M1 Thumb - er, OUUUUUCH!!

[Phyphor]

Never done it before, myself... and I was just cleaning my newest toy (the Garand I told ya'll about earlier, ) when I got distracted and that old decided to remind me to PAY ATTENTION....

SO, how many of you others have experienced the joys(?) of M-1 thumb?

(Note: At leas tthe swelling has gone down, somewhat.. ) :banghead:

 

[foghornl]

Me

Rem 1100 thumb, too

got thumb stuck once in chamber of Steves/Savage 94B 16Ga break-action single shot shotgun...long story.


But I have only done each of those things ONCE.

 

[trvlr905]

Me, too, once. The beast bit me hard enough to break skin and draw blood. On the palmside of the thumb. Was hard to do push ups afterwards.

 

[Braz]

Inspection casualties

I remember at least one muffled cry every time we cleared the action and released the bolt. Wish I had an M1 to hurt me again.

 

[Kentucky Rifle]

Back in the Jurassic Period, when I was in Military School, everyone was issued his own M-1. I've seen some bad "M-1 thumbs". Sometimes, the guys who got really painful, bloody M-1 thumbs threw up! Tossed their cookies! Called "Ralph" on the "big white phone". After an M-1 thumb, you're very, VERY careful when the command "Inspection Arms" is given.
I've even seen guys run from the formation with their M-1 still securely attached to their thumbs. HEE HEE! WHAT a memory. Cracked me UP!!

KR

 

[Matthew_Q]

Lucky to say I haven't.

I have two M1s now, and neither will bite when loading a full clip. Almost got bit a few times either single loading or loading a 2 round clip, but still no M1 Thumb!


Gotta love them old rifles... they're like a business class ticket to cool with complementary mojo after takeoff...

 

[dude]

ah, yet another benifit of a .308 Garand, no M1 thumb

............. as the clips have a tighter grip on the rounds. You have to give the charging handle a small bump to chamber.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

I always reach under the rifle and hold the bolt carrier open with my left hand while inserting the clip (yes, it is a clip) into the receiver with my right hand. I get my right hand out of the way, and let the bolt carrier fly. Never had a problem.

-SquirrelNuts

 

[GD]

I have had Garand thumb and with my new Hakim I am greatly worried about the Hakim thumb!
Once you have been bit, you never forget! I have only gotten Garand thumb once.

 

[thisaway]

What's the cliche now? "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt."

 

[JohnKSa]

The Hakim/Ljungman will take a big chunk out of your thumb if you're not careful. That gas tube acts just like a cookie cutter.

 

[Viking Warrior]

I heard this from a Korean war vet who said that it got soo cold during that winter that their M1 Garands wouldnt function correctly, so they poured the only hot liquid on the action that they had, Yep, They had to pee on them to un freeze the action, evidently every now and then a soldier named Johnson would get a little to close and he would end up with... You guessed it, M1 PENI$... OUCCHHHH

 

[Devonai]

So far, so good. One close call, though.

 

[Backwoods]

Got my first of two M1s, 25 years ago and -so far- haven't been caught yet. I certainly hope that I can keep up this record!

Don in Ohio

 

[longspurr]

Never had a M1 thumb but I witnessed 1 up close. A gunny sarge was single loading my M1 and coaching me on the range. I was prone, strapped into a shooting jacket and tight sling. He got distracted and tried to stuff his right thumb into my M1's chamber via the bolt. He lifted me right off the ground with a mighty heave and EEEEEOOOOOOO!!!!

It got a might confusing as he tried to shake off the M1 with me attached.

 

[Phyphor]

To be fair, I wasn't loading it, I was releasing the bolt forward, and didn't pay enough attention....

(you end up paying SOME way, whether it be attention or blood! )

Loading clips into either one isn't a problem as I use the 'blade of the hand against handle' method...

 

[CGofMP]

When I put together the M1 Garand Newbie Site in 2000 I was a real newcomer to the M1.

Of course familiarity breeds contempt and as the years went by I got complacent. Last year I managed to get a LITTLE taste of an M1 thumb because I did not fully retract the bolt when I was safety checking for a round in the chamber as I took the m1 out of the safe.

I only got a MINOR tag on the thumbnail and I gotta tell you... I have decided it may be safer to be a newbie than a compacent long-time-owner!

Not bright Not bright! :banghead:

Charles

 

[WilderBill]

Although it's possible to get M1 thumb while loading, it's MUCH easier to get it while trying to close the bolt during an inspection when you are looking straight ahead.
ROTC 1970. It still hurts when I think about it.

 

[coonan357]

well the proper way to make M-1 thumb from hurting so much is drop the can of ammo on your foot !!! now your thumb don't hurt so much ...

 

[Art Eatman]

And the Lord said, "Thou shalt be careful with thy thumb," and I've successfully followed His advice for a half-century...

, Art

 

[Mr Bill]

Only a small blood blister on the side of the thumb once. That was enough.