M1 carbine

The M1 Rifle and M1 Carbine share only a buttplate screw and use different sized .30 caliber ammunition

Briefing for staff personnel. Note: Folding stock M1A1 carbine on the table

81 mm mortar crew in action at Camp Carson, Colorado, April 24, 1943. The soldier on the left has a slung M1 carbine.

A U.S. anti-tank crew in combat in the Netherlands, November 4, 1944. The soldier on the far right is holding an M1 carbine

Prior to World War II, U.S. Army Ordnance received reports that the full-size M1 rifle was too heavy and cumbersome for most support troops (staff, mortarmen, radiomen, etc.) to carry. During prewar and early war field exercises, it was found that the M1 Garand impeded these soldiers' mobility, as a slung rifle would frequently catch on brush, bang the helmet and tilt it over the eyes. Many soldiers found the rifle slid off the shoulder unless slung diagonally across the back, where it prevented the wearing of standard field packs and haversacks.

Additionally, Germany's use of glider-borne and paratroop forces to launch surprise ‘blitzkrieg’ attacks behind the front lines generated a request for a new compact infantry weapon to equip support troops.[9][10] This request called for a compact, lightweight defensive weapon with greater range, accuracy and firepower than handguns, while weighing half as much as the Thompson submachine gun or the M1 rifle.[9] The U.S. Army decided that a carbine would adequately fulfill all of these requirements, but specified that the new arm should weigh no more than five pounds and have an effective range of 300 yards.[11][12] Paratroopers were also added to the list of intended users and a folding-stock version would also be developed.

In 1938, the Chief of Infantry requested that the Ordnance Department develop a "light rifle" or carbine, though the formal requirement for the weapon type was not approved until 1940. This led to a competition in 1941 by major U.S. firearm companies and designers.

Winchester at first did not submit a carbine design, as it was occupied in developing the .30-06 Winchester M2 military rifle. The rifle originated as a design by Jonathan "Ed" Browning, brother of the famous firearm designer John Browning. A couple of months after Ed Browning's death in May 1939, Winchester hired David Marshall "Carbine" Williams who had begun work on a short-stroke gas piston design while serving a prison sentence at a North Carolina minimum-security work farm. Winchester, after Williams' release, had hired Williams on the strength of recommendations of firearms industry leaders and hoped Williams would be able to complete various designs left unfinished by Ed Browning, including the Winchester .30-06 M2 rifle. Williams incorporated his short-stroke piston in the existing design. After the Marine Corps semi-automatic rifle trials in 1940, Browning's rear-locking tilting bolt design proved unreliable in sandy conditions. As a result, the rifle was redesigned to incorporate a Garand-style rotating bolt and operating rod, retaining Williams' short-stroke piston. By May 1941, Williams had shaved the M2 rifle prototype from about 9.5 lb (4.3 kg) to a mere 7.5 lb (3.4 kg).

Ordnance found unsatisfactory the first series of prototype carbines submitted by several firearms companies and some independent designers.[12] Winchester had contacted the Ordnance Corps to examine their rifle M2 design. Major René Studler of Ordnance believed the rifle design could be scaled down to a carbine which would weigh 4.5 to 4.75 lb (2.0–2.2 kg) and demanded a prototype as soon as possible. The first model was developed at Winchester in 13 days by William C. Roemer, Fred Humeston and three other Winchester engineers under supervision of Edwin Pugsley, and was essentially Williams' last version of the .30-06 M2 scaled down to the .30 SL cartridge.[13] This patchwork prototype was cobbled together using the trigger housing and lockwork of a Winchester M1905 rifle and a modified Garand operating rod. The prototype was an immediate hit with army observers.[14]

After the initial army testing in August 1941, the Winchester design team set out to develop a more refined version. Williams participated in the finishing of this prototype. The second prototype competed successfully against all remaining carbine candidates in September 1941, and Winchester was notified of their success the very next month. Standardization as the M1 carbine was approved on October 22, 1941. This story was the loose basis for the 1952 movie Carbine Williams starring James Stewart. Contrary to the movie, Williams had little to do with the carbine's development, with the exception of his short-stroke gas piston design. Williams worked on his own design apart from the other Winchester staff, but it was not ready for testing until December 1941, two months after the Winchester M1 carbine had been adopted and type-classified. Winchester supervisor Edwin Pugsley conceded that Williams' final design was "an advance on the one that was accepted", but noted that Williams' decision to go it alone was a distinct impediment to the project,[13] and Williams' additional design features were not incorporated into M1 production. In a 1951 memo written in fear of a patent infringement lawsuit by Williams, Winchester noted his patent for the short-stroke piston may have been improperly granted as a previous patent covering the same principle of operation was overlooked by the patent office.[13]

In 1973 the senior technical editor at the NRA contacted Edwin Pugsley for "a technical last testament" on M1 carbine history shortly before his death 19 Nov 1975. According to Pugsley, "The carbine was invented by no single man," but was the result of a team effort including: William C. Roemer, David Marshall Williams, Fred Humeston, Cliff Warner, at least three other Winchester engineers, and Pugsley himself. Ideas were taken and modified from the Winchester M2 Browning rifle (Williams' gas system), the Winchester Model 1905 rifle (fire control group and magazine), M1 Garand (buttstock dimensions, and bolt and operating slide principles), and a percussion shotgun in Pugsley's collection (hook breech and barrel band assembly/disassembly).[15]

The .30 carbine cartridge is essentially a rimless version of the then-obsolete .32 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge introduced for the Winchester Model 1905 rifle.[16] The propellant was much newer, though, taking advantage of chemistry advances. As a result, the .30 carbine cartridge is approximately 27% more powerful than its parent cartridge. A standard .30 carbine ball bullet weighs 110 grains (7.1 g), a complete loaded round weighs 195 grains (12.6 g) and has a muzzle velocity of 1,990 ft/s (610 m/s) giving it 967 ft·lbf (1,311 joules) of energy, when fired from the M1 carbine's 18" barrel.

