M1A1 Carbine

[Snowman1510]

I just did received a FOIA request for the weapon from the U.S. Govt to see if they head any records on the weapon to which the carbine had a short list of results:

The following Information was found in the DoD Small Arms/Light Weapons Registry for a M1 Carbine, .30mm Caliber Rifle, NSN: 1005-00-670-7672, Serial Number 5155157. The records for this weapon are listed below in chronological order:
1. 11 August 2008 - HQ Army Tank, Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), Anniston, Alabama received the rifle.
2. 15 December 2008 - HQ Army Tank, Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), Anniston, Alabama shipped the rifle outside the Department of Defense (DoD).

Interesting, considering on other rifles I have FOIAed, the serials usually have a date of entry into the system and arsenal or holding area they were at when they were entered. This example lacks that as well as what military unit shipped the carbine to TACOM before the 11th of August 2008. The Disposition does show it leaving the DoD, but I have seen in the past (though a sample size of three personally) that it usually lists who it was shipped too when going out of the DoD.

I have also tried conducting queries on the CMP auction sight using their past auction search tool. The earliest auction for M1A1s I have found were in 2014. If it was ever auctioned there which I would imagine it would be because of weapon still being in Govt. possession as late as 2008 then a search did not reveal those records.

[Workaholic]

Well, at least you got a bit of information on it. Although I'm very surprised that an M1A1 was still in the military's stores until 2008. I would have thought they would have sold those all off years ago.

I am curious, was your FOIA request an email sent to someplace like redarmy something or other?

[painter777]

Snowman,
Maybe this will help.
I just tried a google search- M1 Carbine 5155157.... And came up with this:

Upcoming Auction Items 11/23/2009 - CMP Forums

[Snowman1510]

I spoke with a gentleman who documented the CMP auction site before the roll out of the 3rd generation software. He did document the carbine as selling in December 2009 as a Service Grade for $1,950 to an unknown buyer. Greek return in Greek wood. Of course I would need to send CMP a serial number search request to confirm this but I feel that it would be a strong indication.

[DaveHH]

I think that an awful lot of out of date junk stays on the TOE much longer than we imagine. In VN in 1966 there were things like grease gun M3s and Thompsons kicking around and they were not privately held weapons. They had been in some conex box somewhere and came out for use by curious soldiers. Our boxes contained weapons, pineapple grenades, 1911s, lots of stuff. The supply books still carried Colt 32/380 pistols for issue to General officers. I tried to eat C rations from 1944 (same year I was born), I found boxes of WW2 vintage fatigue hats. We were shooting 1944 vintage 105 shells. Having weapons show up doesn't surprise me at all.

[lboos]

We were shooting 1944 vintage 105 shells. Having weapons show up doesn't surprise me at all.

Dave,
During operation just cause in Dec. 1989 thru Jan. 1990 we were using 40mm ammo. stamped 1945 on the AC-130 Specter gunships while chasing pineapple face [Noriega] around in downtown Panama. I brought one back as a suv. I use it to hold the long matches to start the fire in the fire place, not one miss fire, old ammo. is like a fine wine, 1945 was a good year.

[DaveHH]

About halfway through my shift 66-67, they ran out of the nice brass 105 stuff and started using the wrapped steel stuff from the Korean war. We would find notes in the cases "Kill a Jap for me" etc. It is a wonder that there weren't more short rounds etc. Today they claim that 30 year old ammunition is no good but I'm shooting stuff that is 40-50 years old and it works fine. I once shot a 45 round dated 1918 and it still worked fine.

If you've never had a chance to watch a Vietnam 105 battery operate, it was without a doubt the most well trained discipline in the Army. One gun shoots and the other two mimic every move, the charges are laid out to show what was inside the case, when the one gun starts to hit, the other two just go to town and it usually doesn't take a lot of rounds to kill the bad guys. Some of the fire bases operating for the maneuver battalions would shoot hundreds/thousands of rounds. Cubic work....

During Desert Storm, we got to watch arty from Egypt and Saudi and it was like a bad joke. Keystone Kops with guns. Guys running around bumping into each other looking for a rag to keep from burning their precious little hands on the hot cases. Funny but not really funny. Wonder how the Taliban will do with their thousands of guns and all that ammo?

[Snowman1510]

Interesting read Dave, it is always nifty to read those stories, what other notes would you find in those shells?