U.S. M1 Carbines: Wartime Production [Mar 01, 1994] Riesch, Craig ...

U.S. M1 Carbines: Wartime Production

Craig Riesch

North Cape Pubns

New, 6th Edition, revised and expanded with new serial number information, parts descriptions, and photos. 
The M1 Garand was the battle rifle issued to American forces during World War II and the Korean War. It was the first semiautomatic rifle design to be used by combat forces in any army of the world. It was standardized in 1936 and saw its first combat in the Philippines in December 1941. Few other rifles have developed such a distinguished record as both a battle rifle and a match target rifle. General George Patton called the M1 Garand the greatest battle implement ever devised. The semiautomatic M1 Garand gave the American soldier a distinct firepower advantage over enemy soldiers armed with bolt action rifles that had to be cocked before each shot. During World War II, nearly four million M1 Garands were built at the Springfield National Armory and Winchester Repeating Firearms factories. They were issued in every theater of the war. And hundreds of thousands were issued to French, Belgian, Greek, Italian and Philippine allies as well. During the Cold War years until the early 1960s, the M1 Garand was the mainstay of our small arms support programs to allied and friendly nations. In the last days of World War II, special variations of the M1 Garand, designated the M1C were developed and produced as sniper rifles. More were built during and after the Korean War as the M1D. Also, during the Korean War, the M1 Garand was put back into production at Springfield, and in the factories of two private concerns, bringing the total production to almost 6,000,000. Hundreds of thousands of M1 Garands were issued to soldiers of the Army of the Republic of South Vietnam. Thousands of M1 Garands were manufactured in the 1950s as Match Target rifles and these are also eagerly sought by collectors. 
After Congress approved the reimportation of certain military rifles for collecting purposes in 1986, it is estimated that nearly half a million of the 1.5 to 2 million M1 Garands shipped overseas to allied and friendly nations were allowed to be reimported. Collector's snapped them up eagerly and began to restore them to original condition. But the M1 Garand had undergone a such continuous process of improvement and upgrading that by the end of production in 1955, hardly a single part remained as it had originally been designed. 
The collector attempting to restore an M1 Garand to original, as-manufactured condition must first determine when his rifle was manufactured, then which part or parts need replacing. Keep in mind that there were four different manufacturers of the rifle, all of whom also made spare parts. 
Fortunately, every part of the M1 Garand carries at least one clue to its manufacturer and the date when it was made. Every major part was stamped with a part number; and these part numbers were changed every time the part was redesigned for improvement. Other clues are the type and color of finish, specific machine tool marks, factory codes and so on, all translated in The M1 Garand: 1936 to 1957. With this book in hand, the collector will find it easy to examine his or her rifle and determine which parts must be replaced to return it to its original state. The book also explains how to determine if replacement parts are correct and if they are of original manufacture or are so-called after-market parts of non-military origin.
 The book also describes in detail, the m1 Garand M1C, M1D,and MC-52 Sniper Rifles and the M1 Garand National Match Rifles.

The M1 Garand, 1936-1957

Engineering & Transportation

Joe Poyer

Engineering

North Cape Publications

This 5th revised and expanded edition provides a part-by-part review of all models of the Springfield .45-70 Trapdoor rifle, carbine and cadet rifle. Three new chapters have been added to this edition: Officer's Model Rifles, Experimental (26-inch) Carbine, and Fencing Muskets. 
Every part from buttplate to front sight of every model is discussed in terms of dimensions, use, markings, finish and changes to that part by serial number range. A new serial number list is included with serial number ranges listed by production years. This new list includes serial numbers not previously included by other authors. 
This book makes it possible for the collector to determine whether or not a particular rifle, carbine or cadet rifle is original as manufactured. The collector must keep in mind that not only was the .45-70 Springfield Trapdoor used by the Army, but also by the Navy, Marines, National Guard and various state militias from 1873 to well into the 20th Century. The trapdoor was still being issued as late as World War I to militia units for guard duty. 
During this more than forty-year period of service, the trapdoor went through several model changes and even more frequent parts upgrades. So a rifle manufactured in 1879 may have undergone as many as twenty parts changes by 1889, all of which are considered valid, original manufacturing changes. The problem the collector, museum director, gunsmith, author and shooter faces is determining which changes were made officially by the Ordnance Department while in service and which were made by surplus dealers, resellers and previous non-military owners. 
"The .45-70 Springfield" provides answers to all these questions and more. With this book in hand, it is possible to assess every part and using the serial number stamped on the receiver, determine first in what year the arm was manufactured, then on a part-by-part basis, decide whether or not each part is the correct and original part for that arm. If some parts are found to have been manufactured later, then the book will tell you whether or not those parts were installed by military armorers according to regulation. 
Why is this important? First, the .45-70 Springfield is a tangible piece of the history of our nation. And as such, it deserves to be correct. Secondly, the .45-70 Springfield's value depends in large part on how original it is. Parts that are incorrect can be replaced, returning the arm to both its historical and economic value. The book also provides a historical overview of the .45-70's development and use during the latter part of the 19th Century and into the 20th. Also included are assembly/disassembly instructions, cleaning and maintenance, glossary and bibliography.

