1.5 Mil Carbines Left In Vietnam

[painter777]

It's estimated that 1.5 million were left at Wars end in 1975.

American Rifleman Story: American Rifleman | The M1 Carbine in Vietnam

Information

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[Detroit-1]

Can you picture what would happen to the price of a carbine if only half of these came back?

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Any estimates on the M1/M2 %s?

[painter777]

Nothing in the article on M1 vs M2.
I recall seeing pictures long ago with Arms dumps full of rusty remnants.
Now probably made in to Prius.

OT,
But seen this today about Chemical weapons dumped at sea:
Chemical Weapon Munitions Dumped at Sea: An Interactive Map | James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies

[CINDERS]

Well thats just a dandy situation thats been left to coming generations how many Italian fisherman have really been affected by dragging the dumped CW munitions onto their boats one wonders why they could not incinerate at high temperatures in a closed circuit furnace surely they exist!
Thanks for the post Charlie.

[JimF4M1s (Deceased)]

We had two M2's on our boat during my three tours. And all I saw in the field were M2's as well. Not saying there wasn't some M1's around, but I didn't see any. Also quite a few M3 Grease guns.

[Barryeye]

Could be mistaken but those appear to be leather handled M4 bayonets. I did not expect post-Korea issue bayonets to still be leather handled. But I guess they must have used them.

[rcathey]

...one wonders why they could not incinerate at high temperatures in a closed circuit furnace surely they exist!
Thanks for the post Charlie.

Sounds a lot more expensive than pushing it off the side of a boat. It’s government spending 101: spend twice the amount you should on things you don’t need and half the amount you should on things you do.
Very cool link though. It’s interesting to see how, for the most part, they didn’t even make much of an effort to get far away from land.

[Bruce McAskill]

Charlie so what do you think of this article? I myself think there is a bit of BS in it. According to the last figure from the MAP's program I saw there was not 1.5 million carbines in Vietnam but 165,000 sent there as aid. The South Koreans got the lions share of carbines and that is placed at over 600,000 of them still there from what MAP's states.

[painter777]

Charlie so what do you think of this article? I myself think there is a bit of BS in it. According to the last figure from the MAP's program I saw there was not 1.5 million carbines in Vietnam but 165,000 sent there as aid. The South Koreans got the lions share of carbines and that is placed at over 600,000 of them still there from what MAP's states.

Wondered myself Bruce,
Been waiting for someone to question it.
Article states:

The M1 Carbine was introduced into Vietnam by French troops during the late 1940s in their war with the communist Viet Minh forces. A large number of M1 carbines were captured and used by Viet Minh troops. After the First Indochina War ended in July 1954, M1 carbines filtered from the North into the hands of the developing Viet Cong guerrilla forces.

So just how many did the French bring in ?

Next:
Beginning in 1956, U.S. military advisors brought M1 carbines to South Vietnam, and soon they were being issued to ARVN Marines and Rangers. Later, the carbines were also issued to the South Vietnamese National Police, as well as their Regional and Popular Forces and the Kit Carson Scouts.

With all the hype trying to get Garands and Carbines from any country that has used them for the starved US market.....
IMO it's Fake News, but lays out an article that has a great shot at drawing attention... which equals an easy sale and Pay Day for the writer Tom Laemlein. Who BTW refers to no documentation unless I missed it.........
Or if he's running with this statement from Larry Ruth:
Carbine expert Larry Ruth estimates that there were approximately 1.5 million of them left behind in Vietnam at the war’s end in 1975.

1.5 million at wars end in 75 ?
Would that number be complete Carbines ?
Or does it factor in battle damaged and or purposely destroyed weapons.

6,1+ mil built for WWII ....... 1,5 mil left after the Vietnam War ends in 75.... so we'd have close to 25% of total production left in Vietnam in 1975 ?

I don't believe it.......... Only way to explain it IMO is if they've added a few extra zero's by mistake as in TYPO ?

+1 Bruce
Good to see your still on the Wagon !!