In comparison, the .30-06 Springfield ball round used by the M1 Garand is almost three times more powerful than the .30 carbine. The carbine round is twice as powerful as the .45 ACP-caliber Thompson submachine gun in common use at the time. As a result, the carbine offers much better range, accuracy and penetration than those submachine guns. The M1 is also half the weight of the Thompson, and fires a lighter cartridge. Therefore, soldiers armed with the carbine can carry much more ammunition than those armed with a Thompson.[9]

Categorizing the M1 carbine series has been the subject of much debate. Although commonly compared to the later German StG44 and Russian AK-47, the M1 and M2 carbines are under-powered and outclassed by comparison.[17] The carbine instead falls somewhere between the submachine gun and the assault rifle, and could be called a precursor of the personal defense weapon since it fulfilled a similar role.

One characteristic of .30 caliber carbine ammunition is that from the beginning of production, non-corrosive primers were specified. This was the first major use of this type of primer in a military firearm. Because the rifle had a closed gas system, not normally disassembled, corrosive primers would have led to a rapid deterioration of the gas system.[18] The use of non-corrosive primers was a novelty in service ammunition at this time.[19] Some failures to fire were reported in early lots of .30 caliber carbine ammunition, attributed to moisture ingress of the non-corrosive primer compound.[20]

The M1 carbine entered service with a simple flip sight, which had two settings: 150 and 300 yards.[21] However, field reports indicated that this sight was inadequate, and in 1944, it was replaced by a sliding ramp-type adjustable sight with four settings: 100, 200, 250 and 300 yards.[5] This new rear sight was also adjustable for windage.

At 100 yards (91 m), the M1 carbine can deliver groups between 3 and 5 inches, sufficient for its intended purpose as a close-range defensive weapon. The M1 carbine has a maximum effective range of 300 yards (270 m). However, bullet drop is significant past 200 yards (180 m).[16] Therefore, the M1 has a practical effective range of about 200 yards.[22]

The M1 carbine entered service with a standard straight 15-round box magazine. The introduction of the select-fire M2 carbine in October 1944[23] also brought into service the curved 30-round magazine or "Banana Clip".[24] After WW2, the 30-round magazine quickly became the standard magazine for both the M1 and M2 carbines, although the 15-round magazine remained in service until the end of the Vietnam War.[17]

Perhaps the most common accessory used on the M1 carbine was a standard magazine belt pouch that was mounted to the right side of the stock and held two extra 15-round magazines. This field adaptation was never officially approved, but proved an efficient method to supply extra ammunition in combat. After the introduction of the 30-round magazine, it was common for troops to tape two 30-round magazines together, a practice that became known as "Jungle style". This led the military to introduce the "Holder, Magazine T3-A1" also called the "Jungle Clip", a metal clamp that held two magazines together without the need for tape.

The 30-round magazines introduced for use with the selective-fire M2 carbine would not be reliably retained by the magazine catch made for the original M1 carbine which was designed to retain a 15-round magazine, so the much heavier 30-round magazine would not be properly seated in the M1 carbine magazine well. The loaded 30-round magazine would typically slant (impairing feed reliability) or even fall out, which contributed to the poor reliability record of the 30-round magazines. Because of their thin steel construction, they are also more prone to damage due to their added length and weight when loaded. In response to these issues, early production M1 carbines have to be fitted with the type IV magazine catch used on the M2 carbine (and late production M1 carbines) if they are to be used with 30-round magazines in order to ensure reliable loading and feeding. The type IV magazine catch will have a leg on the left side to correspond with the additional nub on the 30-round magazines.[25]

Initial combat reports noted that the M1 carbine's magazine release button was often mistaken for the safety button while under fire.[5] When this occurred, pressing the magazine release caused the loaded magazine to drop into the dirt, while the safety remained in the off position. As a result, the push-button safety was redesigned using a rotating lever.[5][26]

Originally the M1 carbine did not have a bayonet lug, but it was often issued with an M3 fighting knife or a bayonet converted into a fighting knife. Due to requests from the field, the carbine was modified to incorporate a bayonet lug attached to the barrel band starting in 1945.[27] However, very few carbines with bayonet lugs reached the front lines before the end of World War II. After the war, the bayonet lug was added to many M1 carbines during the arsenal refurbishing process. By the start of the Korean War, the bayonet lug-equipped M1 was standard issue. It is now rare to find an original M1 carbine without the bayonet lug. The M1 carbine mounts the standard M4 bayonet, which was based on the earlier M3 fighting knife and formed the basis for the later M5, M6 and M7 bayonet-knives.

