U.S. M1 Carbines,
Wartime Production…by Craig Riesch, 7th Edition
Some forum members have asked experienced collectors their
opinions on Mr. Riesch’s book. Here is
one man’s review of the 7th Edition:
Mr. Riesch’s book is an excellent guide for beginning collectors. It is well organized, extremely thorough in
content, very well written, and has great photographs.
However, the sampling of carbines that Mr. Riesch had available
was far too small to justify the sweeping generalizations that he made in his
Tables (charts), showing readers what parts types and markings are “correct”
for the various serial number ranges of carbines.
Carbines were not assembled in strict serial number order and
changes in parts types were not made at defined serial numbers.
And what I found very disappointing, is that - if Mr. Riesch
didn’t know the answer to something, he apparently guessed. His chart on oiler
markings is an example of guesswork to fill in what he didn’t know.
Below is a list of corrections to some of the author’s statements
that can mislead a beginning collector.
However, digging deep into the Tables of parts and parts types is beyond
the scope of this report.
Page 6. Figure 6 should
read 82nd Airborne, not 81st.
In regards to M4 bayonets, the South Pacific Base Command
documents issuance of 11,637 M4 Bayonets to the 81st Infantry Division (before
combat in the Philippines) and 9,642 M4 Bayonets to the 27th Infantry Division
(before combat on Okinawa). See CCNL
368.
A “Life” magazine photo shows a 7th Infantry Division replacement
GI on Okinawa with an M4 Bayonet and M8A1 Scabbard affixed to his M1936
suspenders, although he is armed with an M1 Rifle. (No photographs of carbines with bayonet lugs
have been reported from the Okinawa campaign, April-June 1945.)
The M2 Carbine was adopted in Oct 1944, not March 1945.
Field-modified automatic carbines were experimented with, in the
European, Mediterranean, and Pacific Theaters as early as June 1944. T4 (or M2)
carbines saw combat in the Philippines in February 1945. 6 M2
Carbines were temporarily issued to the 81st Infantry Division before
deployment to the Philippines. This was likely done only for familiarization,
because a note on the document states “Issued on memorandum receipt and returned
to depot stock.” See CCNLs 368 and 377.
M2 Carbines arrived in Europe as early as Jan 1945, but it is
unknown if any saw actual combat use.
See CCNL 377.
The earliest known photograph of a carbine with a clear view of a
(probable replacement) bayonet lug was at Iwo Jima in May 1945 (after the end
of organized Japanese resistance). See
CCNL 377.
Page 13. The work of the Carbine Industry Integration Committee
(CIIC) should not be overlooked or minimized.
It coordinated the transfer of over 4 million parts among the carbine
manufacturers to overcome delays or shortages and keep production lines
operating. The CIIC played a huge role
in the astonishing production quantity of over 6 million carbines in roughly 3
years.
Larry Ruth’s “War Baby” book lists the parts and quantities that
the CIIC transferred among the carbine manufacturers. Collectors can see for
themselves what seemingly “incorrect” parts are likely factory-original in
their carbines.
The CIIC lists in “War Baby” are only those that Larry Ruth found
at the National Archives. There are
no-doubt other transfers of parts whose records have been destroyed, lost, or
misfiled. And these lists do not reflect
the parts that were transferred between manufacturers via a phone call or
telegram, bypassing the time-delay and bureaucracy of the CIIC. The carbine manufacturers helped each other
out to alleviate shortages.
Page 16. “Spring well” is on right side of receiver, not left
side.
Page 25. Early Inland
receivers were blue/black in color, owing to the Dulite brand protective oxide
finish that was applied.
Page 29. There were no
Saginaw Steering Gear carbines produced in the 6 million range. SG stopped production in the 5.8 million
range. This is what I was referring to earlier in this report, when I
wrote that the Tables are only rough approximations, based on a limited number
of observed carbines. Use the Tables as
a guide, but nothing more than that. Page 41. The Type One extractor plunger had a long stem that was
shortened when the modification was made to the cone (Type Two). Shortening the stem was done to eliminate
breakage problems, as reported in a memo by the Chief of Ordnance on March 5,
1943. See CCNL 116.
Page 48. The flat muzzle
crown has been observed on factory-original early IBM barrels.
