M1 Carbine Experts.

[kmcintosh78]

Growing up, I remember my father having an old M1 Carbine, that he said his father brought home from WWII. This carbine had a different configuration then what I have seen. I was told it was a paratrooper model, but instead of the rear butt stock folding, it was a wire style pullout. I believe it was also full auto.
It is since long gone, and I was wondering it anyone has any pictures and/or knowledge of these types of M1 Carbines.

Thanks

 

[JHK94]

Could it be an M2 or M3? I think those are the selective-fire versions.

 

[DMK]

The USGI paratrooper stock folds to the left. The wire pullout stock sounds like an aftermarket design I've seen. I can't remember the manufacturer though.

Either that's not a USGI carbine, or the stock was changed at some point.

As far as full auto, M2 carbines were not used in WWII. If it is a true WWII carbine, it's not full auto.

The M3 was an M1 carbine with a huge night vision scope on it. It was not full auto either.

 

[kmcintosh78]

DMK, great thanks.
I am safe to say that it was probably not full.
As for the wire pull out stock, I am sure that if it were after market, it was a super clean install, as it looked as if it were manufactured that way.

 

[DMK]

Was the stock like this Commercial Plainfield:

Or this USGI style:

 

[kmcintosh78]

Like the Plainfield, but the wire stock did not retract into the wood, it was external and there was not such an extreme curve inward and back down at the back end. Also, it did not have a front hand grip.

 

[HOWARD J]

In 1944 --part kit # T17 & T18 allowed a field conversion of the MI to M2 full auto.
Army units during battle at Okinawa used an M2 carbine equiped with a night scope.
Sent many to heaven..........................................

 

[il_10]

Howard J is right, there were plenty of m2 carbines and m3 carbines built from select fire models in WWII.

I can't find a reference for a non-collapsible wire stock for an m1 carbine; the plainfields like the one posted above are the only ones I've ever seen.

 

[mljdeckard]

I once doodled with the idea of the telescoping style stock, but a lot of people told me the wire one is better. It's on the list.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

There was another wire stock model that had the wires running on the outside of the wood stock, which also had a Thompson stype pistol grip. It was usually made of walnut.

 

[DMK]

There was another wire stock model that had the wires running on the outside of the wood stock, which also had a Thompson stype pistol grip. It was usually made of walnut.

I've seen the stock that collapses so it runs along on the outside of the stock as well. I couldn't find a picture of one though.

This was also a commercial aftermarket unit though, was it not?

I have only seen pics of US GIs in service equipped with M1A style sidefolders, and even those are pretty rare (the real ones).