A folding-stock version of the carbine (the M1A1) was also developed after a request for a compact and light infantry arm for airborne troops. The Inland Division of General Motors manufactured 140,000 of them in two product runs in late 1942.[23] They were originally issued to the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions but were later issued to all U.S. Army airborne units and the U.S. Marine Corps.[23] The folding-stock M1A1 is an unusual design in that the stock is not locked in the open or closed position, but is instead held in place by a spring-loaded cam.

As carbines were reconditioned, parts such as the magazine catch, rear sight, barrel band without bayonet lug, and stock were upgraded with current standard-issue parts. Also, both during and after World War II, many semi-automatic M1 carbines were converted to select-fire M2 carbines by using the T17 and T18 conversion kits.[28] The conversion included a modified sear, slide, and trigger housing, and added a disconnector, disconnector lever, and selector switch that could be set for semi-auto or full-automatic fire.

During World War II, the T23 (M3) flash hider was designed to reduce the muzzle flash from the carbine, but was not introduced into service until the advent of the M3 carbine.[29] With the exception of T23 hiders mounted on M3 carbines, few if any T23 flash-hider attachments saw service during the war, though unit armorers occasionally hand-built improvised compensator/flash-hiders of their own design.[29][19]

The M1 carbine was used with the M8 grenade launcher (see M7 grenade launcher), which was developed in early 1944. It was fired with the .30 caliber carbine M6 Grenade Blank cartridge to launch 22 mm rifle grenades. Stress from firing rifle grenades would eventually crack the carbine's stock. It also could not use the M8 launcher with an M7 auxiliary "booster" charge (to extend its range) without breaking the stock. This made it a type of emergency-issue weapon.

U.S. Marine in combat at Guam.

M1 carbine at first Iwo Jima flag raising.

The M1 carbine with its reduced-power .30 cartridge was not originally intended to serve as a primary weapon for combat infantrymen, nor was it comparable to more powerful assault rifles developed late in the war. However, it was markedly superior to the .45 caliber submachineguns in use at the time in both accuracy and penetration,[9] and its lighter .30 caliber cartridge allowed soldiers to carry more ammunition. As a result, the carbine was soon widely issued to infantry officers, American paratroopers, non-commissioned officers, ammunition bearers, forward artillery observers, and other frontline troops.[32] The first M1 carbines were delivered in mid-1942, with initial priority given to troops in the European Theater of Operations (ETO).[9]

During World War II a standard U.S. Army infantry company was issued a total of 28 M1 carbines.[33] Company headquarters was issued 9 carbines, weapons platoon was issued 16 carbines and the three rifle platoons were issued 1 each.[33] Although, as the war progressed these numbers would vary greatly, as individual units/soldiers would often arm themselves as they saw fit.

The M1 carbine gained generally high praise for its small size, light weight and firepower, especially by those troops who were unable to use a full-size rifle as their primary weapon.[20][34] However, its reputation in front-line combat was mixed and negative reports began to surface with airborne operations in Sicily in 1943,[35] and increased during the fall and winter of 1944.[36]

In the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, soldiers and guerrilla forces operating in heavy jungle with only occasional enemy contact praised the carbine for its small size, light weight, and firepower.[37] However, soldiers and Marines engaged in frequent daily firefights (particularly those serving in the Philippines) found the weapon to have insufficient penetration and stopping power.[19][38] While carbine bullets would easily penetrate the front and back of steel helmets, as well as the body armor used by Japanese forces of the era[39][40] reports of the carbine's failure to stop enemy soldiers, sometimes after multiple hits, appeared in individual after-action reports, postwar evaluations, and service histories of both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps.[19][38]

The carbine's exclusive use of non-corrosive-primer ammunition was found to be a godsend by troops and ordnance personnel serving in the Pacific, where barrel corrosion was a significant issue with the corrosive primers used in .30-06 caliber weapons.[19] However, in the ETO some soldiers reported misfires attributed to moisture ingress of the non-corrosive primer compound.[20]

U.S. Marines fighting in the streets of Seoul, Korea. September 20, 1950. The M1 carbine in the foreground has the bayonet mounted.

Initially, the M1 carbine was intended to have a select-fire capability, but the requirement for rapid production of the new carbine resulted in the omission of this feature from the Light Rifle Program. On 26 October 1944, in response to the Germans' widespread use of automatic weapons, especially the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle, the select-fire M2 carbine was introduced, along with a new 30-round magazine. The M2 had a fully automatic rate-of-fire of about 750-775 rounds-per-minute. Although actual M2 production began late in the war (April 1945), U.S. Ordnance issued conversion-part kits to allow field conversion of semi-auto M1 carbines to the selective-fire M2 configuration. These converted M1/M2 select-fire carbines saw limited combat service in Europe, primarily during the final Allied advance into Germany. In the Pacific, both converted and original M2 carbines saw limited use in the last days of the fighting in the Philippines.[19]

