Customer Reviews

The M1 Carbine (Weapon)

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I have owned two M1 carbines, and can recommend this book. Mr. Thompson gives a concise yet detailed overview of the firearm. Only one quibble: the author reports that future USMC Commandant Lewis "Chesty" Puller approved of the carbine. In WW2, perhaps; but Burke Davis' biography of Puller ("MARINE!") reports that in Korea, Puller apparently believed the oft-told tale of Carbine bullets failing to penetrate Chicom winter clothing, and FORBADE anyone within his HQ to carry one at the front. Otherwise, a fine book.

This is an easy to read history of the great little M1 carbine. It follows its progression from development all the way up to Vietnam. The chapter on law enforcement use was very intersting as I had seen the carbine being used in old news reel footage in the hands of police officers. Some of his research varies a little from what I have learned over the years but that doesn't distract from the book at all.

As Army service troops, the men in my grandfather's WWII port battalion were all issued the M1 Carbine. To better understand his war experience I have been meaning to I read-up on the weapon he carried. Lucky for me Osprey Publishing recently published a book on the carbine.

Thompson's book details the rifle's use from WWII to Korea to Vietnam. My interest is limited to WWII, which is the main focus of the book. The M1 Carbine was developed specifically for troops who's hands were mostly occupied with non-combat tasks, but were still in a combat zone. It was thought these men needed a weapon more powerful than a pistol, but not as bulky as the standard infantryman's rifle, the M1 Garand.

The Army invited weapons manufacturers to submit designs based on a set of criteria for this light rifle. Thompson details the process and shares some interesting observations. For instance, one of the several companies that was awarded a contract to produce the carbines during the war was the Underwood company. So, a company clerk in the field may have typed reports on an Underwood typewriter, while his Underwood carbine leaned against the desk!

The book goes on to describes the use of the carbine in battle. It was employed most notably by Army paratroopers in Europe who benefited from the weapon's compact size and low weight. In the Pacific the M1 carbine was valued for it's resistance to corrosion, and it's size made it well-suited to close jungle fighting. I especially appreciated page 39 which discusses the M1 Carbine's role in the Army engineer companies. All the port companies taking part in the Normandy invasion were attached to Engineer Special Brigades. Men like my grandfather unloaded supplies with the M1 Carbine slung on their backs. See Longshore Soldiers: Life in a World War II Port Battalion.

In addition to numerous photographs Osprey adds two specially commissioned double-full-page color illustrations and a third single-full-page illustration by historical artist Peter Dennis.

I put the "Best M1 Carbine Book' because I really can't think of any book that covers the M1 carbine in the amount of detail that Thompson does in this book. For the M1911 pistol there's volumes but for the weapon that was to replace it (to a point) not so much. Thompson covers the development of the M1, its varients and it use in WW2, Korea and Vietnam in very good detail. One of the better books in the excellent Weapon series.

A very well done book on the M1 Carbine. Good history of the weapon from development to its status as a collector's item. Nice addition to anyone's firearm library.