The .45-70 Springfield

North Cape Publications, Inc.

U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production, 7th edition, revised and expanded, by Craig Riesch. ISBN-13 978-1-882391-43-1. 
The 7th edition of this best-selling bible of the World War II M1 Carbine has been revised and expanded to include new information regarding adjustable rear sights and their period of use, additional manufacturer's codes, new information regarding the importance of rebuilt M1 and M1A1 carbines, and Israeli, Italian reimported carbines, and a new table showing manufacturer's shipment's by dates. 
The author, Craig Riesch, has compiled twenty-five years of surveys and research into this 235 page volume. 
The book contains 40 charts and 215 photographs, and fourteen drawings. The book provides a history of the M1 Carbine's development, manufacture and use during World War II, as well as through the Korean War and the war in Vietnam. 
The M1 Carbine is analyzed and described by its ten manufacturers, model and serial number range. The U.S. Army Ordnance Department required that virtually every part of the M1 Carbine be marked with a manufacturer s or subcontractor s code. Riesch has unraveled the manufacturer's and subcontractor's codes by serial number range and eliminated many spurious codes. Every major and most minor parts can now be conclusively identified by manufacturer and serial number range, making it possible to examine an M1 Carbine to determine its authenticity with a high degree of confidence. 
Using the charts and photos the collector can identify the manufacturer and period of use for the receiver group, barrel group, trigger housing group, stock group and their component parts. Butt plates by the various manufacturers are shown in full-size photographs for easy identification. 
All variations of the M1 Carbine are discussed M1, M1A1, M2, T2 and M3 by manufacturer. The aspects that make up the two types of true M1A1 folding stock paratrooper carbines are described and photographed. Serial number ranges for original manufacture of the M1A1 are also included. Reproduction folding stocks are shown and points of difference are identified so the collector will not be fooled by fakes. 
The book is divided into six chapters and ten appendices. Each chapter describes a major subgroup of the M1 Carbine: receiver, barrel, trigger assembly, and stock.

U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production, 7th Revised and Expanded Edition

Politics & Social Sciences

U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production, 8th edition, revised and expanded, by Craig Riesch. ISBN 978-1-882391-54-7. 
 The new 8th edition of this best-selling bible of the World War II M1 Carbine has been revised and expanded to include an entire chapter devoted to Carbine Magazines, new information in the Carbine oilers section, new sections covering the Tool Roll and Spare Parts Roll, as well as the shipping crate, and additional info on imported M1 Carbines. Additional photos and updated charts have also been added. 
 This book is divided into seven chapters and ten appendices. Each chapter describes a major subgroup of the M1 Carbine: receiver, barrel, trigger assembly, stock, accessories, the trench knife and bayonet, and magazines. 
 The author, Craig Riesch, has compiled thirty-two years of surveys and research into this 236 page volume. The book contains 43 charts, 231 photographs, and 14 drawings. 
 The book provides a history of the M1 Carbine's development, manufacture and use during World War II, as well as through the Korean War and the war in Vietnam. The M1 Carbine is analyzed and described by its ten manufacturers, model and serial number range. The U.S. Army Ordnance Department required that virtually every part of the M1 Carbine be marked with a manufacturer's or subcontractor's code. Riesch has unraveled the manufacturer's and subcontractor's codes by serial number range and eliminated many spurious codes. Every major and most minor part can now be conclusively identified by manufacturer and serial number range, making it possible to examine an M1 Carbine to determine its authenticity with a high degree of confidence. Using the charts and photos the collector can identify the manufacturer and period of use for the receiver group, barrel group, trigger housing group, stock group and their component parts. Butt plates by the various manufacturers are shown in full-size photographs for easy identification. All variations of the M1 Carbine are discussed M1, M1A1, M2, T2 and M3 by manufacturer. The aspects that make up the two types of true M1A1 folding stock paratrooper carbines are described and photographed. Serial number ranges for original manufacture of the M1A1 are also included. Reproduction folding stocks are shown and points of difference are identified so the collector will not be fooled by fakes.

U.S. M1 Carbines, Wartime Production, 8th Edition