The M3 carbine was an M2 carbine with the M2 infrared night sight or sniperscope.[7] The M3 did not have iron sights.[7] It was first used in combat by Army units during the invasion of Okinawa, about 150 M3 carbines were used on Okinawa. For the first time, U.S. soldiers had a weapon that allowed them to visually detect Japanese infiltrating into American lines at night, even during complete darkness. A team of two or three soldiers was used to operate the weapon and provide support.[32] At night, the scope would be used to detect Japanese patrols and assault units moving forward. At that point, the operator would fire a burst of automatic fire at the greenish images of enemy soldiers.[32] The M3 carbine had an effective range of about 70 yards (64 meters), limited by the visual capabilities of the sight.[41] Fog and rain further reduced the weapon's effective range.[32][41] However, it is estimated that fully 30% of Japanese casualties inflicted by rifle and carbine fire during the Okinawan campaign were caused by the M3 carbine.[32]

The system was refined over time, and by the Korean War the improved M3 infrared night sight was in service. The M3 sight has a longer effective range than its predecessor, about 125 yards (114 meters). However, it still required the user to carry a heavy backpack-mounted battery pack to power the scope and infrared light. They were used primarily in static defensive positions in Korea to locate troops attempting to infiltrate in darkness. M3 operators would not only use their carbines to dispatch individual targets, but also used tracer ammo to identify troop concentrations for machine gunners to decimate.[5] In total, about 20,000 sets were made before they became obsolete, and were surplussed to the public.

M1 carbine in action during Korean War. Note: 30-round magazine, stock pouch for two 15-round Magazine and grenade launcher. Note the captured Soviet DP-27 machine gun.

U.S. Marines holding captured Chinese Soldiers during fighting on the central Korean front. Note: M1 carbine with mounted bayonet

By the Korean War, the select fire M2 carbine had largely replaced the submachine-gun in U.S. service[42] and was the most widely used carbine variant.[5][43] Although, the semi-auto M1 carbine was also widely used- especially by support troops. However, in Korea, all versions of the carbine soon acquired a widespread reputation for jamming in extreme cold weather,[44][43][45] this being eventually traced to weak return springs, freezing of parts due to overly viscous lubricants and inadequate cartridge recoil impulse as the result of subzero temperatures.[46][47]

There were also many complaints from individual soldiers that the carbine bullet failed to stop heavily clothed[48][47][49][50] or gear-laden[51][50][52] North Korean and Chinese (PVA) troops even at close range and after multiple hits.[43][46][53] Marines of the 1st Marine Division also reported instances of carbine bullets failing to stop enemy soldiers, and some units issued standing orders for carbine users to aim for the head.[47][48] PVA infantry forces who had been issued captured U.S. small arms disliked the carbine for the same reason.[54]

A 1951 official U.S. Army evaluation reported that ..."There are practically no data bearing on the accuracy of the carbine at ranges in excess of 50 yards. The record contains a few examples of carbine-aimed fire felling an enemy soldier at this distance or perhaps a little more. But they are so few in number that no general conclusion can be drawn from them. Where carbine fire had proved killing effect, approximately 95 percent of the time the target was dropped at less than 50 yards."[46] The evaluation also reported that ..."Commanders noted that it took two to three engagements at least to settle their men to the automatic feature of the carbine so that they would not greatly waste ammunition under the first impulse of engagement. By experience, they would come to handle it semi-automatically, but it took prolonged battle hardening to bring about this adjustment in the human equation."[46]

Despite its mixed reputation, the M2 carbine's firepower often made it the weapon of choice, when it came to night patrols in Korea.[46] The M3 carbine with its infrared sniperscope was also used against night infiltrators, especially during the static stages of the conflict.

ARVN soldiers with M1 carbines and U.S. Special Forces with M16s

The M1 and M2 carbines were again issued to U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, particularly with United States Air Force Security Police and United States Army Special Forces. These weapons began to be replaced by the M16 in 1964, and they were generally out of service by 1970s, although they were used in limited numbers by U.S. troops and security personnel until the fall of Saigon in 1975.

At least 793,994 M1 and M2 carbines were given to the South Vietnamese and were widely used throughout the Vietnam War.[55] A number were captured during the war by Vietcong[56] with some made compact by shortening the barrel and/or stock.[5] "While the carbine's lighter weight and high rate of fire made it an excellent weapon for small-statured Asians, these guns lacked sufficient hitting power and penetration, and they were eventually outclassed by the AK-47 assault rifle."[17] The M1/M2/M3 carbines were the most heavily produced family of U.S. military weapons for several decades. They were used by every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

During World War II, the British SAS used the M1 and M1A1 carbines after 1943. The weapon was taken into use simply because a decision had been taken by Allied authorities to supply .30 caliber weapons from U.S. stocks in the weapons containers dropped to Resistance groups sponsored by an SOE, or later also Office of Strategic Services (OSS), organizer, on the assumption the groups so supplied would be operating in areas within the operational boundaries of U.S. forces committed to Operation Overlord. They were found to be suited to the kind of operation the two British, two French, and one Belgian Regiment carried out. It was handy enough to parachute with, and, in addition, could be easily stowed in an operational Jeep. Other specialist intelligence collection units, such as 30 Assault Unit sponsored by the Naval Intelligence Division of the British Admiralty, which operated across the entire Allied area of operations, also made use of this weapon.. The carbine continued to be utilized as late as the Malayan Emergency, by the Police Field Force of the Royal Malaysian Police, along with other units of the British Army, were issued the M2 carbine for both jungle patrols and outpost defense.[57][58][59] The Royal Ulster Constabulary also used the M1 carbine.[60]

Small numbers of captured M1 carbines were used by German forces in World War II, particularly after D-Day.[61] The German designation for captured carbines was Selbstladekarabiner 455(a). The "(a)" came from the country name in German; in this case, Amerika. It was also used by German police and border guards in Bavaria after World War II and into the 1950s. The carbines were stamped according to the branch they were in service with; for instance, those used by the border guard were stamped "Bundesgrenzschutz". Some of these weapons were modified with different sights, finishes, and sometimes new barrels.

