Book Review: The US M3/M3A1 Submachine Gun

The Complete History Of America’s Famed “Grease Gun”

by
posted on September 21, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
The US M3/M3A1 Submachine Gun:  The Complete History Of America’s Famed “Grease Gun”

Until now, if you wanted to read anything in depth on the M3 “grease gun,” there was only one standalone publication available, Frank Iannamico’s The U.S. M3-3A1 Submachine Gun, a 166-page paperback published in 1999. Other than that fine tome, to find any useful information on the M3 you would have to wade through a multitude of books on the Thompson or other compilation compendiums.

Michael Heidler, no stranger to writing about firearm history, has produced a most impressive volume on one of this author’s favorite World War II firearms, the M3 “grease gun.” This new book is very impressive and informative, belonging on your shelf if you have even the slightest interest in World War II firearms, their development and use.

Heidler starts off with an enlightening chapter on the state of affairs within the U.S. Army Ordnance Dept.’s inventory of submachine guns (SMGs) prior to World War II. That is to say, up until 1939, there were Thompsons, and only 15,000 of them, to be exact. With the war in Europe starting in 1939, some effort was made by various private designers and firms to market a new SMG. Reising, Hyde-Inland, S&W, Star and High Standard, among others, all had potential contributions, but it was the M3 from the Inland Division of General Motors that found favor with the Ordnance Board and was adopted in January 1943. At a cost to the government of only $15 compared to the Thompson that cost $120, the M3 and its successor, the M3A1, were initially intended to replace the Thompson, but manufacturing delays contributed to only 650,000 “grease guns” being manufactured compared to 1.5 million Thompsons.

Heidler’s book is breathtaking in its scope. From copies of the various patents to the technical and field manuals issued with the gun, it is resplendent with up-close color photographs of remarkable clarity and detail. While collecting M3s is out of the price range of most of us, this is still a great reference for identifying the many variants and accessories that were issued with this workhorse of our armed forces for more than 50 years. This book will definitely be a reference that will be consulted for years to come. Retail price from Schiffer Publishing comes to $45.

To learn more, please visit schifferbooks.com.

Latest

Hearing Healthy
Hearing Healthy

Summer Suppressor Deals On Now

Whether it is a BOGO deal from SIG or free tax stamps from Guns.com and Silencer Central, there's plenty of hearing-safe savings to be had this summer.

Rifleman Report: Defending Freedom For 250 Years

"Anyone who claims not to understand the plain and simple intent of the Second Amendment—especially if that person happens to be a constitutional law professor, Supreme Court justice, congressman, senator or president—is likely hiding nefarious intent: to strip individual liberty from American citizens for the express purpose of making them susceptible to a tyrannical government."

Book Review: 2025 Traveler’s Guide To The Firearms Laws Of The Fifty States

Newly updated for 2025, the 29th edition of the Traveler’s Guide To The Firearm Laws Of The Fifty States is packed with all the need-to-know information for cross-country trekkers seeking to bring their arms along with them and remain legal in all localities.

Springfield Kuna: A PDW For The Masses

Small, yet fierce, the namesake of Springfield Armory’s latest large-format pistol is a revered forest dweller in the land of its Croatian manufacturing partner, HS Produkt. The new Kuna is poised to be just as welcome in America.

The Armed Citizen® June 30, 2025

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

Book Review: Clockwork Basilisk: The Early Revolvers Of Elisha Collier & Artemas Wheeler

The result of a decade of research, Clockwork Basilisk is a comprehensive, two-volume history of the rare revolvers that preceded the development of the well-known Colt guns of the 1830s.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.