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

American Rifleman Staff

posted on February 2, 2019

Support NRA American Rifleman DONATE

** 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. **

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

6 Reasons Why You Should Have a Good Gunsmith

Not every gunsmithing job needs to or should be a DIY job, and it pays to get to know a good gunsmith and develop a relationship with that person. Here are six reasons why.

News, Tips & Techniques

New for 2026: Breda's Victoria Over-Under Shotguns

While it's a historic Italian firearm brand, Breda guns have long been elusive in the United States. This year, Breda America is adding to its lineup of shotguns with the Victoria family of over-unders.

News, Guns

President’s Column | President's Confidential Survey

President's Confidential Survey

News, President's Column

I Carry: A Look at Today's Latest Duty Holsters

Duty holsters have their place, particularly in law-enforcement and security circles, and they do provide some benefits to civilian users, too.

Reviews, News

Political Report | Oregon’s Hunting, Fishing, and Agricultural Gambit Accelerates the End Game

Gun control activists have become increasingly emboldened. The shift from targeting the margins to challenging the mainstream signals nothing is off-limits. Gun bans are being aimed at the most popular firearms in America. Now, even hunting—which survives in countries that ban defensive gun use—is being targeted.

News, Political Report

ACGG Creates Doug Turnbull Firearms Restoration Arts Grant

The American Custom Gunmakers Guild Foundation announced the introduction of its new "Doug Turnbull Firearms Restoration Arts Grant," which is an expansion on the foundation's mission to support gunsmithing education in the United States.

News