A variant was produced shortly after World War II by the Japanese manufacturer Howa Machinery, under U.S. supervision. These were issued to all branches of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, and large numbers of them found their way to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Howa also made replacement parts for US-made M1 carbines issued to Japanese police and military.

The M1 carbine was also used by the Israeli Palmach-based special forces in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. And, because of their compact size and semi-auto capabilities, they continued to be used by Israeli Defence Forces after the creation of Israel. The Israeli police still use the M1 carbine as a standard long gun for non-combat elements and Mash'az volunteers.

The U.S. provided France with 269,644 M1 and M2 carbines from World War II to 1963.[55] The carbines were used by the French Paratroopers and Legionnaires, as well specialists (drivers, radio operators, engineers), during the Indo-China War,[62] the Algerian War[63] and the Suez Crisis.

South Vietnamese Popular Force members on patrol with M1 carbines.

ROK troops armed with M1 carbines during the Vietnam War.

Che Guevara atop a mule in Las Villas province, Cuba, in November 1958, with an M2 Carbine.

The U.S. provided the Army of the Republic of Vietnam with 793,994 M1 and M2 carbines from 1963 to 1973.[55] Along with tens of thousands of carbines left behind by the French after the First Indochina War, the M1 and M2 carbines were the most widely issued small arm during the early stages in the Vietnam War and remained in service in large numbers until the fall of Saigon. The South Vietnamese would also receive 220,300 M1 Garands and 520 M1C/M1D rifles,[64] and 640,000 M-16 rifles.

The Việt Minh and the Viet Cong also used large numbers of M1 and M2 carbines, captured from the French, ARVN and local militia forces of South Vietnam, as well as receiving many thousands of carbines from the North Vietnamese Army (NVA), China and North Korea. Over time, the SKS and eventually the AK-47 would replace the carbine to become the dominant weapons used by the Viet Cong.

The Republic of Korea Armed Forces received 1,015,568 M1 and M2 carbines from 1963 to 1972.[55] Along with hundreds of thousands of Carbines and M1 Garands provided by the United States Army before, during and shortly after the Korean war, South Korea would become the largest single recipient of American M1 and M2 carbines.

South Korea also took an active role in the Vietnam War. From 1964 to 1973, South Korea sent more than 300,000 troops to South Vietnam armed primarily with M1 and M2 carbines, as well as M1 Garands.

The government of the Philippines still issues M1 carbines to the infantrymen of the Philippine Army's 2nd Infantry Division assigned in Luzon Island (some units are issued just M14 automatic rifles and M1 carbines) and the Civilian Auxiliary Forces Geographical Unit (CAFGU) and Civilian Volunteer Organizations (CVO)spread throughout the Philippines. Certain provincial police units of the Philippine National Police (PNP) still use government-issue M1 carbines as well as some operating units of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). In many provinces of the Philippines, M1 carbines are still highly valued as a light small arm. Elements of the New People's Army and Islamic Secessionist movement value the carbine as a lightweight weapon and preferred choice for mountain and ambush operations.

The M1 carbine has become one of the most recognized firearms in Philippine society, with the Marikina City-based company ARMSCOR Philippines still continuing to manufacture .30 caliber ammunition for the Philippine market.

The M1 and M2 carbines were widely used by military, police, and security forces and their opponents during the many guerrilla and civil wars throughout Latin America until the 1990s, when they were mostly replaced by more modern designs. A notable user was Che Guevara who used them during the Cuban Revolution and in Bolivia where he was executed by a Bolivian soldier armed with an M2 carbine.[65] Guevara's fellow revolutionary Camilo Cienfuegos also used an M2 carbine that he modified with the pistol grip and foregrip from a Thompson submachine gun. Cienfuegos' carbine is on display in the Museum of the Revolution (Cuba).

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, a police battalion named Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (BOPE, or "Special Police Operations Battalion") still uses the M1 carbine.

South Korean soldiers training with M1919A6s. Note: ROK soldier armed with M1 carbine to the left. Photo taken August 13, 1950

•  Bolivia: 13,438 units.[55] Still in use with Garras del Valor
•  Brazil: (1944–1945, Brazilian Expeditionary Force - 1945-1986, Brazilian Air Force). In service with BOPE from Rio de Janeiro[66]
•  Indonesia: Used by Indonesian Armed Forces in 1950s and 1960s (received from the United States). Fielded during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation[67] Still in service of Indonesian National Police[68]
•  Israel: 10,000 units[55](1945–1957, Israel Defense Forces). (1970s–present, Israel Police; 1974–present, Civil Guard)
•  Philippines: 8,831 units[55](Pre and Post-World War II, 1942–1970s) Reserve with Philippine navy
•  South Korea: 1,015,558 units[55] (1950s–present, Reserve Force)
•  Suriname: (?-present, Army)
•  Taiwan: 115,948 units[55] (1950s–present)
•  Thailand: 73,012 units[55] Still in use by Territorial Defense Student for drilling. Locally known as the ปสบ.87 (Self-Loading Type 87). HK 33 or the Armi Jager are used for marksmanship exercises.

