23 June 2022 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

Wartime color image of the M1C sniper rifle taken in the ETO during the late spring of 1945. Image: NARA - National Archives and Records Administration

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[oldfoneguy]

This photo has a sort of Norman Rockwell look to it. I can't explain why I get that vibe it just strikes me that way.

[ssgross]

taken for a recruiting poster perhaps?

[Bob Seijas]

I have concerns... this would be the first ever evidence that the M1C made it to combat in WWII. Could it be post-war?

[Mark in Rochester]

I have concerns... this would be the first-ever evidence that the M1C made it to combat in WWII. Could it be post-war?

Given the so-so accuracy of captions, it is reasonable to consider that this is post-war if the original photo is color the m1923 cartridge belt gives a slight lean to the possibility of WW2. I looked at about 100 Korean war photos and saw no m1923 belts. Tracking down the original would be a possible way to confirm ww2 usage. I will see what I can find out.

The gas cylinder lock does not appear to be a High hump


The buttons have the appearance of ww2 metal buttons vs the plastic used in the Korean war

Also at some point in the Korean war the HBT shirts had very long pockets if I can find my copy of

The boots do not provide any confirmation as in the Korean War in the second half of 1950, most infantrymen were wearing the M1943 Combat Boot (the "double buckle boot") or even the early WWII-style Service Shoes and Leggings. Although the Army had standardized the Boots, Service, Combat, Russet on 13 Dec 1948, there was little distribution of the new boot until demand in Korea forced it into widespread use.

more info from the source

So far as is known, no M1C rifles were used in combat in Europe. I have included a pair of war-time color images in this article that show the M1C in Italy during 1945 — but these were likely taken after the war had ended. I have never found an image of an M1C in combat during World War II.

In his book Ordnance Went Up Front, World War II ordnance man Roy Dunlap briefly described the M1C:

They were beautiful outfits and I would have given anything to have had one during the war, but they arrived in the Philippines just before the Japanese surrendered. The rifles were selected, the best finished and tightest M1s I ever saw, and of course sights and rifle came together as a unit.

[browningautorifle]

A link to an article that used this pic and another with the same man. You also find the captions included... https://www.thearmorylife.com/the-m1...sniper-rifles/

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

He looks familiar. Does he resemble someone famous to anyone else?

[ssgross]

He looks familiar. Does he resemble someone famous to anyone else?

Michael Phelps with bleached hair?

[Bob Seijas]

arrived in the Philippines just before the Japanese surrendered.

Japan was August 1945. Germany was April. I'm guessing that if the caption says ETO it was June or July 1945 and the war was over. The GI would still have WWII gear, of course. It doesn't dissuade me from thinking the C did not make WWII combat.

[eb in oregon]

I have never found an image of an M1C in combat during World War II.

I sort of doubt the majority of snipers would care for a photographer and reporter to accompany them to work. So the lack of a photo of an M1C at work in the last few weeks of war hardly surprises me. I'd bet that many photos of snipers were posed. Such as this one.