Triggers

The Type II Trigger used throughout the majority of production

Top View

Front View

Tooling Variation

Triggers produced at Irwin-Pedersen and Saginaw Gear at the Grand Rapids (S'G') facility may have one or two
characteristics specific to the triggers manufactured on some of the tooling at this facility.

Assembly Tip

Assembling the trigger, sear and sear spring into the trigger housing can be a challenge when exerting rearward pressure
on the sear and sear spring while attempting to align the holes and insert the trigger pin that secures them. There are
several different methods of simplifying this task including the one shown below.

Shorten a spare trigger pin to the width of the hole in the trigger. Assemble the trigger, sear
and sear spring together as a unit with the shortened pin. Place the assembled unit inside the trigger housing and
align the hole in the trigger housing with the shortened pin. Push out the shortened pin with the full size trigger pin.

Trigger Spring

The Trigger Spring manufactured throughout the majority of production is shown below as the Type II. The Type III Trigger Spring was a variation
manufactured by National Postal Meter. The Type I Trigger spring was absent the loop and reportedly used by Inland and Winchester during
very early production.

Type I	Type II	Type III

Assembly Tool

During WWII an L shaped tool was developed to assist in compressing the ends of the trigger spring to insert it into the trigger housing.
The spring is pushed into the open end of the tool then inserted into the hole in the rear of the trigger housing. The tool below is
larger than the original and manufactured post WWII.

The front of the spring engages the slot behind the trigger pedestal
providing downward tension on the rear of the trigger.

Trigger Pin

.6" long and .125" in diameter, Trigger Pins were blued

Sears

	Type I
This sear was used from the beginning of production. The single most recognizable characteristic is the absence of a hole through the rear half of the sear above the sear spring.

By the second half of 1943 the design was slightly changed in an effort to improve trigger pull. The changes are
almost imperceptible and most type I sears have had the changes made.

The nose of the sear (left) was ground to give it a small radius at the point it engages the rear of the hammer (right).

The lower edge of the rear of the sear (left) was ground at a slight angle (right).

This design change was mandated for all existing sears. Those already shipped as part of a carbine were to be altered
by Ordnance field personnel whenever the opportunity presented itself. Those altered were to be identified as such
by placement of a grind mark on top of the rear of the sear.

The majority of Type I sears have been modified to include these changes and more often than not do not include the grind mark.
Post WWII Ordnance refurbishment operations mandated this change on the earlier sears without requiring the grind mark. By 1953
the absence of the grind mark was no longer reliable in determining if the alteration had been done.
(Ordnance Manual "TM 9-1276, Cal. .30 Carbines M1, M1A1, M2, M3", February 1953).

These changes were incorporated into the manufacture of new sears producing the "Type II" sear.

	Type II
The single most recognizable characteristic is the hole through the rear half of the sear above the sear spring.

	Type III

Sears designed for use with the Model M2 Carbine included an elevated platform on the front half of the sear on which the Disconnector rested. Changing the Selector Switch
to automatic fire caused the Disconnector to push the sear downward below the hammer as the trigger was held to the rear enabling automatic fire.

The M2 sear, while mandatory for automatic fire, was also used on semi-auto only carbines as an alternative to the earlier sears.

Machining Variation

Sears manufactured by Springfield Armory were absent the typical SA marking. They can be identified by a slight elevated ridge toward the front of the sear.
M2 Sear manufactured by Rock Island Arsenal		M2 Sear manufactured by Springfield Armory

Sear Springs

Type I
Type II

The Sear Spring used at the beginning of production had a diameter of .145" with 16 coils .7" in overall length. To improve trigger pull it was reduced to
15 coils .655" in overall length with the coils at either end tapered smaller. Most early sears were replaced with the later sears at some point.