U.S. M2
Carbine
All metal with real wood stock
CMC: WWII U.S. M2 Carbine
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All metal with real
wood stock.
Functions, field-strips like the real thing !!
ideal for re-enactor / film / theatre or collector
Made January
1979 by CMC and in very good condition for year.
Includes: Copy of original instructions, 15rd magazine, 5x Real Size
(inert) .30 Cal dummy bullets (for display), carry sling and oiler. No
original box.
Weight: 2.4Kg
Same weight as the real thing!
Select fire:
Semi / Full
With
adjustment to the extractor claw or cartridge rims, could be possible to
manually eject the dummy bullets.
We ship internationally. Any questions:
sales@mg-props.co.uk
Spare 15rd magazines:
32.95 GBP
each / 38.65 Euros
each
30rd magazine:
38.95 GBP
each / 44.65 Euros (used/ good condition)
Real look bullets:
1.75 GBP each / 2.10 Euros
each
Heat
Shroud: 32.95 GBP
each / 41.65 Euros
M1
Carry sling:
19.95 GBP each /
22.30 Euros
each
The original
M1 Carbine was developed during the World War 2 period (1939-1945) to better
equip American paratroopers as they headed into combat and to provide a viable
weapon for vehicle crews and second-line troopers finding themselves having to
fight their way out. This weapon became a storied part of the American
involvement in the conflict and was ultimately produced in over 6.1 million
examples with use becoming global. In began life in a 1938 request which gained
traction in 1940 as America stood closer than ever to entering the European war.
The result was a highly effective, semi-automatic offering that could serve its
intended battlefield elements well and went on to spawn several notable
variants.
The M2 Carbine was an branch of the storied M1 tree with its own origins found
in May of 1944. Whereas the M1 Carbine was only capable of
semi-automatic-fire-only, the M2 variant brought a selective-fire capability
with it as well as support for a 30-round, curved detachable box magazine. The
original M1 design did, at least initially, feature a selective-fire capability
but this feature was dropped during its development to hasten the M1 into
service. It was also limited by a 15-round detachable box magazine.
The M2 came about as American demand for a more potent lightweight weapon arose
during the fighting in Europe and the Pacific. M1 Carbines had excellent
qualities in that they were handy and portable, intended for fighting within the
short-to-medium range spheres. These qualities were to be carried over in the M2
offshoot but the higher ammunition count with full-automatic capability would
give the infantryman more on-the-spot firepower. The new gun, in its pilot form,
was known as the "T4" and designed by the engineers of the Inland Division of
General Motors.
At its core, the M2 was simply nothing more than the M1 with the selective-fire
capability installed. This change lever was to be found along the left side of
the gun body and relied on a sear mechanism for its general function. The gun
body remained of solid wood, though made heavier than in the M1, with the metal
components were inlaid as usual while the grip handle, shoulder stock, and
forend were all integral. Sighting was through the same forward/rear iron
fittings as in the improved M1 forms. Sling loops were set at the shoulder stock
and forend for a shoulder strap to be fitted and aid in transporting the weapon
when on-the-march. The trigger unit was slung under the receiver in the typical
fashion and the magazine well was found just ahead of it. Internally, the same
gas-operated, rotating bolt action (though modified round as opposed to original
flat-top design) was used and the same bayonet lug was also in play.
Effective listed range was between 200 to 300 yards and rate-of-fire under
full-automatic reached 750 rounds-per-minute. Even when fired as such, the
weapon was considered very manageable despite its lightweight, compact form. It
also provided a good reach and good penetration-at-range which led to many to
prefer this carbine over more limited, though established, submachine gun types
of the period.
Production of the new gun totaled about 600,000 units and these were
manufactured from a period spanning 1944 to 1945. An initial contract for 500
units was awarded to Inland during September of 1944 and this early period was
used to refine the T4/M2 design prior to its widespread acceptance in the war.
It became available in quantity during the early-to-middle part of 1945 with
field conversion kits "T17" and "T18" introduced to make the appropriate changes
to existing M1 models. However, this late entry into the war limited its impact
for the war in Europe was over in May of 1945 and the war in the Pacific
followed in August.
The gun went on to see considerable despite the end of the war for it was
showcased in the upcoming Korean War (1950-1953) and, to a more limited extent,
the Vietnam War (1955-1975) that followed. In the Korean War, the M2 represented
the most quantitative carbine to see combat action for its part in the conflict.
In the Vietnam War, the M2 was still in the hands of American troopers, namely
special forces operatives, though by this time the weapon had seen its best days
behind it. It was ultimately given up for good with the arrival of such types
like the Colt AR-15/M16 which covered its battlefield role.
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