•  Algeria: (Captured in large numbers from French military personnel during the Algerian Independence War)[69]
•  Angola: 12,215 units[55]
  • FNLA: (Unknown number captured/illegally acquired for use during the Angolan Civil War)[70]
•  Argentina: 12,621 units[55]
•  Austria: 39,005 units[55][71](1950s–70s, Austrian Army and Police)
•  Myanmar: 28,792 units[55]
•  Cambodia: 115,568 units[55] (Khmer Republic)[72] (1967–1975)
•  Canada: 230 units,[55] M2 variant seen in use by Canadian law enforcement personnel responding to the 1984 Quebec National Assembly Shooting.[73]
•  Chile: 2,877 units[55]
•  Republic of China: 361 units[55]
•  Colombia: 7,037 units[55]
•  Costa Rica: 6,000 units[55]
•  Cuba: 118 units in 1963.[55] M1 carbines were used by Batista forces, by Castrist militias and by Brigade 2506.[2]
•  Democratic Republic of Congo[74]
•  Ecuador: 576 units[55]
•  El Salvador: 5000 M1s and ~156 M2s until 1965, more delivered during the 1960s and 1970s.[75]

Ethiopian soldiers deployed with U.S.-made weapons somewhere in Korea, 1953. Note the M1 carbine with two 30-round magazines taped together "Jungle style".

•  Ethiopia: 16,417 units[55][76]
•  France: 269,644 units[55](1954–1962, Algerian War) Classified as the Mousqueton Américain M1 Calibre .30 ("M1 Carbine, American, .30-caliber") in Metropolitan French service.
  •  French Indochina: 35,429 units[55]
•  Germany:
  •  Nazi Germany: No recorded issue.[77] Captured M1 carbines were classified as the Selbstladekarabiner 455(a) ("Self-loading carbine #455 (American)").[23] There are staged pictures of late-war Fallschirmjäger troops and SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler ("Adolf Hitler's SS Bodyguard Regiment") soldiers armed with them.[23]
  •  West Germany: 34,192 units[55] German Border Guard, some Police forces and German Army paratroopers (1950s–1960s)
    •  Bavaria: 14,647 units[78](1945–early 1950s, Border Guard)
•  Greece: 38,264 units[55](Hellenic (Greek) Air Force until mid-1990s)
•  Guatemala: 6063 units[55][79]
•  Honduras: 5,581 units[55]
•  Iceland: Icelandic Police. No longer in service.
•  Iran: 10,000 units[55]
•  Ireland: (1969–1980s, Used by the Provisional IRA, Official IRA, INLA and IPLO during the early years of their campaign and beyond.[80][81] Over 50 of which were smuggled by Harrison Network.)
•  Italy: 146,863 units.[55] Known in the Italian Army as the Carabina «Winchester» M1 cal. 7,62 and Carabina «Winchester» M2 cal. 7,62. In service until the 1990s with the Carabinieri.[82][83]
•  Japan: 3,974 units[55](National Police Reserve)(1950–1989)
•  Jordan: 1912 units.[55] Fielded during the Six-Day War[84]
•  Kingdom of Laos: Received 74,587 units during Vietnam War and Laotian Civil War 1955-1975.[55][85]
•  Lebanon: 900 units[55]
•  Liberia: 80 units[55][86]
•  Libya: 106 units[55]
•  Malaysia[87]
•  Mexico: 48,946 units[55](police departments and security forces)
•  Morocco: 945 units[55]

Dutch police officer shoots teargas ammunition from the muzzle of an M1 carbine, during a blockade and demonstration against the nuclear power plant Dodewaard. September 18, 1981

•  Netherlands: 84,523 units[55](1940s–1970s, Army, Korps Mariniers[1] and Police)
•  Nicaragua: 121 units[55]
•  Nigeria: 100 units[55]
•  Norway: 98,267 units[55](Norwegian Army 1951–1970, with some Norwegian police units until the 1990s)
•  Pakistan: 45 units[55]
•  Panama: 917 units[55]
•  Peru: 821 units[55]
•  Saudi Arabia: Used by the Saudi Army.
•  Tunisia: 771 units[55]
•  Turkey: 450 units.[55] Used in Korean War.
•  United Kingdom: 200,766 units[55] (Limited use by the British military from 1943 to the 1960s and by the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland until the 1980s) Also used by the Hong Kong / Royal Hong Kong Police.
•  United States: 6,110,730 units[55](1940s–60s/70s, Armed Forces and 1940s-present, various law enforcement agencies, and the Tennessee Valley Authority)
•  Uruguay: 32,346 units[55]
•  Soviet Union: 7 units[55]
•  Vietnam: (Largely captured and/or inherited from now-defunct Army of the Republic of Vietnam)[55][88] Some used by the Viet Cong and the Viet Minh, taken from American, French and South Vietnamese forces/armories with a few modified to make them compact.[5]
  •  South Vietnam: 793,994 units[55] (1960s–70s)
• Chetniks (OSS-supplied during WW2)[89]

• Side-folding stock, 15-round magazine
• Paratrooper model
• About 150,000 produced

Carbines originally issued with the M1A1 folding stock were made by Inland, a division of General Motors and originally came with the early "L" nonadjustable sight and barrel band without bayonet lug. Inland production of M1A1 carbines was interspersed with Inland production of M1 carbines with the standard stock. Stocks were often swapped out as carbines were refurbished at arsenals. An original Inland carbine with an original M1A1 stock is rare today.

