Rare early M8 launcher for sale on GB

[Bill Ricca]

The M8 launcher with the screw on retainer is not really rare. Very few M8 launchers were actually used and many of the early versions survive. Yes, they are harder to find than the spring type, but they are not rare.

Finding an M7 with a screw on retainer is another story. Almost every one made was sent into a combat zone immediately. In 1978 I went through over2000 M7's and found only one with the screw on retainer. M7's are rare, M8 are not.

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[rayg]

The M8 launcher with the screw on retainer is not really rare. Very few M8 launchers were actually used and many of the early versions survive. Yes, they are harder to find than the spring type, but they are not rare.

Bill I see a lot of WWII photos and movies with the M8's on carbines. Probably mostly used for parachute or signal flares etc. but still capable for launching grenades.
Also based on my personal experience, in regard to the screw/washer M8. I check the For Sale threads on nurmerous gun sites and forums probably every day and have been doing it for for many years and probably attend about 30 gun shows a year. In that time, I only recall seeing one other screw/washer M8 for sale in probably 5 years. I have never seen any of them at any of the shows except the one I got over 20yrs ago at a show. On the other hand, I have seen dozens of the spring type launchers. There's generally one or two for sale at most of the larger shows. In fact the last spring one I picked up at the Feb. SOS show for $100 and there was another one at the show also. Of course, this is just my experience but I think it may represent pretty much the norm. Ray

[Bill Ricca]

I started researching and collecting GL's in 1968. Over the years I have seen/inspected, or been offered probably 200 plus M8's. At least 25% of them were screw on retainers. If you look at Reliance Tool, a very large portion of those were screw on retainers.

When I use the term Rare, it means an item you will see maybe a few times in in a lifetime. M8's with screw on launchers are not all that rare. I have seen many.

Since my collecting started I have seen only 4 or 5 screw on M7's, out of the many thousands I have inspected. Those are rare.

[rayg]

I started researching and collecting GL's in 1968. Over the years I have seen/inspected, or been offered probably 200 plus M8's. At least 25% of them were screw on retainers. If you look at Reliance Tool, a very large portion of those were screw on retainers.

When I use the term Rare, it means an item you will see maybe a few times in in a lifetime. M8's with screw on launchers are not all that rare. I have seen many.

Since my collecting started I have seen only 4 or 5 screw on M7's, out of the many thousands I have inspected. Those are rare.

Bill you certianly have handled far more carbne launchers then I have ever seen in my collecting experience. And I believe you when you say about 25% of them were the washer type. As I said, it was only my experience were I can only count 2 or 3 that I've seen.
I also didn't mean they were rare, as I understand what rare means, I guess a better statement would be that they are scarcer then the spring type. Not rare but scarcer, Ray