Customer Reviews

US M1 Carbines: Wartime Production, 4th Editon

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book has helped me greatly in restoring my Quality Hardware carbine back to "as manufactured" condition. The book works more as a quick reference, rather than other M1 books which may or may not have a lot of reading just to find parts differences. After getting this book I realized my Q.H.M.C. carbine had only a few original "as manufactured" parts on it and the rest of the gun was a mixmaster of assorted maker parts. With this book I have been able to quickly see what stampings are on a part I need, different variations and improvements within a certain part,and tips to tell the difference between authentic and repro parts. Drawings are included to aid in parts identification and I.D. different types (type I,II,III,IV, etc.)within a part. Other areas of the book touch on receiver differences and militaria accessories for the M1. If your not into the historical restoration and just want a "shooter", then this book is not for you. My copy is well used and getting greasy, I will definitely get Riesch & Poyer's reference book for the M-1 Garand.

The positive aspect of this text is that it lays out the data in a clear and concise tabular format. Thus, a collector can use the book to quickly and efficiently assess a rifle's theoretical originality prior or subsequent to purchase. "Parts Charts" for each carbine part, which contain the variety, manufacturer, and possible markings for said part, make this an even handier format than the other US references in the "For Collectors Only" series.

The big problem with this book is that it advocates destroying/sterilizing the history of these carbines, which is exactly what the audience (collectors) should strive to avoid. Specifically, Riesch advocates using spare parts to "restore" a carbine to "factory issue" (p. 7). Later, under the heading "Collecting Imported M1 Carbines" (p. 113), Riesch states "Many collectors have, and are continuing, to purchase, these imported carbines with the intention of finding the correct parts needed to restore them to their original configuration. These can present a collector with a challenging, and rewarding endeavor, and will certainly increase the value of their carbine." This is patently false!

Firstly, by discarding parts from an otherwise as-imported or as-arsenal-refinished carbine, you are sterilizing it of its history. Second, when you arbitrarily replace parts in a military arm, you are *not* making it "factory original" or increasing its value, but rather bringing it even further from its martial provenance and configuration. Collectors desiring a factory original piece are paying for exactly that, not for a gun that some bubba tracked down spare parts for, and reassembled accordingly, so that it would *appear* factory original. Barring fraud or misrepresentation of the piece, an arsenal-refinished carbine is worth more than a hodgepodge of pieces some "collector" picked out at gun shows.

Further, the parts that a Lend Lease country employed are part of that carbine's unique military history; it's difficult enough to discern a US small arm's history without new collectors being encouraged to sterilize away all signs of it. The advocacy of doing future generations of collectors such a vast disservice is significant enough to knock an otherwise four-star text down to two stars.

Buy this book for its data, but not its advice to "collectors".

There is no 1 book that covers everything to do with the M1 Carbine. This book clearly was not written for the purpose of covering the M1 carbine from A-Z. The focus of the author is on each individual part, the variations, and the markings the original manufacturer put on their parts at various points in time. This book is about documenting the parts of your M1 Carbine, knowing who made what, and which carbine it was likely on.

For a buyer, it will tell you what you are looking at in the way of original parts. M1 carbine parts were shared amongst manufacturers, in an effort to get the rifles out to the troops. Typically they are a mixture of parts from several manufacturers. Without this book, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

For people starting to get to really know the history of their M1 carbine, this is where you start, with this book. Then move on to intermediate and advanced.

Collector's usually own more than a few books. Many of them have this one as a quick reference aid. No other puts it so clear, simple, and easy to find.

If you are looking for a book for shooting the M1 carbine, try The M1 Carbine Owner's Guide by Ruth and Duff. If something breaks and you want to replace it with an authentic part, then look inside this book.

I recommend it to everyone just starting to get to know their U.S. M1 carbine. Post WWII commercial variations are not included. Original WWII M1 carbines, their parts, and manufacturers, are detailed. It does a great job of it. Simple and to the point.

As to the restoration issue, the first reviewer is absolutely correct when he says piece by piece rebuilding an M1 carbine destroys it's history and value. Those who seek to do so should do a fair amount of research first. The conclusion you come too will likely stop you from using this book for that purpose.

This book is great for those who want to learn how the M1 Carbine was created in mass numbers in such a short time or where the parts and accessories for an M1 Carbine came from. The author does try to "originate" a carbine by encouraging owners to pursue parts and accessories from a single manufacturer to get a "like WWII condition Carbine". Many enthusiasts would disagree and tell you to keep your rifle as is. The ones imported from other countries have just as much history in them than the ones in WWII, and in fact maybe more history. This is a great read for collectors and historians alike and a must own for any Carbine owner.

This is a very good book for beginning collectors of M1 Carbines. It is very well laid out with lots of information. BUT There is a better 5th edition now in print and I'm not sure how anyone could possibly try to justify a $100 sales price for this book?!?!?!?(perhaps because it's out of print, but who cares? The newest edition has more information and important updates for collectors) Pass on this one and get the 5th edition instead!

Great book. Every part of the rifle is discussed and many parts have detailed charts that show make/SN range for each part used.

Excellent reference. It would have been nice to have more pictures than line drawings... but the drawings are easily recognizable as to the part.

Great book. Worth the price.