• Proposed variant with improved sight adjustable for windage and elevation
• Produced only as 'overstamped' model (an arsenal-refurbished M1 with new rear sight and other late M1 improvements)

• Underside-folding pantograph stock, 15-round magazine.
• Type standardized to replace the M1A1 but may not have been issued.
• Pantograph stock was more rigid than the M1A1's folding stock and folded flush under the fore end. A more common name for this type of stock is an underfolder.

M2 Carbine, note: the selector lever on the left side, opposite of the bolt handle.

Exploded view of the M2 Carbine.

• Early 1945
• Selective fire (capable of fully automatic fire)
• 30-round magazine or 15 standard issue
• About 600,000 produced

Initially, the M1 carbine was intended to have a selective-fire capability, but the decision was made to put the M1 into production without this feature. Fully automatic capability was incorporated into the design of the M2 (an improved, selective-fire version of the M1), introduced in 1944. The M2 featured the late M1 improvements to the rear sight, addition of a bayonet lug, and other minor changes.

Research into a conversion kit for selective fire began May 1944; the first kit was developed by Inland engineers, and known as the T4. Inland was awarded a contract for 500 T4 carbines in September 1944. Although the conversion was seen as satisfactory, the heavier 30-round magazine put greater strain on the magazine catch, necessitating the development of a sturdier catch. The slide, sear, and stock design also had to be modified. On fully automatic fire, the T4 model could fire about 750 rounds per minute, but generated a manageable recoil.[5]

Although some carbines were marked at the factory as M2, the only significant difference between an M1 and M2 carbine is in the fire control group. The military issued field conversion kits (T17 and T18) to convert an M1 to an M2. Legally a carbine marked M2 is always a machine gun for national firearms registry purposes.

These M2 parts including the heavier M2 stock were standardized for arsenal rebuild of M1 and M1A1 carbines.

A modified round bolt replaced the original flat top bolt to save machining steps in manufacture. Many sources erroneously refer to this round bolt as an 'M2 bolt' but it was developed as a standard part for new manufacture M1 and later M2 carbines and as a replacement part, with priority given to use on M1A1 and M2 carbines.[12] The slightly heavier round bolt did moderate the cyclic rate of the M2 on full automatic.[91]

Despite being in demand, very few M2 carbines saw use during World War II, and then mostly in the closing days against Japan.[5] The M2 carbine was logistically compatible with the millions of M1 carbines in U.S. service, and offered longer range, better accuracy and better penetration than (pistol caliber) submachine guns like the M1 Thompsons and M3 Grease Guns.[92] Therefore, after World War II, the M2 carbine largely replaced the submachine-guns in U.S. service, until it was itself replaced by the M16 rifle.[42]

The M2 model was the most widely used Carbine variant during the Korean War.[5] A detailed study of the effectiveness of the M2 in the war was assembled by S. L. A. Marshall. He found that many troops complained on the lack of effective range of the gun, which allowed the enemy to get close enough to throw hand grenades. A more detailed analysis showed however that most troops who complained actually tended to run low on ammo, because they fired their M2 on fully automatic too soon. Troops who fired their guns on semi-automatic at distance generally complained less about the M2's effectiveness. Generally, the more seasoned troops used the latter approach. The carbine was usually given to second line troops (administrative, support, etc.), who had little combat experience and also did not have much training in small-unit tactics, but who usually had to engage the enemy at some critical moment, like a breakthrough or ambush. Marshall noted that almost all killing shots with carbines in Korea were at ranges of 50 yards or less. It was unsurprising therefore that the M2 was a preferred weapon for night patrols. The M2 was also used in the early stages of the Vietnam War by special forces, ARVN advisers, and air crews.[5]

Contemporary authors have struggled to categorize the M2 carbine. On one hand, it is more powerful than a submachine gun and is considered by some to be an assault rifle, even though it fires a projectile considerably less powerful than the StG 44's 7.92×33mm Kurz. On the other hand, the M2 can also be considered a precursor of the modern personal defense weapon (PDW) concept, even though contemporary guns in that category, like the FN P90, fire substantially different cartridges like the 5.7×28mm.[5]

• Arsenal-refurbished (overstamped M2) model

• M2 with mounting (T3 mount) for an early active (infrared) night vision sight
• About 3,000 produced
• Three versions of night sight (M1, M2, M3)

Original Korean War era USMC M3 Night Vision Scope

The M3 carbine was an M2 carbine fitted with a mount designed to accept an infrared sight for use at night. It was initially used with the M1 sniperscope, and an active infrared sight, and saw action in 1945 with the Army during the invasion of Okinawa. Before the M3 carbine and M1 sniperscope were type-classified, they were known as the T3 and T120, respectively. The system continued to be developed, and by the time of the Korean War, the M3 carbine was used with the M3 sniperscope.