Page 58. M4 bayonet, not
M8 bayonet. M8 was the scabbard. (corrected to read M4 in 8th edition)
Page 67. The Type 3
Operating Slide Stop used a slightly longer spring than the Type 2.
Page 110. RSG stocks were
manufactured by the Robert Irwin Company of Grand Rapids for both Saginaw
Steering Gear plants (SG and S’G’). Not
Rock-Ola.
Page 111. The coarse
diamond pattern Inland butt plate was a secondary minor subcontractor, and
those butt plates were used occasionally until early 1944.
Page 119. Inland chose to continue use of the circled P on the
bottom of the grip until about 12-43.
Page 121. Quality Hardware
used a large crossed-cannon stamp (very similar to Inland’s) until mid-1943.
Page 125. Same error as page 119.
Inland used the circled P proof mark until about 12-43.
Page 144. The sling buckles that have the rounded profile were
made by a subcontractor for Schlegel Manufacturing, and were used sporadically
throughout carbine production. Schlegel
supplied slings to NPM, STD PRO, and IBM, and also directly to Ordnance as
spares (marked S.M. Co. with year date).
The various sling manufacturers purchased their hardware from a variety
of subcontractors, so the presence of the rounded buckle has no significance.
(Research by Bill Ricca). (page 139 of 8th edition) Page 145. The F-S Co. 1943
sling is a fake and has been around for decades. Think of it as the “Fake Sling Company.” (page 140 of 8th edition)
Page 148. Oilers were
indeed blued from the start of production until sometime in 1943. (page 143 of 8th edition)
The oiler chart is a mess. There is no evidence that SW or BW
oilers were for Winchester. BW oilers
don’t even exist. Winchester’s only
documented oiler subcontractor was International Silver. Winchester’s oilers were marked IW until
approximately Spring 1943, then the generic IS. (pg 142, 143 in 8th edition remove the BW)
There is absolutely no evidence that ISP oilers were for Standard
Products. In fact, there is strong circumstantial evidence that ISP was for
Irwin-Pedersen. Talented researcher
Brian Quick made the best argument for this in CCNL 347.
BK oilers (Blake Manufacturing) were indeed WWII production in a
direct contract to Ordnance in 1943-1944, as carbine spare parts and/or use
with the M3 “Grease” Gun. That weapon
used the carbine sling and oiler. (See
CCNL 333, Bill Ricca)
SW oilers: Stanley Works is the likely manufacturer, but
documentation is lacking. They made mags
and butt plates for IBM, and SW-marked mags on a direct contract to the
Ordnance Department, but there is no evidence that they made oilers for
Winchester. Like the BK oilers, they are
most likely spare parts for the carbine and/or the M3 “Grease” Gun. (Bill
Ricca)
Page 168. The author
recommends that the gas piston be disassembled “periodically to remove carbon
from the piston face.” This experienced
collector warns that this is neither necessary nor desirable. A sure way to ruin a barrel is by attempting
to “break” the staking of the gas piston nut.
In 45 years of shooting carbines, I’ve never had a fouled gas
piston. (page 180 of 8th edition)
Summary: This report is not a “take down” of Mr. Riesch’s
book. Although it has many errors, it
has far more good information than incorrect information. I have always recommended this book to
beginning collectors - with caution as to the errors - and will continue to do
so.
This book packs a ton of information into 200 easily readable
pages, and skillfully “flattens the learning curve” for beginners who are eager
to learn all they can about the production history of the M1 Carbine and its
many accessories.
For the money, this is the best book for a beginning
collector. Just be careful with the
Tables (charts.) They are very rough
approximations based on a limited number of carbines observed.
Again, carbines were not assembled in strict serial number order
and changes in parts types were not made at defined serial numbers.
I invite experienced collectors to offer their comments. Hopefully, I didn’t commit any errors of my
own in this report!
Good collecting,
Marty Black
Edited by W5USMC to add 8th edition pages
Transposing errors corrected, additional information added
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