What do you think...M1 Garand

[eclancy]

Gentlemen,
..caused the USA Ordnance Dept. to begin looking for a new weapon system, the Semi-automatic Rifle, right after the end of WWI, "the war to end all wars?" This search led to the United States being the only country to enter into WWII with a NEW Semi-automatic Rifle as "Standard Issue" for our troops. One odd point is that Ordnance had the M1 Rifle listed as standard issue in 1936! However, mass production of the M1 Garand did not start until late 1937.



Some data has been posted before others have not.

Thanks again
Clancy
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[DMK]

William Atwater... Was that the guy that was showing off the early M16s in the Tales of the Gun episode?

 

[Dr. Dickie]

Didn't the Marines lag in adopting the M1 until after Guadalcanal? That was '42 wasn't it. Perhaps that is where the date came from.

 

[BsChoy]

Dr dickie, that sounds reasonable to me. They used the Johnson rifle for a whilw. it malfunctioned too easy in the damp, dirty jungle so they went with the m1. The Johson was a 10 shot potbellied rifle that fed by stripper clips from a rotary mag and could be topped of in mid mag unlike the M1

 

[offthepaper]

Quote:
"William Atwater... Was that the guy that was showing off the early M16s in the Tales of the Gun episode?"
----------------------------
Yes.
He's often featured on The History Channel when Military Arms are the subject. I spoke with him briefly when touring the Aberdeen Ordnance Museum (Md). A very interesting, informative person to speak to. A real shame that Mueseum is moving. I'll miss it.

 

[eclancy]

Gentlemen,
The USMC adopted the M1 Garand in March of 1941. They were to receive 3,000 per month starting in April of 1941. Production of the M1 Garand really jumped up after Pearl Harbor in Dec of 1941. Ordnance just didn't have stock pile of M1's needed in the field.
Thanks again
Clancy