The M2 sniper scope extended the effective nighttime range of the M3 carbine to 100 yards. In the later stages of the Korean War, an improved version of the M3 carbine, with a revised mount, a forward pistol grip, and a new M3 sniperscope design was used in the latter stages of Korea and briefly in Vietnam. The M3 sniperscope had a large active infrared spotlight mounted on top of the scope body itself, allowing use in the prone position. The revised M3/M3 had an effective range of around 125 yards.[41] Eventually, the M3 carbine and its M3 sniperscope would be superseded by passive-design night vision scopes with extended visible ranges; the improved scopes in turn required the use of rifle-caliber weapons with flatter trajectories and increased hit probability.

The Ingram SAM rifles are M1 carbine derivatives in 5.56×45mm NATO (SAM-1), 7.62×39mm (SAM-2) and 7.62×51mm NATO (SAM-3). The 5.56×45mm versions accept M16 magazines, the 7.62×39mm accept AK magazines and the 7.62×51mm versions use FN FAL magazines. They did not catch on in competition against the Ruger Mini-14 in both the police and civilian markets. The Ingram SAM rifles are occasionally found on auction sites for collectors.

Iver Johnson's 9×19mm Parabellum Carbine was introduced in 1985 until 1986 using modified Browning High Power 20 round magazines.

Chiappa Firearms produces a 9mm M1 carbine derivative called the M1-9 which uses Beretta M9/92FS magazines. The Chiappa is not Gas operated and instead relies on Blowback operation.

• Alpine of Azusa, Calif.[99]
• AMAC of Jacksonville, Ark. (acquired Iver Johnson Arms)[100]
• AMPCO of Miami, Fla.[101]
• Auto-Ordnance
• Bullseye Gun Works of Miami, Fla.[102]
• ERMA's Firearms Manufacturing of Steelville, Mo.[103]
• Erma Werke of Dachau, Bavaria serviced carbines used by the West German police post World War II. Manufactured replacement parts for the same carbines. Manufactured .22 replica carbines for use as training rifles for police in West Germany and Austria and for commercial export worldwide.[104][105]
• Federal Ordnance of South El Monte, Calif.[106]
• Fulton Armory of Savage, MD[107]
• Global Arms[108]
• H&S of Plainfield, NJ (Haas & Storck, predecessor of Plainfield Machine)[109]
• Howa of Nagoya, Japan, made carbines and parts for the post-World War II Japanese and Thai militaries, and limited numbers of a hunting rifle version[110]
• Inland Manufacturing of Dayton, Ohio[111]
• Israel Arms International (IAI) of Houston, Texas assembled carbines from parts from other sources[112]
• The Iver Johnson Arms of Plainfield, NJ and later Jacksonville, Ark., (acquired M1 Carbine operations of Plainfield Machine) and followed the lead of Universal in producing a pistol version called the "Enforcer".[113]
• Johnston-Tucker of St. Louis, Mo.[114]
• Millvile Ordnance (MOCO) of Union, N.J. (predecessor of H&S)[115]
• National Ordnance of Azusa, Calif. and later South El Monte, Calif.[116]
• NATO of Atlanta, GA[117]
• Plainfield Machine Company of Plainfield, N.J. and later Middlesex, N.J. (P.O. Box in Dunellen, N.J.), M1 Carbine manufacture later purchased and operated by Iver Johnson[118]
• Rock Island Armory of Geneseo, Ill.[119]
• Rowen, Becker Company of Waterville, Ohio[120]
• Springfield Armory of Geneseo, Ill.[121]
• Texas Armament Co. of Brownwood, Tex.[122]
• Tiroler Sportwaffenfabrik und Apparatenbau GmbH of Kugstein, Austria manufactured an air rifle that looked and operated like the M1 Carbine for use in training by Austria and West Germany.[123]
• Universal Firearms of Hialeah, Fla. – Early Universal guns were, like other manufacturers, assembled from USGI parts. However, beginning in 1968, the company began producing the "New Carbine", which externally resembled the M1 but was in fact a completely new firearm internally, using a different receiver, bolt carrier, bolt, recoil spring assembly, etc. with almost no interchangeability with GI-issue carbines.[124]
  Universal was acquired by Iver Johnson in 1983 and moved to Jacksonville, Ark. in 1985.
• Williams Gun Sight of Davison, Mich. produced a series of 50 sporterized M1 Carbines[125]

The ammunition used by the military with the carbine include:[130]

• Cartridge, Caliber .30, Carbine, Ball, M1
• Cartridge, Grenade, Caliber .30, M6 (also authorized for other blank firing uses, due to a lack of a dedicated blank cartridge)
• Cartridge, Caliber .30, Carbine, Dummy, M13
• Cartridge, Caliber .30, Carbine, Ball, Test, High Pressure, M18
• Cartridge, Caliber .30, Carbine, Tracer, M16 (also rated as having an incendiary effect)
• Cartridge, Caliber .30, Carbine, Tracer, M27 (dimmer illumination and no incendiary effect)