stupid was that. I now realize the Ar180 is a better weapon than the AR15). For much of the time until retiring around 2000, the M1 carbine was my go-to gun.

There were a number of other officers that also used M1 carbines. They were actually more popular than the Mini-14s, which at the time had dismal accuracy compared to my carbine. One Sgt. had an Alpine, and another deputy had a National Ordnance. I had an Underwood at that time.

[painter777]

Some years back I bought the book.... "Tales Of The Stake Out Squad" (SOS) A book about the career of Jim Cirillo's time spent on a special NYPD Unit.
His favorite rifle.... The M1 Carbine.

I posted about it in the Auction, Gossip section... because the book is on sale/ discounted. A really good book about a Special Operations Squad. And their love of the Carbine.

Here's a link to my post #6, that includes links to the Book site..

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....l=1#post417029

[Bill Hollinger]

Posts 1 an 2 show carbines with no magazines. Single shots or just wooden handled speers?

[painter777]

Bill,
Read Post 3

Cheers
Charlie-P777

[Bill Hollinger]

Thanks Charlie. I did read that but I only saw no or limited ammo not magazines. Nothing says I can't fight back like a magazine fed weapon without the magazine.

[painter777]

As far as rarely seeing a pictured magazine, I've only come across a few pictures very early in this showing the Nat Guard with a mag. It was stated the NG didn't have the training in civil/urban conflicts like this and were said to have been a little to rambunctious, thus causing issues for the 101st and 82nd airborne units that were called in later. Or maybe just another case much like today where legal authorities are called in with their hands tied...... then scrutinized under a microscope.

Were they ordered to dispose of their mags? I don't know.
But I believe that 'May' be a possibility and part of the reason my Father found all of those Carbine mags (among other types) buried under debris in a dumpster, near his parked equipment at the job site he was working. Can't prove it, but may be.
Might also help explain the frightened look on many of these service men in the pictures.... them knowing they had no ammo or maybe just a single round loaded like ole Barney Fife (sp?)

Charlie-Painter777


PS Would be interesting to hear from a Nat Guard or Airborne member who may have been there. I don't recall ever seeing or hearing of a book by one.

[browningautorifle]

Were they ordered to dispose of their mags? I don't know.
my Father found all of those Carbine mags (among other types) buried under debris in a dumpster,

I don't think so...when I was training in Ft Lewis WA some years back...1989 I think...we had occasion to chat with a U.S. soldier that came into our stores...I asked him if he had any extra .45 mags with them. He said they were doing range qual with M16s and was dropping off aluminum mags to our CQ. They only had the mags that came with the pistols, no extras. They had done that qual a month before. The extra mags they had with them that trip, they'd tossed by the crate into the local dumpsters rather than take them back...

I think what your dad found was after action sanitizing and accounting. Nothing magic...

[painter777]

I think what your dad found was after action sanitizing and accounting.

Thx Jim,
That makes for the best explanation to me. As there was a lot of 'Camp garbage included' in that dumpster.
As I described in a earlier post... smoky helmets, empty packaging etc.

CH-P777

[RASelkirk]

...It was stated the NG didn't have the training in civil/urban conflicts like this and were said to have been a little to rambunctious...

Charlie-Painter777

And the Kent State shootout occurred just a few years later...

Russ

[painter777]

And the Kent State shootout occurred just a few years later...

Russ

Exactly Russ, Along with other nation wide outbreaks in big cities on the edge. No pressure... Huh ? Jeeezzee

CH-P777