“Tag: World War II”

Developed by Winchester, which used elements from a previous design that aimed to replace the M1 Garand, the M1 carbine ultimately became one of the most-produced and well-liked arms of World War II.

When the early models of the Thompson submachine gun first saw combat in World War II, so did its drum magazines. Despite its shortcomings and complexity, these drum magazines continued to see use throughout the war.

Winchester's New Haven facility closed in March 2006, thus ending a century-and-a-half tradition of military and sporting rifles being made in that city. The contributions of the Winchester factory to the security of this country and the pleasure that its products have given generations of sportsmen must be remembered.

Even after their country fell under Nazi control after France's surrender in 1940, bands of French resistance members continued to fight back using whatever arms they could scrounge or be supplied. 

I’ve been looking to buy an all-original World War II Winchester trench shotgun. I’ve been offered a Parkerized Model 12 stamped “U.S.”, and it has the Ordnance Corps bomb on it. All of the other all-original guns that I have examined were blued. Were any World War II U.S. military shotguns originally Parkerized?

Approximately 80,000 Model 12 trench guns were manufactured between 1941 and 1944, and later production featured a Parkerized metal finish. Careful inspection will reveal four rows of holes in the handguard for barrel heat venting, changed from six during 1917.

While the Thompson and the M3 “grease gun” served with great acclaim during World War II, a lesser-known design saw service across the world in the hands of the OSS and SOE.

Watch this segment of American Rifleman Television to learn more about the 101st Airborne Division troops who partook in Operation Market Garden and the firearms they used.

Watch this segment of American Rifleman Television to learn more about the Allied troops who partook in Operation Market Garden and the firearms they used.