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M1 Carbine made by Auto Ordnance


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In 1943 there was a firearm considered so important that a BAR contract with IBM was terminated

and a Thompson contract with Auto Ordnance was also ended.

This may be a bitter pill to swallow for Thompson and BAR collectors, but that little firearm was the M1 carbine.

IBM was told to convert BAR production into carbine production and Auto Ordnance was assigned to

make receivers, bolts, and operating slides for IBM.

Pictured below are an example of both fire arms.

While the carbine isn't as glamorous as the Thompson and BAR its a peach of a firearm and has

always been one of my favorites.

Jim C

 

IMG_0182_1.JPGIMG_0180_1.JPGIMG_0181_1.JPG

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Jim,

 

I love my AO carbine. I went to CMP North Store when they had all the carbines a few years back and told myself I would not buy one unless they had an AOC gun. I had 8 IBM AOCs to pick from. Wish I would have bought all but I didnt have much cash and at the time there was an endless supply of CMP carbines.

 

You can harass Giant Panda about is since he only looks at the Thompson board here and did not buy one. I was carpooling with him. He bugs me all the time to sell it.

 

Ron

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Old Trooper, Concur, the gun I keep loaded and close when transporting a carload of NFA is the CAR-15. Mine was the export version made in the mid 1970s. Never shipped and bought from a Colt collector who supposedly worked at the factory. I also carry the M1 Carbine often in the trunk when I am on trips.

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I agree about the practical value of the M1 carbine. As much as I enjoy recreational shooting with Thompsons and M3s, I can't help but wonder what if the carbine had been available just a year or two earlier. Would we have adopted ANY subgun?

 

The M3 is cheaper and more compact, but not much shorter than an M1A1.

 

 

 

fullsizeoutput_52d.jpeg

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I agree about the practical value of the M1 carbine. As much as I enjoy recreational shooting with Thompsons and M3s, I can't help but wonder what if the carbine had been available just a year or two earlier. Would we have adopted ANY subgun?

 

The M3 is cheaper and more compact, but not much shorter than an M1A1.

 

 

 

In my humble opinion, no. If the carbine had been around sooner it would have caused the sub machine guns to fade away. If you reference the US Marine Corps table of organization and equipment the later the war gets the less SMGs are issued and the more Carbines are issued. If the M2 wouldve come out sooner I suspect that there would be practically no sub guns issued.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I've had 2 carbines along the way; a Plainfield and an Iver Johnson. Both fun to own and shoot. The Iver had an ejection problem later on but that was a simple fix.

 

I wonder if AO had a hand in any other brands besides IBM.

 

Thanks for the info Jim, I had no idea AO was involved in that.

 

Ron

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  • 4 weeks later...

Loved the M1 carbine as a kid. I heard stories that it lacked power, but it would turn a jackrabbit inside out. Surplus ammo was plentiful. The M1 carbine was adopted largely to replace the M1911 pistol in issue to some troops. Requirements evolved. Thompsons were withdrawn from service before WWII even ended.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Ron,

From what I have read, AO had trouble keeping their obligation to IBM. Not likely they could take on any more work.

Jim C

 

My 1943 IBM M1 Carbine has no other markings, aside from IBM.

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