sight question

[BrianQ]

Not exactly. The later, formal justification for the carbine specifically referenced the inadequacy of the pistol, as shown by statistical surveys of German casualties after the end of WW I, and the carbine was promoted as a solution to that problem, since hard facts were available to make the case.

Do you have that document?

The March 25 1938 document states "At the present time the only practical weapon available for the purpose is the pistol, and this without a shoulder holster would be ineffective at ranges in excess of 50 yards. , hence the range requirement in paragraph 4b for an effective range of 300 yards. The .45ACP or .39 pistol cartridge could not meet the range requirement even with a shoulder holster according to the Infantry test report referenced in the initial requirements document. The service rifle was too heavy and the new weapon was to have a weight limit of 5 pounds, paragraph 4a of the March 1938 document.

In the June 1940 document the Chief of Infantry states "It is considered that this office would be remiss if it did not again urge the development of a carbine or light rifle to be carried by personnel of the infantry regiment whose duties or equipment are such that they cannot be armed with a standard rifle without hampering their activities."

An adjustable rear sight was an initial design requirement for the M1 Carbine but at the time of standardization of the carbine design a suitable adjustable rear sight could not be developed so the flip sight went into production. The previous is spelled out in a 5 November 1942 Ordnance Committee document. Rear sight development continued and a suitable design was standardized on 14 January 1943 per the Ordnance Committee recommendation dtd 8 January 1943.

BTW I have all the documents I'm referring to.