SharpsDressedMan
member
My dad was an 81mm mortar company gunner in the Phillipines (actually carried ammo or the base plate most of the time), and also carried a Garand instead of the issued carbine. From what he said, they didn't stay anywhere long enough, or have the resources to fiddle with building or rebuilding rifles in the field. They just used another, or swapped parts if necessary. No mills or lathes nearby for gunsmithing. There WERE lots of parts and "abandoned" rifles, left by fallen comrades. That is where he got his M1. He had no faith in the carbine, and didn't mind the extra weight.