NRA Gun of the Week: U.S. M1 Carbine

by
posted on February 2, 2019
Winchester won the M1 Carbine design contract in late October 1941, but it wasn't until 1942 that these arms, chambered for .30 Carbine, arrived on the battlefields of Europe. Total production of the U.S. M1 Carbine came to 6,079,648 units, which is more than the ever-popular M1 Garand during World War II. Several factors contribute to the high production numbers, and though Winchester can be credited for the design, it wasn't the sole contributor of M1 Carbines to the war effort. Others such as Rockola, IBM and General Motors pitched in. For this week's review we take a close look at a flat-bolt M1 Carbine built by the Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors. To learn more, check out this week's NRA Gun of the Week video hosted by Mark Keefe.

Specifications:
Manufacturer: Saginaw Steering Gear Division of General Motors
Action Type: short-stroke-gas-piston-operated, semi-automatic center-fire rifle
Chambering: .30 Carbine
Weight: 5 lbs., 1 oz.
Overall Length: 35.6”
Barrel Length: 18”
Production Dates: August, 1941 to mid-1945
Saginaw M1 Carbine Production: 517,212
Total M1 Carbine Production: 6,079,648

Additional Reading:
10 Things You Didn't Know About the M1 Carbine
General Motors Went to War
Winchester Goes to War
An M1 Carbine for Home Defense?
A Look Back at the M1 Carbine
The M1 Carbine in Vietnam
Redeployed: FN M1 Garands and Carbines
Inland Mfg.'s New-Production M1 Carbine










Latest

Wilson Combat’s NULA Model 20
Wilson Combat’s NULA Model 20

Measuring Up: Wilson Combat’s NULA Model 20

The name New Ultra Light Arms, or NULA, is already well-known to discriminating riflemen, and now that it is part of the Wilson Combat brand, the phenomenon created by “the rifle wizard of West Virginia” appears set for a new lease on life.

The Armed Citizen® May 13, 2024

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Preview: DA-Targets Swinging Gong

Made in the U.S. of a patented, color-changing, self-healing material, Swinging Gongs from Double Action Reactive Targets are a new take on the polymer, reactive target.

Gun Industry Jobs Appearing In More States Than Ever

According to the last three “Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Reports” issued by the National Shooting Sport Foundation (NSSF), the industry-related job growth isn’t concentrated in one or two states—it’s spreading across the nation.

Preview: RIA 5.0E

Rock Island Armory introduced its initial 5.0 pistol in January 2023, and after some tweaking and production streamlining, the new 5.0E, with the “E” standing for “Enhanced,” launched earlier this year.

New For 2024: Global Defense SA-9

Made in Turkey and based on a local product designed for law-enforcement and military units, the Global Defense SA-9 features AR-15-style features in a compact, large-format pistol configuration.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.