Where flash hiders issued for M1's that were not sniper models?

[gary25]

Looking at the rear cover photo on the Spring 2009 issue of the Garand Collectors Assoc. Journal, there is a 1965 photo of Honduran and USA troops sitting in the back of a duece. All the soldiers in the back are carring an M1 Garand, but I noticed that their are 5 soldiers sitting on the left which have a flash hider attached to their M1's.

It may be unusual for 5 snipers to assigned to one group, so is it possible that these are regular troops that were simply issued flash hiders, but no scope?

Interesting to also note that the Driver of the USA duece in the photo is carring an M14

Gary

Information

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[snell]

This rifle has no scope or cheek piece. The photo appears on Pp 27 of the American Firepower Series "M1 Garand" book by Tom Laemlein. He doesn't look like a sniper to me.
Pic was supposedly taken in Korea in 1951:

[/IMG]

[RCS]

We had three M1D's in my company and never used the flash hiders. When the rifles were received, they were packed one per box with the flash hider, the cheek pad and M84 scope already installed. There was a round cardboard tube in the barrel, the barrels were all Springfield the rest of the M1D's were all H&R including the stocks. We had never seen H&R M1 rifles before !

[0311Shooter]

Could it be that the Flash Hiders were used to, UH, merely Hide Flashes?

My M1D from the CMP contained a Prong FH. I had to buy my own Hart FH.

[rotorwing70]

We had three M1D's in my company and never used the flash hiders. When the rifles were received, they were packed one per box with the flash hider, the cheek pad and M84 scope already installed. There was a round cardboard tube in the barrel, the barrels were all Springfield the rest of the M1D's were all H&R including the stocks. We had never seen H&R M1 rifles before !

RCS
Could you please expand some on the M1Ds you referenced? When did you see them, where did you see them and was it with an active duty unit or NG. The reason I ask is there has been a lot of discussion concerning the use of HRA and IHC receivers to build M1Ds at the depot level. It is generally assumed that all the original conversions at Springfield were pre-1952 Springfield and Winchester receivers. The description you give, in separate boxes, cardboard tube in barrel, are typical of reconditioned/repackaged M1Ds but the "rest of the M1D's were all H&R including the stocks" is not typical and may indicate conversion at the unit level from available parts. Please clarify if possible.

[mdoerner]

Since the flash hider is to prevent night-blindness to the operator, maybe they were issued if you anticipated night fighting?

Mike Doerner