M1 Carbine Mania
When it comes to iconic firearms, conversations are dominated by the likes of the AK-47, the M16 and the M1911, which makes sense considering the impact they have made. Show a picture of an AK-47 to an average citizen and there is probably a good chance they will recognize it. The same goes for the M16 and the M1911. Other firearms? Not so much. Anyway, those discussions get tired quickly, especially after having them time and time again. There is nothing wrong with routine, but rehashing the same words about the same firearms is not my cup of tea. So today, we are going to talk about a different firearm. We are going to talk about an old U.S. military service rifle that I actually admire. Today, we are going to talk about the M1 carbine.
The M1 Carbine
The M1 carbine is a lightweight, semi-automatic rifle chambered in .30 Carbine that was designed during the early years of World War II. It saw extensive service with the United States Military throughout WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. It has also seen battle with numerous foreign militaries, paramilitaries and police forces, in addition to being a widely used civilian rifle.
The rifle began development after Army Ordnance began receiving reports of the then standard issue M1 Garand being too cumbersome for use with troops with specialized duties. This was especially true of the paratroopers that were deployed in Germany, whose jobs begged a lightweight, selective-fire rifle.
The M1 carbine is interesting for a number of different reasons. At the top of the list is the fact that it was developed as a brand new rifle. Traditionally, carbines are scaled-down variants of a parent rifle. With the M1 carbine, most people assume that it is a carbine variant of its predecessor, the M1 Garand, which is incorrect. Not only is the M1 carbine chambered for a different cartridge (.30 Carbine) than the M1 Garand (.30-06 Springfield), it only shares a single common part with the M1 Garand – a buttplate screw.
As noted, it has become a very popular rifle on the civilian market for its historical significance as well as its ease of use. It has even found itself in a couple of famous photographs, which depict the rifle in the hands of both Malcolm X and Patty Hearst.
Keepshooting.com and the M1 Carbine
As always, I have reasons for thinking the things that I think and typing the things that I type. No, I am not writing about the M1 carbine as a lead-in to inform you of a surplus of M1 carbines we now have for sale. But I would love to tell you about a select few of the wealth of M1 carbine accessories we currently have in stock.
M1 Carbine 1943 Magazine Pouch
For years, the most common and most popular M1 carbine accessory has been the small magazine pouch that is designed to be mounted on the right side of the buttstock. It is probably not a coincidence then that our M1 carbine 1943 magazine pouch is one of our most popular items.
The M1 carbine 1943 magazine pouch is an excellent reproduction of the original pouch, which was manufactured by "KADIN" in 1943. Like the original, our reproduction includes the correct style of snap fastener, the rear offset button snap and correct U.S. markings. For just $9.95, you can get pretty close to the real thing. Each pouch is capable of carrying two M1 carbine 15-round magazines.
M4 Bayonet
What is a U.S. service rifle without its bayonet? Undesirable, that is what. And it is exactly why we offer a number of original and reproduction bayonets for all of the most popular U.S. service rifles, including the M1 carbine.
The M4 bayonet is a great addition to any M1 carbine. It is constructed from U.S. Military parts and designed to give your M1 carbine a correct appearance. All M4 bayonets are guaranteed to fit the M1 carbine. Because this bayonet was manufactured over 40 years ago, they may have been arsenal refinished with newer aplastic grip panels.
M1 Carbine 30-Round Magazine
If a U.S. service rifle without its bayonet is undesirable, where does that leave a U.S. service rifle without its magazine? Luckily, we will not have to answer that question because Keepshooting.com can ensure that you have all the magazines for your M1 carbine that you need.
By far, our most popular M1 carbine magazine, and accessory in general, is our M1 carbine 30-round magazine. The best part about the M1 carbine 30-round magazine is that unlike other aftermarket magazines, it actually works. Not only that, but it is guaranteed to fit and function in your in your mil-spec M1 carbine or your money back. Like other Keepshooting.com brand magazines, the M1 carbine 30-round magazine features a steel body that has been fully heat treated to ensure that your magazine remains durable and reliable for years to come. Additionally, these magazines are equipped with a follower characteristic of the 15-round M1 carbine magazines rather than "bolt hold open" followers to provide for a more reliable magazine.
Avid shooters are well aware of the reliability problems that typically seem to plague 30-round M1 carbine magazines. We want to assure you that these magazines were made with nothing but fit and function in mind, which is why they carry the aforementioned performance guarantee.
As noted, these are just a select few of the M1 carbine accessories available from Keepshooting.com. Take some time to browse the M1 carbine section of our website for the entire lineup.
